Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-06-06

Itiful, and the best expressed know of
any orator, ancient or modern.
TO compare these gentlemen with Bri-
fish or ancient orators is very interesting
so far as il developes their peculiarIties
Webster has all the logic Of Burke, with
but little Of his splendid imagery. Clay
has much of the wit Of Sheridan. but little
Of bis common language. Webster IS the
Broughsm of our country-Ciay is the
Canning. Webster has the grasp ofmind
the vivid conception, the burning thought
of the iirst,-and Clay has the daring
views, the prophetic eye, and chivslrous
port Of the last. Webster is an Erskine
at the bar, and what is more, a statesman
IN addition. Clay is there out OF his ele
ment, with too much OF Curran and of the
Irish school for an American lawyer; but
| ia the senate, Fox was not reader nor
more brilliant. Webster has the direct
ness and strait forwardness Of Cessi's
speeches, as Sallust have given them. Clay
has all the yiyacIty and life Of Cicero,
with none of b,s polish. Webster has
much of the condenceed power and plecis-
ion Of the Armenian Clay has all has
earnestness and energy, but none OF his
labour and study. The two orators united
would have made perfect Demosthenes
To run up the merits Of the two, let me
say then Clay is an orator by nature, and
was born one-Webster Is an orator by
discipline, study and education. Clay is
always ready. The quicker the flash the
more brilliant the bolt. Webster thinks
with less rapidly, and requires time to
forge his thunder, and TO nerve his arm.
Clay has but few resources IN his early
studies, Webster can call upon them ioi
any weapons at has bidding Clay ap
pears better or brighter than Webster
IN person, but Webster appears better or
brighter IN print Both are extraordinary
men, and would make an impression up
on any assembly IN any country But yet
their conbtrariety OF character admits,
with advantage, Of placing them 10 con
trast, III order better TO display them as O.
rators and statesmen. La the Senate OF
the United States, they exert that influ
ence and guide over the public affairs
WHICH supremacy OF intellect viii ever IN
some degree give IN spite OF party ar
rangements. Both moving and acting to
gether, are irresistible In eloquence, in ar
sument, 10 logical force Opponents
must fall before them. In debate when
they move on The same side, they remind
one Of The wild Shenandoah and the poto
mac as they meet al the Blue Ridge, and
there cleave asunder the mountains from
the summit TO the base leaving crags and
fragments of precIpices behind, but anon
flowing on together as smoothly and as
calmly as If nothing had happened, Their
junction was at first from opposite, anu
hitherto dIscordant political parties Long
have they flowed over the same oed, ami
run in the same channel. Whether, late
events seem to omen, this current is 10 be
broken up, and TO dIsenDogue itself by
different mouths,ls question Tune will de
termlne, but when they do break fronl
each other, the points OF separation VIII
soon be wider ana rougher than The point
OF confluence. The Potomac may glide
on as it now glIdes by this city in dignity,
IN calnness, in modesty, able, 1t may oe
TO wait a lesser freight on Its bosom, but
the Shenandoah viii resume It's oagina
ruggedness and independence, and The
marks OF disrupture and ayulsion will be
felt and be seen.