The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-01-03
EXTRACTS FROM THE
HON. 8. L. SoUTHARD'S ADDRESS,
at pRINcEToN.
THE STYLE on rHE BIBLE.

The Bible Is IN this respect, literary
curiosity, and fit study for you as American
scholars, who must use that language to COM
municate to your fellow men, the knowledge
You may acquire. siaw
Every scholar should desire to understand
and write his own language with purity and
force. The tongue Of every nation has its
peculiarities, and is moreover suited to their
general character, and to the current Of ideas
and modes of thought among the people
You may study the character OF nations in
the languages which they speak. Ii was so
in old time, with the Hebrew, the Greek, and
the Latin; and it is so now with the Italian
and French, the Spanish and English. And
those have written and spoken with most pow
er to their countrymen, who have written and
spoken their language with most purity and
propriety. This is truth which you ought
not to overlook in your aspirations for distinc-
ton, and your desire for usefulness. Our
Anglo-Saxon is plain, strong. beautifully sim
pie and admirably suited to the true character
Of the race, Of which you forma part; and the
more purely you speak and write il, the more
efficient will you become as writers and
speakers. Examples living and dead, sup
port this remark. Swift, Hall, Marshall, and
Madison, will be read and admired, when the
heightened exotics Of many others shall have
found their appropriate position, as evidences
Of false taste and want of judgment And if
| may be permitted, without offence 10 any
to suggest comparison between living scho-
lars and orators, take Webster, distinguished
among the Senators Of his country; and
Brougham, the first in genius and capacity in
the British hous of Lords. They are equals
in tho higher qualities of intellect, yet every
sound scholar will give preference to the for
mer, in the style and power with which his
argument is exhibited The difference, to a
great extent, arises from the difference Of their
language. Webster is one of the purest An
glo-Saxon speakers with whom am acquaint-
ed. His ideas are clear as light, to those
whom he addresses. because they are pre-
scented with simplicity of words and phrases,
and without the superhuous drapery which is
borrowed from other languages. If you re-
gard your own reputation as speakers, can
not urge too strongly upon you, an early and
diligent devotion to this characteristic of style
My own errors lead me to become your coun-
sellor on this point. But do not misunder-
stand me, and misconstrue my meaning in
diligent study Of the ancient languages, from
which so many additions have been made to
ours nor the use OF many words whose ety.
mology runs back to them. | am not yet re-
leved from my prejudices in their favor nor
so very wise as to regard their study as a
waste Of time. Your reading Of the classical
languages and writers ought to be thorough,
both for the discipline of your judgment, taste,
and style, and for correct understanding,
not only of what is derived from them, but
of the very structure and use of all language.
PROPHECY.
In the following remarks the orator has ac-
complished double purpose; exhibiting, at
the same time, the miraculously exact fulfil
ment of prophecy, and the majesty, solemn
ty, and sublimity of the language of the
Bible.
Its prophecies are an important portion Of
the history, not only Of Israel, but of the
world You will not study them at this pc
Rod of your lives, to find out that which is
yet 10 come. Such a study, would demand
subiugation of the passions, calmness and
humility, enlarged knowledge and sound
Judgment, unsuied to your years. But that
which relates to the past will afford You most
useful information, and teach you powerful and
abiding lessons. When they were delivered
they were anticipation and prediction of things
improbable and incredible, but long since be-
come facts. 10 you they are recorded his
tory. Not one Of them has failed Their
execution is now written on the face Of the
fairest part Of the earth, in letters of desola-
ton. None can sec them and disbelicve.
Are not the guilty cities of the plain, still
covered by the bitter waters Of Asphaltites !!
Is not Canaan still u curse and Babylon de-
ISOLATION, where the Arab does not pitch his
tent, nor the shepherd make his fold Is not
Ishmael still the terror Of the mountain and
danger of the valley? Is there any more a
prince in the land Of Egypt! Arc not the
separate and contrasted dcstinies of Esau and
Israel, demonstration to every mind, that the
shirt which forcsaw and foretold both, was
not Of man Esau possessed the very fat
ness of the land his people were numerous;
his power great his cities strong his pride
naughty yet in the midst of his glory, and
when to human eye his strength was firm and
his growth vigorous, the denunciation went
forth from the mouth of the prophet. lie had
sinned, and "shed the blood of Israel with
the sword, in the time of their calamity and
in the time when their iniquNy had an end, +"
and now, utter desolaiion covers his land and
Esau is no mora blasted monument OF the
precise truth Of the prediction. The sword
of the Almighty was barred & came down upon
Idumea and upon the people Of his curse TO
Judgment. The bow was Bonded and the ar
rows were not spared. The barrcnncss OF
III Ghor extends from the Elani,ic Gulf tothe
Dead Sea. The Edom of the Edomiies, is
without an inhabitant. From generation to