The native American., 1840-11-28
PART III.
THE YOUNG ORATOR.


But If force
Mus yie.d to such inevitable shame,
As to offend, myselfbeing Tended ..
SO can give no reason nor will not,
More than Iodg'd hate. Shakespeare.
Clifford took his scat in Congress. He
did not Immediately have an opportunity
of entering into discussion, or of making
himself known as a speaker, or a man of
any extraordinary wers.-But learning,
after he had taken his seat, that in few
days question Of most exciting nature,
and Of vital importance to the interest of
his country, would be brought before the
house for discussion, he determined to
make his first attempt at establishing him
self in the eyes of the community, as
statesman and patriot, by showing his
zeal, and exerting his powers upon the
subject
The morning arrived when the qlles-
ton was to be discussed, and when Cliff
ford, for the first time, was to occupy the
floor of Congress as speaker. People
began to gather early, and soon the house
was crowded to overlooking. The ho,r
approached for the cofnmenc sment of the
debate. Charles opponent, Mr.. William
Wordsworth, spoke first He was man
of high order Of intellect, and cultivat-
ed mind Originally, lie possessed noble
principles, and many virtuous qualities,
but being thrown when young among as
sociates of the most licentious ana I'M
principled stamp, he had become entire
ly changed land instead Of virtue and
honor, his heart was filled with, and his
actions governed by, envy, revenge, and
a host of other vicious qualities and pas
sions. He was one of those curses to
society, and that libel upon humanity,
called the dnellst. And he was one, who,
though stained with the blood of several
Of his fellow men, and guilty of many
other crimes which would have D'':sssted
forever the prospects Of those in more
humble sphere, was fawned upon in the
higher circles of society, and was the re-
preventative in Congress of one of the
most popu lar districts in his native state
After Wordsworth had concluded, Cliff
ford arose. The eyes Of many of the
wisest and greatest of this country. as
well as OF Europe, were fixed upon the
young orator. 1t was his first effort in
the house, and he was almost abashed.
With low and quiverng voice, and
trembling frame, he commenced. The
crowd moved nearer to catch his words,
TO which they listened with deep, intense
interest. The orator became encouraged.
His voice grew more and more elevated:
his manner was no longer confused; and
his eyes sparkled with feeling. lie en-
tered into Il clear calculation of the ques
ton, showed It's Importance, and the goo,t
or injury that would result from its dec
sion. He then reviewed the argument
set forth by Wordsworth, and ably prove,t
that Wordsworth gave unten,ble asser
tons for proofs, irreconcileable contradlc
tons, and broken metaphors for subIim
illustrations. Atruptness, irrclevance
aud incongrnity, swept Wordsworth
thoughts from the memory down to tn
gulf of confusion, aud thence they dashed
rapidly through the auditory's minds, an
no more left trace or impression, thai
the clear water does on the chryslal vas
out Of which il is poured. Clifford's idea
were clothed i'll elegant diction, and tn
flowing harmony of his language, owe
which lofty sentiments shed a lambei
and sparkling beauty, was as free as til