Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-01-15
ELOQUENT AMERICANS.

ers are called whose eloquence seems spon'a-
neous. and is impas.ioned and free from The
,r.mmeIs Of rules. II il said 'ha, he vas sell
educ a,ed mao, v hose manner was his own, and
as blessed with the power at utteranee beyond
mos, OF those who had been taught In The
proves of the academy He felt deeply and
made others feel Ills flashes Of eloquenee
gave an electric shock TO the audience; aud
these mere maEaged with great skill, and re-
peaied at his will or by some sudden tran'l
ton, nc let down his hearers 10 a common tone
of feeling. by the mos felci,ous illustrations
or playful SMILES He was, however, more
powerful in raising spprehensions fhan m 81
laying them. His eloquence was supported ny
his patriotism, and what in the warmth oil de-
bate he said he would do, he followed up IN
the GOODNESS Of r. reflection; and il not a. power
fvl. was as fearless with his sword as with his
tongue. Ills eloqoeDce was not elaborate, nor
his speeches long. His audience easily unoet'
stood him, and his speech was ended before
any part OF them were tired oil heailng him.
His patriotism and his eloquence have had am
pie Justice done them by his learned olographe''
JANEs MADISON Another OF The same state,
Mr.. Madison, exhibited different STYLE OF tio-
quence. He had no passion, no ma]es.y OF
lone, no vehement gestures. nothing OF .ha'
wa,. horse spirit OF his coadjutor, Patrick Hen
nv; his was the smooth, but manly current
| OF hough,. II was Philosophy, reasoning up
opriph's, and explaining duties, and teaching
hi, hearers how % prepare for exigeucies -
He saw all things in a clear light, without en-
,busiasm or agitation. SD His speaking resem-
bl-d hi. wiring: his lines were al straight
his letters uniformly made, his spelling accn'
rate, and his punctuation perfect lie was
never off his guard but srlf-possessed, he
snake until he was satisfied that he was fully
understood, and then h. cf, his argum' MIS- to
| work out their proper ef-ci, without showing
! any anxiety for hlmse It OF them; perhaps there
never was man who spoke so often, that spoke
so much 10 the purpose as Mr. Madison. His
elsauenoe was one Of those deep, silent, regu
lar flowing rivers. that has no narro"s, sheais,
or cataracts, but winds its way in peace and
dignity 70 the ocean. He possessed sub an
| eQuanimi.y OF temper, that he was alwsysieady
for debate, and always acquitted himself wei;
and if he did not rise so high in his elnqueno e,
| al times, as those who wal: for inspiraisn, he
never, like them, was lisble 10 disap2oin' his
hearers by inane voices, when the spir'l ceased
to api,ate them. M. Madison is still living.
the Nesto, among orators
ALEXANDER HAMILroN-The eloquence oil
| Alexander Hamilton differed from all he pre-
cediny orators we have named. He arose deep.
" impressed with his subject; and often, in the
| onset, seemed little agi sted; slight hinge OF
modes,y crossed his cheek, but II was only the
fear Of himself, the only fear man OF genius
and learning can ever have, when master oil his
subject He made as few points in his case as
possible, stated these in clear ard foreibie
manner r, aud spread them before the assembly,
courI, or jury, with great persplcui'y AND ele
eaner. He never descended below the dignity
OF argument TO catch popular applause, nor
wen suffered himself TO br borne away from
the course Of his reasonings by Irritation and
pa ssion. There was Temperance, method, and
Judgment in all his speeches; and when he clos
ed, there was nothing TO mend, and oui lutte 10
add But the great charm Of his eloquenee.
after all, was the conviction, IN every mind, Of
the SPEAKER. sincerity; there was window in
hi, breast, and all the pulses Of his heart were
distinctly seen, b-a'ins in The regular move
merts Of honor His ,loquence was fascinat
ing as we'll as comm anding: his person was not
l.tge, bur dign'6si and graceful The COM
pass Of his voice was ex nsivt; lis tones were
n, loud nor vocifr a,ing, but his enuncia' ION
was so cl~ar-that he had he advantage over
many. in the lsrges assemblies, whose lungs
were much stronger han his No one, what
ever might be his grade "fin elect, ever heard
him withou, delight; and no good Judge, with
GU feeling tha' he had been listening 10 gen
,leman, a scholar, ard q patriot, as well as an
! orator He died in The prime of manhood; and
the 'ears Of his fiends and political enemies
trickled togo her on his grave as tribute TO
The mshy dead
GouvERsEuR MoRRIs. Gnuverneur Morris
| was splendid orator His mind was prol hc,
| his fancy exclusive, and his Information extern
! sive. He had read books a. en,veiy, but men
more thoroughly. He was well acqosin ed
with French literature and he academicians,
and had caugh, something of their animation
and literary f-rvor. His 6gures were beaui
full, his Sentimental touches delicate and Thrill
ling. No orator ever m de . more successful
.lunge al the hear, than Morris, for he pierced
a, viii. IfHamilton was The Xrn"phoh among
our intellectual lights, as tie has brep called,
for the neatuess, purify, and perspicui,y oi his
productions, surely his friend. Gouvernsur Nor
ris, ought 20 be called the lsocrates among
them, He had he same splendor Of magiua-
tion; and poised his SENTENCES with The same
arr, that is seen in the orations OF "the old man
Ell, ouent." Morris's eloqurnce, was well suit