Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-09-22

showing the faliacy Of the maxims by uh;i,ot
was upheld, disclosed tn, foundations 81
Government, peopled America with rH
Republicans, who resolved to be free. and s ;,
gave existence 10 our Republican ins,i,"; mus
IT was by this eloquence lha, the s,a,s'o"
of our Coniederaed Congress, enliv,,ens%TN
the principles advanced by political MID
pliers who had preceded them, gave IL. s'
impulse to our Revolution, dissolved ,h. "N
which bound us to Great Britain, and a,,'"
lished those forms Of Government wbicS
now communicating their light and inAusD.'
throughout the globe.
II is by this eloqgence, too, exhibited !, T..
diplomatic correspondence of Jefferson. " ~
son, Adams and Clay, that the mos inpor,,a.
rights OF our couptry, commercial, lerri,o,;,I
and International, have been maintained. VIZ
the efforts Of their genius have shed new h,,,,,
upon our national character. Can tier. ,LSs
BIZ question whether eloquenec, thus r,,:,
less in its influence, and universal in is ,~.
is necessary TO the Statesmen? Oueh, !, ~
long as the world is governed by inlp!!ir,,
free agents; 50 long as men have undrlsla,,
ings to be convinced, and imsgin4tions 10 n
pleased, and passions 10 be moved, 50 lone Win
eloquence be necessary TO the man who ,erk, =
acquire predominant, influence 10 public =
fairs.
How will a statesman he able 10 imBrs,,r.
thoughts on delib,ra,i,e assembly, unl,s, +.
can exhibit them with cltarness and ,rs,,r
clothe them in the decorations of hnyvlp, o.
impart the charm OF forcibe illustration, q,
what avail would be TO him The learninr Of r.
con, the perspicaciy Of Marshall, or The Eed
Pit, if unable 10 communicate his ,hcu9b,
with promptilude and ease, add 10 the now,
Of thought The proprieties Of expression. ,rl
render his deductions plain 10 the untels,sp8,
ing, agreeable TO the ear, and unexcenIior,rr,
to the cultivated taste? lie would fin tia, ,ar.
lie attention would flag and his influence y.
pire. When elroris seen to triumph ovcrrs,
son, circumstance which, uniorluna.ely. TN
often occurs, is it moi because her drlo;mn
has been yelled by q lovely exterior, or bec,ga
truth has not been presented in equally ca,a
waiting forms! All experience must SHOW Igr
he only deserves the honorable aDpclla,ic,f
statesman who possesses the corslilLrns d
oratorical excellence, and can so EXHIBIT Ss
thoughts, by writing or speaking, as mos,tf.,
tudu( W oNCiSobS cl'ISSiHS pDlHlUU>, GHi v.
tain an ascendancy over the minds VI men.
Without referring more particularly TO Tn:
nent Statesmen, either in other Countries OF or
own, il may be -su ificirnt to remark, that, viii
few exceptions, their reputation for abiIrr ~
well as his usefulness, has been graduated,
the degree Of eloquence exhibited in sDe4k,,
orin writing Moses, learned in all The wslar
of the Egyptians, was the wise,t of LegisaU.
and among the best Of writer's; and vet d
though aided by miraculous power, he wau
willing to engage in his mission unit a,soch,
ed with the Orator Aaron. Few ndividva
have obtained higher reputation as an eloqua
writer than MIR Jefferson. 1t was this rpGp
ton that made him Chairman Of the comni
tee who reported the Declare alton Of Indepu
dence: and yet he had to rely upon the ss
GU ence of Mr.. Adams & his associates to q
force in public debate the reasons in its
vor, aud counterfeit the objections which N
urged against it. To the success and impr
lance of Mr.. Adams exertions on that mem.
rable occasion Mr. Jefferson has had the mag
nanimity to bear honorable testimony.
II is true that even the power OF eIOqWN
is sometimes overlooked, though rarely @:
temned. Men are prone to be deceived byu
Of appearance, and to forget
excellence of intrinsic QUARTS
Who is there that stops to consider that Z
minutest insect that floats upon the breezs u
plays more wisdom, in the sKiliul sdap arc
Of its parts, than all tie works Of man from Y
of time! The most powehnIa%'
of nature are often disregaided. Nor netI
wonder that eloquence, the most operatiu az.
in the moral world, when conJoine with 'Ia'
is sometimes forgotten, while the miro
intent on the glit,ering tinsel of military =
geant. Our wonder will diminish when T'e
fleet that the eioquence Of Cicero, The "f@I
Of his Country" the ornament Of his a%'' q,
The delight OF posterty, could not exmg@h'
the envy which feeds on the reputaion'lDIS
tIous men. But although even Cicero '.
forced to yield, for time, to the fa'loOSS
ings, the scorn and dctcstation Of mai'.!I
whose designs, agains, his country he no
ways connteracted, and who, while tmH'-.'
his greatness, without possessing his ' .ra
made him the mark Of their venom and ~
hood; it is consoatoIy TO know that the p5,
Of error were quickly dispersed, md ths'
triumphant re entry into Rome amidst D;-
Carnations of an admiring, but tor y,
time, deudcd People, erected the p'o'.5
monument to his fame, and now form an'g'
n The history of his country.
But although the excellency of Ora''y %
sxrT