Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-11

men; in the former, be the subject ever 50 famil.
lar, they appear as il they would never getst the
beginning nor arrive at the end; SO precipitste
are the Jumps to conclusions, and 30 unconpec.
ted the array Of arguments and illustrations.
As an example Of this want Of arrangement OF
topics, take Mr.. Cobbett's speech of Tuesday
night. The proposition was to elect Speaker;
subordinate and growing out Of it was the ques.
ton of choice between Tory and Reform can
didate; the former was supported on the ground
that, besides great fitness. consequent upon SIX
teen years experience, pension Of "a. 900 year
would be saved to the public. On this Mr.. Cob.
bett Joined issue, and opposed the Tory candi.
date. Whyl Because the people were taxed
two or threee per cent. for land, and because the
salary Of the President Of America was $4,000
year! Its plain that in their proper places
that IL, on proper tine and occasions ques.
ton involving the Office or salary of the Speaker,
for exampe-these would be excellent, and they
might be irresistible facts to urge; but it is equal.
ly plain that they leave the main question Of
choice between Tory and Reform candidate
altogether untouched. Another drawback-and
at least quond his success as a debater in the
House of Commons-a serious one--frOm Mr..
Cobbett's style and manner, 10 his pedagogueish
dogmatism. He has so long had it all his own
way in his Register-he has SO long struck about
him right and left, at friend and foe, knocking
down both with the same swing Of his fail, and
he has beeu so long the idol Of some hundred
half Drained, half fed, people, that he cannot
brook contradiction, and Eliminates his doctrines
with all the er cathedra infallibility of his Holt
ness the Pope.
Then there is the natural tendency Of constant
habits Of composition to generate didactic SEN
Righteousness Of style, which ofends grIevousiy
in oral discussion. This was more manifest on
Tuesday from his elaborate efforts to be literal,
and to avoid that shipwreck rock to oil young
and ambitious speakers-a pompous ore rof,,'do.
ism Of manner. Nov, If there be any assembly
in the world which more sensitiveiy than another
re.ists the birch, particularly if administered BY
man Of humble birth, it is the House Of Com.
mons, land Of course, though not equally so, ths
Lords;) and for this simple reason, that it has
been for centuries, and maugre the sinister fore
bodings Of the shortsghted and the timId, il es.
sentialy the more aristocratic body in the
world; and, in common with every other body
Of intelligent and wel.bred gentlemen, exqui.
sitey alive to ithe ludicrous. A man may com.
NIT as many bunders as he pleases; may foun-
der away and expectorate nonsense and So
phistry by the hour; may maintain that black ID
white and white black-and he will lie listen.
ed to with courtesy, if not marked attentionj
but If he should in an unIucky moment (as
was too often the case in the last parliament
with man Of undeniabie genius and acquire
nents, aud, despite his wrong views on some
points universally respected for the benevolent
tendency Of his purposes, Mr.. Sadler) assume
the senatorial pedagogue, and still more, # be
should in his delivery betray any un.Almack
gaucherie Of tone or gesture, then farewell to
his legislative influence for ever Othetlo's oc.
cupation's gone" Isay still more; il the On.
lucky wight rOuses the senses Of the ludicrous
Of his auditory,by what they may designate
plebianism Of manner; for If what Dir James
Macintosh happily called polished idleness OF
aristocralic life in England, THAT is. the instnc.
tue feeling so early and constantly cultivated by
the highest classes here, Of the artificial morale
ties, the festdious antipathies and sympathies
Connected with their sole occupation, the art OF
pleasing, aud not being displeased,) has any Tea.
ture more marked than another, it is insolent
indifference of every conventional mode not pre-
cribed in its own narrow circles-an intolerance
that resolves itself into offensive vugarity-.Hflas