Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-04-27
GREAT MEN OF TIE NORTH AND
SOUTH.


( Brooks. Of the New York Express, thus
discourses in his lively, sketchy manner:
Nine tenlls Of the active intellect OF this
country is,or has been engaged in the profes-
sion of law;--but IN the north the lawyers
often seem 10 have The powers winch Burke
had. and Fox and Sheridan too, of uniting
politics and literature at the same time, ana
Of distinguishing themselves as much IN one
way as the other Daniel Webster, for ex-
ample, is just as mighty with his pen as with
his tongue, no matter whether he is talking
Of architecture or poetry, IN New England
Lyceum. or Of political economy and constl-
tutional law with General flayne in the SEN
ate of the United States. This diversified
power of Webster it is which gives him re-
nown in England as well rs America, and
which would make him ~ famous in the Brit
ish House Of Commons rs in the American
Senate. Edward Everett has something OF
the same power, with more taste and learning,
il may he, with less energy than Webster.-
Now Mr.. Preston, of South Carolina, who
for the first three times a person hears him.
is the most eloquent man in this country, and
who undoubtedly will produce more effect on
a popular assembly hearing him for the first
time than any other man, is the representa-
tive of southern intellectual energy, but Mr.
Preston's speeches one can't report, and
generally speaking they will not bear report
ing; for the metaphors and images are often
in bad taste, where there ,s leisure to examine
them;--and again, he seldom says any thing
which leaves an impression after 1t IS said.-
Calhoun has mother education with south
ern mind. The most exalted fancies are
ever floating in his head, the fruits of his
trai hn thnn
northern precision, and aptitude, the result Of
his Connecticut education. Hence, with no
eloquence at all as an orator. the cause of his
great ard just fame. Henry Clay, who in our
opinion is the greatest statesman in America,
and who, certain it is, whether he he in the
minority or majority, hns in the greatest cri-
sis, exerted the most triumphant influence
over the destinies of his country, is more OF n
southern than northern man in his tastes,
! his habits Of education and his eloquence.-
/ And for this very reason, with an intellect
! not go capacious as his will nevertheless live
. and be known years and years after Calhoun
I IS forgotten, or remembered only as the dis
tinguished cotemporary Of the Dcmosthenes
of America Webster, indeed, is the only
great statesman of this day who is sure of
posthumons reputation. and who will live as
long ns the English language lives. The
truth is then, nnd the inference too, that there
is a want Of literary taste among our south
erners. They are not rigid enough in their
words, severe enough in the air they give
them, to stand the test of cool examination.
/ For fortnight, Clay would be laughed at
in the English House Of Commons; but Web
ster would hold his rank in an hour: though,
true it ia, after the fortnight was over, Clay
would seem like new and great light wan
dering over the heavens. We of the north
and English too, go on the ground that ideas
are the thing, and not iU0rds. Every word
with us should weigh pound, as word can.
This ~ much in public speaking, but it Is
every thing in literature. Hence the secret
of the success Of northern literature, and of
want Of success on the part of the SOUTH
| The south and the west are verbose: Their
magnificent IDEAS they expand and beat out.
Such men as Charming and Webster con-
centrate and invigorate what they have to say.
Webster speaks in axoms. 1azewell is a
mighty man, that we should have made a
Webster of, if we had caught him Young, and
if we could hive trained him in New England.
But somehow or other. the scarcencss Of the
white population of the south materially af-
fects opinions, cducatons and tastes. We of
the north come in contact with each other,
and thus rub off our prejudices one against
the other. Criticism reaches and hurts us;
and ridicule kills us off. Hence our vanity
is Topped and kept down, and our eccentrici-
ties trimmed and kept in order. Again, in
tellect is favored by the excitement Of n
crowded population. AS the flint strikes fire
by friction, so thought strikes out thought on
the same principle. Grent men, says some
body, grow up in clusters. But southern
men do not come in contact with each other.
Their cities are few-villages there are none
the plantations are far apart and their roads
are BAD. Hence they cannot cultivate their
tastes as a more thcky settled population can,
= hence they do not wear off their preridices,
and hence too, their remarkable vanity, and
their universal belief that their manners are
perfect-them the pinks Of chevaliers-
and that we Of the north are good for jobs,
and peddlers, and Jews,-yet they are the
only gentlemen Of the land.-True, trne il is,
their hearts are warm and noble, but they
have their hearts in their hands, and we have
ours in our heads. True il is also, that they
have many more Of the virtues Of hospitality
and kindness than we seem to have, and a
greater forgetfulness Of self, but alas! they
very often turn their very virtues into vices.
Their hospitality becomes profiiseness; for
example their forgetfolness OF selfis reckless
ness often, their chivalry is a riot and passion
! at nmes. But amalgamate us,-thcn,-make
US better cquainted-ming,c northern heads
with southern hearts-add taste tfor + insist
we have more, ito their leisure, their learn
ing-the very thing our rail roads and our
steamboats, with their increased facilities for
! 'trsversing, are daily doing-and we shall be
not only great aud united people, but with
manners and a character that the world may