Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-11

| Sworn to, before me, Sept. Sd. 1852.
JOHN N. BAnRILLIoN, Notary Public.
The elaborate and instructive speech on the
Tariff question. which Mr.. Wide, of Georgia,
delivered in Congress at its late session, has been
published in the Natio' al Intelligencer, and in
pamphlet form. We extract from it the sub
Joined striking and rhetorical sketches Of emf
nent parliamentary characters" Mr., Lowndes,
Mr.. Pinckney, Mr. Randolph. Mr.. Calhoun,
MIR Clay, Mr. Webster.
II had the honor to b. member of the 18th
Congress-. 1t was an honor then. What it is
now. shall not say |, is what the twenty-se-
cond Congress- have been pleased to make it.
have neither time. nor strength, nor ability, to
speak of the legislators of that day. as they de-
serve; nor Is this he fit OCCASION. Yet the cold.
est or most careless nature cannot recur to such
associates, without some touch Of generous ieel-
ing, which, in quicker spirits, would kinde into
high and almnst mol, enthusiasm.
"Pre-emueuf--ye not more proudly than
humDly pre-emlnen,--amOng them, was gen.
tleman from South Carolina, now no more; the
pures.. the caimest, the most philosophical ot our
cOunfry's modern statesmen. One no less re-
markable for gentleness Of manners. and kind
ness Of heart, than for that passionIess, uncluud
ed intellect, which rendered linn deserving of
the prai,e--lf ever man deserved ,t-of RELY
standing b,, and letting reason argue til hIn' -
The true patriot, incapable Of all selfish amuiion
who Stunned office and distinction. yet served
his country faithfully. because he loved her. tie.
mean, who consecrated, by his example, The
noble precept, so rntre'v his own. that the FIST
station in The republic was neither I" be sought
after nor Ieciined-a sentiment SO Just and 80
happily expressed, that It continues TO be repeat
ed, because 1t cannot be improved.
g. There vas. also, gentleman from Mary
land. whose ashes now slumber in your cpme"
ry. l! il not long since stood by his tomb, and
recalled him, as he was then, in all the pride aud
power Of his genus. Among the FIRST Of his coun.
trymen and contemporaries. "a jurist and states
man, first as an orator, he was, If not truly clio.
quen., the prince Of rhetorc,ans. Nor did the
soundness of his logic suffer any thing by a com
pari.on with the richness and classical purity of
the language in which he copiuusly poured forth
those f..urative illustrations Of his argument.
which enforced while they adorned it. But let
others pronounce his eulogy. I>'nust not. feel
a, if his mighty spirit still haunted The scene Of
It's t,iumrhs. aud xhen dared TO wrong them,
inJi- nanlly rebuked me
:. These names have become historical. There
were others. Of whom 1t is more difficult To
speak, because yet within the reach Of praise or
envy. For one who was, or aspired 10 be poll
ticlsn it would be prudent, perhaps wise, 10 a, old
all mention Of these men. Their acts. their
words, their thoughts, their very looks, have be.
come subjects of party controversy. But he
whose ambition Is ui higher or a lower order,
has 10 need Of such reserve Talent is of no
party exclusively; nor is justice.
- Among them, bot not of them, in the fearful
aud solitary submliy Of genius, stood a gentle.
man from Virgna-whum it was superfiuous to
designate. Whose speeches were universally
read? Whose satire was universally feareJi-
Upon whose accents did tins habitually listless
and christening House hang. so frequently, with
wIapt attention. Who was more dexter
Jus debaie'I ripper scholar? better versed
in the politics Of our own cOuhtr,? or deeper
read in the history Of others? Above all, who
was mure thoroughly imbued with the idiom of
the Euglish language-more completely master Of
its strength, and beauty, and dcicacy1 or more
capable Of breathing thoughts Of flame IN words
of magic aud tones of silver?
{" There was. also SON Of South Carolina,
still IN the republic. then. undoubtedly. the most
Influential member Of this House. With peni.
Us eminrn,iy metaphysical, he applied to poiitrcs
his HABITS OF anal ysls, abstraction, and condensa.
ton and thus gave to the problems Of Govern
ment something Of that grandeur which the high
er mathematics have borrowed from astronomy.
, The wings Of his mind were rapid but capricious,
and there were times when the light which fash
ed from them as they passed, glanced like mir
ror in the sun. only to dazzle the beholder En-
crossed with his subject-careIess o! his words
his lofies flights Of eloquence were sometimes
followed by coIloquial or provincial barbarisms.
But. though often incorrect, he was always fasci.
mating. Language with him, was merely the
scaffoIding of'h"usht-emploved to raise dome,
which, like Augelo's, he suspended in the hea.
vens.