Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-09-11
vIaa1MIa rEa1sAAruaE.


10 be INDUCED in few critical observations upon
its general characteristics Ia the first place. then,
conceive IL not T. be the speech OF Statesman
still less the Speech of The Speaker of The H. of
Representatives. The Speech of the digofied
Speaker OF the House should itself be d,gnitied
1t should be liberal, Candid and impartial. 1t
oush, to presen, fsRvieyy OF the question on
both sides; and the grounds of the balance of his
ow" motives in favour OF the side he deemed the
right one. This Speech partskes nothing of digni-
~, liberali,y, impsrIialry, csndor Ii is bel w
the level of the speech # dgnified unset, Learn
ed in the law. who feel due regard for their hon
orabe professional stand ng IL rs he speech of
pleading lawyer who has engaged with his client
for . high tee, in bad cause, TO gain j, light
wrong; and who feels himself under IN obi CATION
10 call, into the most active exeron, all his pc
OF chcanery and special pleading. Accordingly,
Mr. Clay cordescends to Tcsor, TO false name-, 10
misrepresentation, I" conceamept of pats OF
connected ny stem of facts, and every G. her de-
vice TO gain his cause which his inIl, ed n,asina
ton could invent Nr. Claws fee great though
contingent no less his prize han the Pte-ldeniial
Chair AS one conspicuors example OF these de-
vices, Mr.. Clay nick-names bi- speech IL, the pery
He calls it, - Speech in supper,
OF an American System, for the protection oil A
merican Industry MIR. Clay well knew that his
was falseGomer. That it was not IN American
System for tn. p,otecii Anne lean Injn- ~;
that he was recommending bu discarded 3, fish
system Of British Industry, he was recomushd-
Ing TO b. int oduced INTO the u ei a'es tor the
hrst time That L. no' - genuine -4nieFi-
can system,'' AZ he some imes calls II, bu i'm
itative system, drawn from British example. md
grounded in British POLICY. Many other example,
OF insincerity and chicaaerg may be re'erred 10 ia
this most extraordinary speech; ONE oil which Will
be exposed in its more detailed examination. The
pIestn will suffice in this general ch. It's
second general Characteristic l. hat OF false color
ing or misrepresentation. Upon critical inves-
legation, il will be found TO be deceptive and ilu
sorry throug bout; and, In me inst ances, srtih-
ces are too slender TO impose -pon the PLANES
der -tand g. candor il The first quality of true
oratory. II Will always be In vain for the orator
to attenp to win the hearts OF his auditors, hist
they acting under the conviction tha the orator
himself il not sincere hat he does believe
himself thai he l. practising up his own
yic,ions, of his superior intelligence, aud of
their ignorance and e'eduliiy. Even such
pcon would steel the minds C! the auditory against
conversou or conviction
The style of this speech is most peculiarly cha
racteristic. Whilst it violates many oil the mos
obvious rules OF criticism II Is so sonoTous turgld
and bombastic that it seems, in It's first impress.
-ions, TO bear down every thing before it, and to
cheat the mind of the just exercise of its COM
mon faculties There Is a peculiar selection, coll
location and al. angement OF the words composing
each sentence, which produce The louJe-t s coars-
music. l hope to be excused for the compa
rison. 1t may be deemed coarse one. Ii Is e.
commended. however, because It's intrusion i al
ways involuntary, aud therefore must be impelled
BY natural impulse oil resemblance. l never
commen reading this speech but the coarse nlu
SIC OF the Ginning of well regulated Church bells
appears to strike The iympsnum oil The
ear, and TO be@iljer the mind with coarse,
sounding, singng, harmony. BuI, sir, the re
sembiance exists only in the music. The coarse mu-
sic of the church>beils passes away, and leaves no
gineliog, speech IL said have pr ducel1
the Tarif-anJ with it, the tosal obliters,i n Of
every restraining provision in the Constitution. II
so, IL has produced mischief, both eplorabe and
irren edisbe; aud the ginEling, successful orator
will probably live the day hat ne will Ia
ment and weep over the fatal success OF his owi
srtdces-over the destruction OF fsJerative 20
YernmenI, which had, for nearly thirty years dis
pensed the best political blessings great ns-
ton, now wsntoDIy torn to atoms, by the intro
duction OF wsrrIng elements, or moulded into an
cdious consolidated mass Of derpotIsu,. The next
characteristic OF this gngling peecb consists OF its
duration. its continuation Ii occupies above eight
and thirty pages in cloee print, OF large PAM
phlet size. These pages form my tex. with a
bove IS pages for my tept. what mus, be the
length Of my sermon? II happened to be my
fortune, in early life, to b placed for my educa-
tion, under th= care of 'he late celebrated DR..
Witherspoon of Princeton College. The Doctor
although highly learned, much c Zebra ed
for the simplicity and elegance Of his style and
for The brpvity Of his oraIons, tor the extent and
solidy of his erudi,ion. lie leclured the class
which was member upon eloQuence and cru
cism, and alws,s delighted with the exercises
in that branch OF science. Amidst all the reline-
ment OF the Doctors learning, he retained much
OF the provincial bfogue OF his native town
(PessIey in ScoIand.) The Doctor generally an.
preached his class with great familiarity with Ho,,
do ye do lads!' to which the reply wa, bfaly
sir, brsly." lie commenced his lectures in the
snpleT style Of conversation. Lads, if #
Il should fall 10 the lot OF any Of We a. i, M,
do, TO appear upon the theatre OF public life LEI me
impress upon your minds two rules IN oraiorv. that
are never to be departed f,om upon airy osc.-ion
wbatever-" .he'eT ito ye speak unless me a.
something to say, ana when ge are done ba su p
and leave OF " Frigbtiul restraints upon modern
oratory. The Doctor would proceed most me
thodicslly t. impress on the Glass, the cred in
volatility Of each OF these rule, aud the H.
dispenssble necessity of their -tict obsesv ,nce.
by every pTe'ender 10 otaiOry. Wnhon' pos,ive
both Of these old fashioned osalorIea rules. hsz-
ard nothing in saying, bs, he has said great deal
more than he ought to have said; and he ceft,f,,ly
did not leave off when he was fairly done AGs,
saying great deal more than be ought IN haye
said, and much OF which, think he did NOT un,ls,
stand himself. be ha- made ten distinct POINTS f.,
very little purpose far as comprehend ,bei,
meaning, excep' TOR continuation for duration
The uniiring orator seems to have cleared ont ~,
voyage OF many ports, with determinaiion-to
preserve its continuity, however Improbable NJ
Speaker, / end, sir, at this last stage Of life I
am myself, shout TO yiOjsie fear both these
pfecepts OF my belof ed and fevcreI precepto, I
Ind, Tor the first time in mS life shaii hive to c.l
loI =" ADJOURNED speech find boundiess ocean