Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-04-18
skescAss Or Character.
fre~ as " asksnyiss Cerr.bsssd<,zf Of the Port.
.. lind Lhaiy .Ii,xrfs.sr.
HENRY CLAY h DANIEL. WEBSTER

t<00 Aa,y .idte7fsser.
HENRY CLAY h DANIEL. WEBSTER.
OF both these gentlemen, Z am n political
friend; have often heard them ian the senate
occssionaliy in the Supreme Court, and the
lnst, ut times, In public assembly. 7 have
observed them In public rs closely as \ could.
and ns they are undoubtedly two OF the most
prominent men Ia The United Statcs-l might,
perhaps, say, the most prominent mem pur-
Posc, n, we'll as I can, to contrast them with
each othcr.
Let me remark before begin, that there
are NO two rien more different in their man
ners, their address, their mode OF speaking
ana m the construction Of their minds, and
Iyet Doth are men prc-smiuentiy dist,n-
gu'shcd for the very highest gifts Of intellect.
his difference has been incre ased no ther than
iessencd, by the different education and the
dmcrent schools OF men in which they have
been formed. MIR. Webster has been Obliged
10 cope with lawyers, ever on the watch. and
whose education was rs good if not better than
ms, and in courts where law and logic settled
the question rather than feeling or fine decla-
nation. MIR. Clay has met with q different
class OF men, particularly in the earlier courts
OF keutucfy. where tho science Of law was
once worth little more than assertion. and
where Judge and jury were carried captive
by eloquent defamation, or pathetic appeal.
Win MT. Websfcr's antagonists, genius, irony,
sarcasm and wit, nnd al the weapons Of The
orator, were insufficient to win the cause
To them must be added COW lotion not by an
appeal TO the passions, but to the Judgment.
with MIR. Gays antagonists all the " eapons
fof The orator were as useful rs i'm public as
setnbly, for in courts in which lie armed Judges
are not seated, and where. as in the early Sc Z
tiement OF country, the judge receives law
as exPounded by the attorney, rather than
from ms own knowledge, an appeal to the
passions may be rs useful rs when addressing
the public at large. mention these things'
rather applicable to MIR. Clay's early practice
at the bar. than to bis subsequent history, to
account for the different tendencies Of the in.
telIect Of these frst-rate men.
The figure Of Mr.. Webster is n little below
par. The figure Of Mr.. Clay is a little above
par. The address Of Mr.. Webster il rather
s'if, or when easy, sdcctedly so. The adj
dress OF Mr.. Clay is naturally easy, and tho
not exactly graceful in the Chesterfield sense
Oh the term, yet progressing and attractive.
The countenance OF Mr. Webster is hard
harsh, and not inviting. The coubtcnance Of
MIR. Clay IS crowned with smiles, aud displays
q thousand varieties of feeling. On MIR
Webster's face when lie is quiet, one can trace
none OF those passions, with which he ia en-
lowed On Mr.. Clay's face, even when quiet.
has whole heart nj times, can be read. Mr..
Webster's indications Of his talent are in his
broad forehead, which every body notes as
remarkable. Mr.. Clays indications of his
talent are In his mouth, which is SO flexible
AS to be tell-talc Of what Is going on within.
and In his eyebrows, which display OF once
10 the observer, even if no is no phys iogno-
mist, and no student Of Lavater, man Of ex-
traordinary powers. Mr.. webster's ugly look
ut his adversaries in debate has often bc en- spo
ken OF; and u Is no exaggerati0n 10 say, he
can look like Satan himself. Mr., Claws con-
tempt and sarcasm are conveyed BY q mali
cions smile, which can be felt but not de-
scrioed, or significant gesture, far more
expressive than words. Mr.. Webster Is not
graceful. for his figure will not admit OF grace:
be Is not tall enough, and is too sioutly huilt
Mr.. Clay Is not an elegant speaker in the
drawing room sense Of the term his tall
hgure Is roughly hewn; his arms are too long;
his body 10 not flexible oeough sometimes
ADD again 10 10 too much SO. Mr.. Svehsters
voice IS clear, distinct, stern and impressive
but on the high noies, at times, unt,lcasan
MIR. Clay's voice Is as soft rs music, never
iatgniDg the ear, but always inviting atten-
ton. u il loud, clear, and distinct. MIR.
webster gcsileulates with his hands and arms
alone. Mr.. Clay, may say, gcsticulates with
ProPriety. all Deer. lie mods his head. hung
on long neck. % % 70 make q whole assem-
biy smile. His arms, hands. fingers, feet, and
even his spectacles and pocket handkerchief
AID him In debate. lie steps forward and
backward, and from the right to the left " III,
effect. hr. Webster and Mr. Clay both ex-
press strong passions in their faces 10 advan-
tage. Tho sheer of both is different, but per-
ieet IN the effect, and ininlitable. MrWebster
enn look worse than Mr.. Clay, but Mr.. CLAY
can look things the most provoking. The inn.
preston received from Mr.. webster il re-
eeived in silence, bot Il felt ard remembered.
The impression from Mr.. Clay provokes an
instantaneous laugh, II the expense Of the
victim. Mr.. Websters feelings are In perfect
submission 90 bis will The feelings Of Mr.
Clay often get the better of his Judgment.
Mr.. Clay n eKcitsbic, aud requires but little
to arouse him Mr.. Webster Is not, and re-
quires much 70 arouse him. Mr. Clay speaks.
even on ordinary occasions, with animation
and interest; Ar. Webster Is. ai tiuea, vex-
atiously dOll aud stupid. Mr.. Clsy's language
and pronunciation are not always good and
correct. Mr.. Webster speaks with the Ut
most correctness, and seldom or never recall,
word. Mr. Clay, 81 times, hcsitatcs and
stsmmsrs. Me-. Webster Is never thus az fault
Nc. Clay speaks very rapidly Ne. Webster
rather SLOW, and very cautiously: Mr.. Web
stcr's style y . pattern of purity, eeFsgieuigy
and elegance. NJ. CIsy's style " occasion
ally N bed taste, end sOmetiH,es verbose
Thus have eonirastcd these two distin-
guisbed individuals " some, not very import.
ant particulars. The dntiuctioa viii be best
understood, when Il !. remarked. that Mr.
Webster b eautious, cool, end Il the better
seholar-snd that .8r. Clay Is warm, Inoaa-
tioas, end hes not Fveeived = good classical
educaiiou, though some n his state pager,
ars as admirable - any 10 our language.
~ eoslid isupr-ss my idca upaa the rrstlrr. I
N0iiid csil one anfn Fl gcIfiis, sd the oslssr n
G'a1 II tais7us. Tbs, however. gives bai faint
is.iirsssios a IN siiaineiis. voslld dF1s. c.
niiis = enthssissn, IN whish Nfr Cisy IL inftssl
tairss y tndYprst, Bescr arising fDsa eith,fsi-
ssEsi, Sftb vlsich AiF. Webstrr n snd1ued g..
nius enEasrsi ~ ~ Ohjeff vith a. whol. heart znd
so -spd this q ehararte si-tie ~ Afr. Clay-
: si'la - cernfas pcrscvertnZ. Oaear,i ~ Is w.
fttAink,' bsi hot OfeE-eonfi'.la f.or rssh, sHd
this y eisaFzsiafisiie ~ Me- Wehsssr. f;.s,os