Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-06-28
VOL. XLII--No. 62r

mldes, we are told, at the head Of some Of
The bravest and most spirited Of the Aihc.
man young men, was preparing to invade
Bn'ia at an inoppor'unc moment. He
lsbored zoalously to divert hun from his
purpose. making use Of these memorable
words: "If yoa regard net the opinion Of
Perices yet wait at the least for the ad
vice Of time who is the best of all counsel.
lors !" Great caution and great wisdom
were the great merits Of Pericles in war.
They are among Mr.. CIay's merits when
bringing forward aud proposing measures
OF public policy IN time Of peace.
THE LAND BILL.-MR. CLAY's ELoaUENCF.
OF Mr.. Clay's vnicc. manner Of debate.
and other peculiariiics | will here saw
something. First, OF his voice, because it
is Mr.. Clay's voice, and know of none
like it among the list oforators have heard
at Washington, or elsewhere. IT is one
OF the first pccuiar'ies noticed by tho
stranger who hears him speak. II falls
upon the ears Of The hearer With all the
sweetness Of soft music. demanding the
attention and en',s'lnc the feelings aud
synpathes OF the dul.st nearer carsble OF
being influenced by sound. The tones of
his own voice | sometimes believe. master
his own judgement. Thrice have heard
him during the few years past. when al.
lndIng to one Of his favorie subiacts--Uhe
Distribution Of the Public Lands Ibis own
| feelings have carried hun beyond The
bounds of legislative discretion. ! have
seen almost every man and woman in the
crowded galleries mIng'lng their feelings
in common with iS.--'her hearts touched
and then best sympathies called forth, to-
getbcr. and hurried on like the mountain
stream mrgllng with the iInpetuons 'o-reht
! when borne along to The ocean and sweep
ing all before. Bot it is only when Mr..
| Clay has felt himself designedIy wronged
man, his motives i'Hpeached, and his ac-
tons misindged tha, you see these outbreaks
Of passion.
In the long session o. 80 and SO when
The Land Bill, --famiary known all over
the country as Mr.. Ciay's Land BiH,-for
the last time passed the Senate, | shall
never forget the speech then made by him,
and the effect it produced upon the great
body Of the hearers. Mr.. Clay was reci-
ting his own connection with that meas.
ure from The moment Of its inception. To
The time when Gen. jackson thought it
incumbent upon him to refuse his sigma
tUre TO the Bill which had passed both the
Senate and the House by large majortics.
His aluson to, and vindlca,on Of, the no.
ives which prompted the introduction oTlhat
TmsHl!4s .-the stern opposition he had met
wNRs&the uncompromsng hostility OF the
Executive. end some Of his friends. to the
! ny n : / ho q
we'd, because the measure was bad. a. be.
cause it was his measure. the position in
which he had been placed. designed TO hn-
initiate him, and intended to thwert the ex-
ecution of favorite and truly patriotic
measure ;-all this, coupled with keen and
naturally sensitive feelings, quite unnerved
him, and in spite Of every disposition and
effort to control his feelings, saw Mr..
Clay quite in tears, and heard his voice
falte!, choked for utterance. He was
greved--palned with the recollection Of
unjustliabIe injuries, know that it j.
sometimes an easy thing for man to weep
at the effect of his own self told relation
Of wrongs, yet as there is but zone step
from the sublime to the ridiculous" so
there is but one from man heard and seen
reclting his tale of woe, spoken in an lm-
passloned manner. and story equally sad,
'old where the heart is wanting and insin,
cerity apparently manifest. Mr.. Clay's
strong feelings may give the cue TO his
strong expressions of passion. but the voice
OF the man strikes n chord in his own
, heart, which is responded to in the hearts
OF his hearers ,--maklng the heard and
the bearer beat in unison. Music charms
the ear, takes captive the heart. and exens,
at times, an oil controlling influence upon
the listener The human voice il like the
tones Of sweet instrument the melody
Of the heau--glvlng utterance to it's tho'ts
--caIing forth corresponding strains and
sympalh'es. Rightly atluned, it has a
power almost super human. Mr.. Cays
voice is terveni and deep toned --reaching
the recessss of he affections. and exerling
a bewitching power over the hearer, The
Poet tells US that
"There is in souls sympathy with sounds,
And as the mind is pitched the ear is peas'd.
With melting airs, or martial, brisk or grave,
Some chord in unison with what we hear
Is touched within us, and the heart replies"
Eoouencc, the Rhetorcians tell US, ia
The art or talent by which discourse is
adaIted to It's end, and It is Cicero, |
believe, who says that the great art of an
: orator is the selection of his topics, 10 elo
queDce, passion, imagination, wisdom, and
will, are all concerned. True eloquence
is born of Nature, and as Natures offspring
it derives beauty. strength and power from
use. Voice and manner are part of its
magic machinery, and in these gifts, Mr..
Clay, although born an orator is doubly 50
by improving the first gifts OF Heaven.
1t Is my design at this moment to give
those of your readers who have not seen
and heard Mr., Clay, distinct idea of The
- man. To introduce YOU to him as he is
y for have no wish to paint his character
o in false or ex'ravogant colors. One of the
e brightest ornaments Of the Republic, tho