Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-29
dy polite, by the slovenly vice OF prollxity In
our nuhlic sneakers

our public speakers. -, u
Now, gentle reader, what Is Inc iae' ,i",t
thou ever been in the Court OF Chahcery! i,
not, then HE thee there at once, lor great WIZ
be thy edifcation. Thou shalt see, at one emo,
large. sober, easy-going clock, which day al
fer dav telleth the time with exactness' but Tell
eth naueht else Even so is each successive
sage. who rises after his precursor, to move,
like the hand of that slow and faithful repeater
Of admonitions, over precisely the same space
which had been travcrscd before. 1t often hap
pens, tina, three, four, or five, or more OF these
repeaters, follow each other in orderly su Gees
sion, resembling nothing that know so much
as that useful parsonage, who, between SIX ana
half past six in the evening, addresses the as
sembled crowd in the pit door Of the heatre
ROYAL, Covert Garden, crying out, IN terms
which never vary, Ladies and gentlemen,
take care of your pockets!.'
In these cases the isdge has delicate ana
difficult task 10 perform. 1t he confines suit
ors TO limited number OF counsel, the restric-
ton is denounced as invidious and oppressive
by the bar, aud complained oil as hardship by
the parties. Yet the practice, from the excess
aive diruseness ofthe speakers, tends perhaps
as much as any other cause, 10 the delays, a
gaiast which some persons have recently cried
so loudly. 1t cannot be doubted that the lean
ing Of the court ought TO be, as II has been, 10
the side Of indulgence; because the worst OF all
evils in the dispensing OF public justice, is TO
dismiss the claimants with the impression. that
their cause has been partially, or inadequately,
heard But remedy may, and ought, ande-
ventually must, be applied; that OF oblising adj
voca,es 10 prune the wild and useless luxurlance
oftheir Giffuse diction, and to avoid the repeat
ed ringing Of topics already squeezed dry. The
credit of their profession, the sutierings OF the
Judge, when doomed TO the prolonged fortunes
Of "thrcc told tale" (of law.); the interests OF
the clients themselves, whose cause would be
far better examined, if more briefly debated; but
above all, the paramount, pressing, inexorable
interests Of the public, robbed Of justice during
these ,ricklngs at lis fountain, conspire to de-
mand reformation.
To approach the grea, Council Of the State,
is to tread upon dangerous ground, yet this Is
point upon which suspect the members OF
themselves feel rather sore; and am persuad-
ed if the question were once fairly put, VIZ.
"That all sinecure sentences, all words having
phases, without performing any duty, and all
members Of periods, representing no ideas as
their constituents, should be at once expelled,
no, one voice would be raised TO oppose this
most necessary plan Of parliamentary Reform:
The truth is, that all parties would be gamers
by il. The debates Of Parliament, itneed hard
" be stated, are not so much discussions Tor
enligh,ening and persuading the members, as
appeals 10 the people al large. But how few
are there OF those who read the voluminous re-
ports Of their proceedings, that can extract
from such heap OF matter what is essential,
and disregard only what is incidental and unne-
| cessary? Yet this must be done before The neu-
] trail power without can decide 10 which OF the
TWO great bcigerents, who wage this mighty
war of words within the walls of Parliament,
they shall ioin their forces. Better far for the
opposing hosts, or at least for that party which
| has truth and Justice al his side, ii the question
were stripped Of the supertluous dresses cast
upon il by each successive speaker, anG with
which it at last walks out OF doors, mutfed and
crippled, like a sckly child from the hands OF
too careful mother, so developed In clothing,
that his friends outside can scarcely recognize
him. If the point, which is almost always STA
| ted with precision, were but briefly argued, and
| if nothing were said but what its proof or lis
refutation required, world Of trouble would be
saved at public dinners and elections. Candi-
dates would not be obliged so often TO brave
the malcdic,ions and missiles Of the crowd in
endeavors to explain what their own speeches
had contributed TO render unlnte!llglble; and
quiet people at the Thatched House Tavern,
and other places, would be, at least sometimes,
permitted to sip their wine in peace. Besides,
| il is inc redble how much such a reform would
add to the private comforts OF our public men.
The economy Of the lungs would be prodiglous.
The occasions would be rendered much less
frequent of catching cold, and there certainly
would be great amendment OF manners, IN the
keeping of more seasonable hours.
Blu, is all this practicable? The most delight
full melody in nature TO each individual IS the
sound of his own voice. Equal in esteem to tie
most favori,e of his living children, and often
far more cherished, are the issue Of his brain.
1t is difficult to resign an enjoyment, or to ban
ish favorite voluntarily; they will never be
! abandoned, unless from the influence OF some
superior in6ucement-someth like the de-
sire of applause or the fear Of derison.
Itrcuuires but the effort OF one or two mas
ter spirits in our public assemblies, setting the
example Of brief, terse, forcibe, matter-of-fact
argument, to infusc and to circulate taste for
this rare, but honorable, most useful and man
IL accomplishment The time is suited for
such an experiment The baneiul effects oflong
debates is beginning to be felt and acknowedg-
FED. The constitutions of our public men are
sinking under the exhausting influence OF these
protracted contests. The two greatest states
men of the last age, both fell victims to them