Litchfield enquirer., 1830-02-18
ELOQUENT AMERICANS.

ELOQUENT AMERICANS. From Knap's Lectures on Am. Literature. 1 PATRICK HENRY.-Patrick Henry of Virginia, was natural orator, as some gifted speakers are called whose eloquence seems spontaneous, and is impassioned and free from the trammels of rules. It is said that he was a self educated man, whose manner was his own, and was blessed with the power of utterance be- yond most of those who had been taught in the groves of the academy. He felt deeply and made others feel. His flashes of elo- l quencc gave an electric shock to the au- dience and these were managed with great skill, and repeated at his will or by some sudden transition he let down his hearers to common tone of feeling, by the most felicitous illustrations or playful similes. He was, however, more power ful in raising apprehensions than in allay- ing them. His eloquence was supported by his patriotism, and what in the warmth of debate he said he would do, he follow ed up tn the coolness of reflection and if not as powerful, was as fearless with his sword as with his tongue. His eloquence was not elaborate, nor his speeches long. His audience easily understood him, and his speech was ended before any part of them were tired oG hearing him. His pat riotism and his eloqueDce have had ample Justice done them by his learned biogra- pher.
 JAMES MADIsON.-Another of the same State, Mr. Madison, exhibited different style of eloquence. He had no passion, no majesty of tone, no vehement gestures, nothing of that war-horse spirit of his CO., adjutor, Patrick Henry his was the smooth, but manly current ofthought. It was philosophy. reasoning upon rights, and explaining duties, and teaching his hearers how to prepare for exigencies. He saw all things in clear light, without enthusiasm or agitation. His speaking rescmbled his writing his lines were all straight, his letters uniformly made, his spelling accu- rate, and punctuation perfect. He was never off his guard but self-possessed, he spoke until he was satisfied that he was fully understood, and then he loft his ar- gumenls to work out their proper effect, without showing any anxiety for himself or them :: perhaps there never was man who spoke so often that spoke so much to the purpose, as MT. Madison. His elo- quence was one of those deep, silent, reg ular-fowing rivers, that has no narrows, shoals, or cataracts, but winds its way in peace and dignity to the ocean. He pos- sessed such an cquanimity of temper, that he was always ready for debate, and al- ways acquitted himself well and if he did not rise so high in his eloquencc, at times, as those who wait for inspiration, he new CT, like them, was liable to disappoint his hearers by inane voices, when the spirit ceased to agitate them.-Mr. Madison is still living, the Nestor among orators.
 ALEXANDER HAMLToN.--The elo- quencc of Alexander Hamilton differed frOmtho preceding orators we have named. He arose deeply impressed with his sub- ject and often, in the outset, seemed a little agitated, a slight tinge of modesty crossed his cheek, but it was only the fear of himself, the only fear man of genius and learning can ever have, whom master of his subject. He made as few points in his case as possible, stated these in clear and forcible manner, and spread them be- fore the assembly, court, or jury, with great pcrspicuity and elegance. He never descended below tho dignity of argument to catch popular applause, nor ever suffer- ed himself to bc borne away from the course of his reasonings by irritation and passion. There was temperance. method, and judgment in all his speeches.; and when he closed, there was nothing to mend, and but little to add. But the great charm of his eloquence, after all, was the conviction, in every mind, of the speak er's sincerity there was window in his breast, and all the pulses of his heart were distinctly seen, beating in the regular movements of honor. His elOquence was fascinating as well as commanding; bis person was not large, but dignificd and graceful. The compass of his voice was extensive its tones were not loud nor voc lciferating, but his enunciati0n was so clear