Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-02-03

ELOQUENT AMERICANS.

PATRICK HENRY Patrick Henry.
OF Virginia. was a natural orator, a.
some gifted speakers are ca.Ied whose
el"quence seems spontaneous. and !.
iWpassioncd and free Il ON tic tram
mcls Of rules. is sad that he was !,
seii-educatcd man. whose manner was
his own. and was blessed With the now
or oil uttcrancc beyond most Of those
who had been taught in the groves Of
the academy. lie felt deeply and
made others feel. His flashes oC ella.
Tucncc gave an electric shock 20 tic
audience; and these were Inara % ed
with great skill, aud repeated at will: :
ar by some sudden transition lie let
down ms hearers 10 II common ton. uf
feeling, by the most icIicltuus illu,,ra
tons OF playful smiles. He was. how
ever. more powerful in raising apnre-
tensions than III ailaying them. His
ci"quence was Supported by his patrio-
tisn, and what ~ the warmth Of drbat,.
he SAID he would dc, he followed IA in
the Goodness Of rcliec,inn; and e u,,
as powerful, was n fearless with ms
sword as with itis tongue. II, cio.
qaehce was not elaborate, nor his
speeches long. His audience easily
understood him, and his speech was
ehdcd before any part uf them we're
tired OF bearing him. His patriotism
aud his eioquencc have had ample ju,
tioe done them by his learned bicgra
phcr.
JAMES MADIsoH.-Another or the
same Stair, Nh. Madison, exhibited =
different style ct cloquencc. lie had
no passion, no majesty of tone. no We
hcncnt gestures, nothing of that war
horse spirit Of his coadiutor, Patrick
Henry; his was the smooth, bat manly
current OF thought. 1t was philosophy.
reasoning upon rights, and explaining
duties, and teaching lis bearers how 10
prepare Tor eXigencics. lie saw all
things III clear light. without enthu-
siasm OF agitation. Ills speaking &C..
scmbled hts writing: his lines we're
all straight, his letters uniformly made,
his spelling accurate, aud h., panr, q.
ton perfect. lie was never Oh his
guard but sclG-possessed. hc spoke on.
al lac g. a satisfied that he was fully
understood, and then he left las s,go.
ments TO work out their proper eject,
without showing a0y a0x.cty for HIM
self OF them perhaps there never was
man who spoke 80 often that spoke 30
much To the purpose as MIR. Madison.
Has eioqueucc WAS one Of those dpcp,
silent. regular iloWIng rivers, that has
no narrOws, sh0ai-, OF cataracts. bnt
winds ITS way ~ peace and dignity 10
the ocean. lie possessed such an edna.
nimity VI temper, ilat be vas always
ready Tor debate, and always acquitted
himscli well 4; and II lie dad not rise IA
high - his eiOquencc. at times, a, those
who wait i'r inspiration. hc never. like
them, VA, ilIble to di-oppoint ~. hear.
crs by indnc voices. when tie spu,t
ceased To asitate them. Mr.. Madison
IS st:ll living, the Ne,toi among ora
tors.
AiYNANpEH HAIfT0N. The clo.
g1rnce 81 Alexander Hamilton dinrr-
I'd irom tic preceding orator, We have
named. lie arose deeply impressed
With LIS subject; and often, ~ the On.
-e', seemed . little agitated. a sltaht
uuge at mUdesty crossed bls ohcsl. but
70 wa- only the lear of himse!l. ihr on.
~ lear man ol genius api ieafnify
can ever have, when master If bf. .tb
yet. lie made % few points IN a.
easc a. possible. stated thee ~ a elc.r
anl ioFo'''ie manner, AMI srrcad them
before Use assembly, Couft, &C. iary,
wa great Perspicuriy and elegance.
lie never descended below tie dignity
OF argument 10 catch popular applause.
nor ever Suffered iiun,rii 90 De b.rnr
away tom ihe cc-r.c ~ lls reasoning.