Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-06-13
LONG SPEECHES AND ESSAYS.
He that hath knowledge, spnreth his words"

LONG SPEECHES AND ESSAYS.
He that hath knowledge, spureth his words"
Proc. eh. xvii. .. "a.
So saith the wise man, Judged by this
rule, how few men of knowledge will be
found! We lately saw part Of speech,
by Mr., HIliard, Of the Alabama Legisla-
lure, which filled upwards Of seven COL
umns Of the Alabama State Iutelligencer.
The In,el1igencer is quite a large sheet.
The speech was in reply to very long
one by Judge Smith, (Which we did not
read on that most fruitful of all subjects,
"a National Bank. What task it is to
read The speeches of some politicians!
We would as soon undertake TO wade
through the in,erminable novels of Rich
ardson, the ponderous romauces of chival-
ry, such as the Grand Cyrus, or the Gle
liza and Cleopatra Of Madame Scuderi.
IT'S very certain, that these old stories
would be vastly more amusing and per-
haps as profitable. Long speeches have
now become almost universal in cur coun-
try. Many of our politicians think that
they mus, he heard for theirl long speeches,
and many Of our editors think that they
must be read, for their dull. interminable,
prosy articles. Never was there greater
mistake. Essays and speeches of this
character, are written in what Professor
Lieber humorously calls "the State paper
style" The same learned writer, 10 his Po.
litical Ethics, says, "Those who have
right to speak, lawyers. Legislators, minis
iers, speak TOO much. Luther found it ne
cessary TO enumerate among the 'nine
qualities and virtues of good preacher
as the sixth, that he ought TO know when
TO stop" 1t has been truly said, that
"brevity is the soul of wit" Csndensa-
ton is the perfection of good wiring and
peaking. Dr.. Franklin, the Prince of
American philosophers, aud perhaps Of all
modern philosophers. was remarkable for
his cunciseness, his clearness, his vigorous
thought, and at the same time The simple
beauty of his style. He never spoke when
he had nothing say. He never indulged
in long periods and commonplace politi-
cal reflections, like many modern orators
and writers. With him, "Sound was but
the echo to the sense" Every word told.
He wrote for posleriry, no, for the hour.
His short but beautiful essays will be the
delight Of the studeur, when the volnmin-
Gus documents Of modern politicians, will
be consigned to the tomb ofthc Capulets.
Cum reterrc negas, quail sit qnisque parents
Natus, dun ingenuus: persuades hoe tibi rerc,
Multos sGpc riros nuliis majoribus ortos
Et ririsse probes, a,nplis e. honoribus auetos.
HORACE.
You say It matters not. who mans father
may be, if he himself be honest. You are sat-
isfed of this truth, that many persons ofintcg.
rity. descended from ignobe fathers, have lived
in the enjoyment Of the highest honors.
In the reign of Augustus Caesar, tho
proud nobility reproached the sa'irst Ho-
race, berau>e he was the sou Of father,
who was freed man They though, that
they would greatly mortify him, and de-
grade him in the eyes Of the Roman peo-
pie. To his honor, be il said, the poet
never attempted TO conceal the lowliness
of his origin. On the contrary, he pro-
claimed it 10 the world. He though, il a
sufficient distinction to be The favorite Of
the wise Mecenas, the beloved counsellor
of Augustus. Wha; cared he for a long
line of noble ancestors, If he had merit
enough to recommend him 10 the notice Of
Augustus, the master Of the world? He
was but novus homo, the maker Of his own
fortunes, and in that, he eloried. Well
di, he lash the degraded sons Of Patfcian
families, who brought disgrace upon their
ancestors by ,heirnumerous vices! In our
day, aud in our country, where oil are
equal, there are to be found aristocrats
who endeavor to pour contempt upon men
OF meri, who have risen from an humble
origin 10 posts Of high distinction. An ed
itor, some time since, spoke contemptu-
ously of a United States Senator, because
it seems he came from the lowly walks of
society. The Senator was the Hon. John
NJ. Niles of Connecticut, who, it is said.
was originally tin-pedler. He is Van
Buren, man. and was defeated at the last