Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-09-04

mediate dissolution. In the teeth of that vote, tho
Duke OF Wellington could not take oihce-that
No'e restored Lord Grey, and saved the tranquility
OF the existing generation, IL must be confessed
That nothing could be more timcly--more judicious
IMAM that vote. Ii went to the verge, and not an
men beyond the verge, of wha, the occasion requ-
red.
Tojudgc of the character ofthis House of Com
mons-comparc It with that of the Lords. What a
wonderful schism in opinion The vast majority
oil the Lords cheering up the Wellington Ministry
to the ninth hcavcn-tbc vast majority OF the Com
mons damning ii down to the lowest deep. The
Lords all admiration at the noblcncss OF rcnoun-
cling prnciplc--the Commons all scorn at the ig-
nUminy, What picture. Aud the Lords are to
brave this (ncreascd) collision in Reformed Par
lament
The character of an Assembly may also be judy
ed by its most popular speakers. HomUly congo
nialily of sentiment is appaudcd than elo-
quent dissent; therefore the most popular speakers
IN an Assembly represent the character of that
| Assembly. Look then at MIR. O'Connell. From
the icy GOODNESS with which that extraordinary
man was received when he first entered the House.
he has risen perhaps to he the most attractive de-
| batter that Assembly possesses. His style of Par
| liamontary speaking has, we believe. never been
sketchcd Let us humbly attempt to supply the
omission.
| Daniel O'Conncll has great advantages of person
he has ali that appearance of power which begh,
and robust proportions invariably give the orator.
without beng the least corpuen feshy, without
tus" He has great girth OF chcst-stands firm as
u rock;-his gestures free, bold, and warm
his countenamce plays with all he utters-his mouth
IN particular indicates with great felicity the pas
SION oil the moment-irank IN Cancellation, bitter
iii scorn. Indeed the shape of the lips is rather a
contradiction to the manlicr traits of the orators
fine athletic persoa, it is plable in character,
SO delicate in outline. 1t indicates, according to
the science of physognomy Il quick, and even
ovcr-quick susceptibility. Eyes light, full, and
cln Al 4
finely shapcd-alm avs left free in the oosened nc ok
cloth; small nose, but with deep set resoute nos
trs, complete very striking and chara cterstic
tout ensemble. Well, then, fancy the orator on
ms legs-and now Tor the 'Jice The Irish accent,
IN its more polished dialect does not dctract from
voice by far the most clear flexible, and lucidly
distinct you ever heard. You can't escape into a
corner OF that iilbuilt house to avoid it, Smut
your ears-it will creep into them! Yet he speaks
In much lower tone than most other speakers,
and IN much mellower key. As to the matter
| he throws himself at once on the strong bearing
OF the subJect-he seizes the question by its com
mon sense. Unliko other lawyers. you never find
INN prying into the little holes and corners, mig
CLING his soul into the Granny of question. As
was said of Lord Chatham, it is the one broad
view which he takes and insists upon, and that
that view should allow him to be popular in the
House OF Commons, is a striking proof how de-
mocratic that Assembly has become. 4 week or
two ago. on Mr.. Buxton's motion for the enamel
patton of slaves, Mr.. OConnell made an excellent
speech; yet in Parliament ten years ago, it
would have been called sad stuff, viz. he insisted
more on justice than expediency-did not handy
words about the interests of the planter thousands
but went at once to the marrow of the matter
the interests of the enslaved millions: ten years
ago, we say, this would heve been Irish declama
tion-now it is Catholic truth.
| What is visionary to-day is only declamatory to.
morrow, sensible tho next day, unanswerablc the
day after, and a truiSm at last. But willie taking
this broad popular view of question, whc ncr-
vous, and often flord in language OConnell is not
acknowledgement All Irish speaker in the Eng
lsh House. The burning flights of that asonish-
ing eloquence he exercises the multitude, he
seems always anxious to repress in the House-he
rather figures Debater than an Orator-curbs
his ardour, and puts his genius under restraint
lie has scnsibly improved in Parliamentary speak
ing-he improves daily From confidence in his
powers, he is now advancing to Il certainty of his
superiority. His Parliamentary fame is nothing
to what it will be. BY his occasional outlines
forth, we may Judge of what he could be in reply
crushing as mill stone. His answer, some time
since, to Sir Charles Wetherell, when that very
whimsical, but ngularly clever speaker lcctured
nun on the graccs, was TO use expressive vul-
garism, thoroughly SmaShiRg!-so easy--so good
natrred, and yet such blow. 1t reminded one
OF the description of Ulysses telling Irus, when
Checked half his might: yet rising to the stroke
His a,rbone dashed, the crashing ja,obone broke
Down dropped he stupid from the stunning ound,"
&c.
No man can combine in perfection, at the same
moment, the cool, refining legislator, g. the vivid,
popular orator. Commonplace is the most popu-
lar style OF eloquence Ill the House of Commons
and to be popular, common place you must use; to
be refined, or philosophical, speculative, is to
empty the House III an instant 1t is impossible to
read Burke's speeches and not to feel that they
could not have been popu!ar-not to be convinced
that he must have been called the Dinner Bell
But Burke's speeches printed are not entirely as
they were spoken.-No! for if they had been, he
would have had no auditor but the Spcaker!-anv
thing resembling them must have pa mic. struck the
SquTcs but the speeches themselves verbatim ct
litcratm, 1T would have been a moral impossibiIty
to have delivered in the Housc!-you might as well
fancy Contucius occurring in Chinese So with
you may see at once that he
could refine if he would-though his mind fas his
great law knowledge proves is peculiarly search
ing, as well as comprehensive, yet he knows too
we'll the temper of his audience to try it in any alb
struser speculation. And hence his main fault in
the House. that of clinging often too much to the
more hacknied as well as the broader view of sub
Ject. III oConnelPs popularity prove that his gene
raj sentiments are congcnal with those of the ma
Jonty, we must not forget that he also consults
their darling passion-an aversion to LoDoueurs he
speaks at least twice every night on an AVERAGE bt
never seems long. Short speeches and freouen,
speeches are the best mode of obtaining parliament
airy success.
In taking O'Connell as personifcation Of the
present state of the general body of the House in
public speaking, VIC must be struck with one fact
the greatness and variety ofthis mans powers
Coming late in life into the English Parliament
feared, djsliked--lis very reputation as an orator
almost enough to weigh him TO the dust-lfor how.
in an assembly where oratory does not thrive could
Inc keep up TO that reputation frst7)--a Catholic
An lrishman-an Agitator-The Agitator--;
suddenly obtruded into this chilling ASSEMBLY
where Grattan had wihercd and Flood had sunk
every eye upon him, but not to adrnlre-every lin
apart, but not to chcer-eyery ear intent, bu, not
70 be soothed--Was IL sIrpr sine tint lie fl;lnh NJ