The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-22

his hearers having fear that he would fall from his
eminence like him in the fable, with the waxen wings
On the contrary, the nearer felt confident of his intel
lectuai strength and yielded his whole feelings TO him
without that drawback experience in listening to
some Of the ablest speakers who often have glarnp
impersclion which is continually destroying the effect
of their eloquence Mr.. Writ studied oralory with
Ciceronan care, and in the recklessness with which
he let fly the arrows of his wit, he much resembled
the Roman. The power of ridiculing his adversary
was Mr. Wir's forte. The appropriate in
which he applied an a9scdote was admirable. After
he had demonstrated the asurdity of his opponents
arguments, with clearness that the most critical To-
gcian would have admired after he had illustrated his
position with all the lights Of law that law whose seat
Hooker said sis the bosom of God, and whose voice
is the harmony of the world" (and when Mr.. Writ
had strong he explored every field of literature
and science bringing their joint sanction to his pur-
poses after he had called up the truths Of philosophy,
the experience Of history and the beauties of poetry,
all coming like spirits throngng to his call after he
had expatated upon the cause with such reflections as
you would suppose Barrow or Tillotson to have used
when speaking of the "oppressors wrong" after he
had done all this Mr.. Writ would fthe opposite party
deserved the infection, pour forth upon him lavake
ridcule, which famed while burned and which was
at terrible and Notwithstanding from its sever
ty and TRUTH and beautiful from the chaste language
in which it was conveyed.
Mr. Writ always struck as being very much like
the late Prime Minister Of England Charming, in his
mind. Charming wanted, and Writ, in degree, the
power Of calling up and controlling the stronger and
deeper passions Of our nature He had not that with
ering scorn which Brougham possesses strongly,
nor could he rise above the tempest Of popular
tion as he tells Patrick could and soar with
supreme dominion" He wanted deep passion.
Comparing him with the leading orators of our coun-
try, 1t would be said that Clay far surpassed him
IN the power ofcontroling miscellaneous assemblage
when tho public mind was deeply agitated: that Pinck
ney on question of feudal lore Webster in profun-
dity and on constitutional law, and that Preston, in
theg glow of vehement defamation would have had the
advantage him. but before auditory who loved to
mngle wit with argument and elegance with strength
who would make truth beautiful by the adorn-
ments of poetry and poetry useful as the handmade of
TRUTH adding to all those exterior graces which make
oratory SO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES such an auditory, it
may be said, without great hesitation that Mr.. Writ
would have surpassed either of them in general effect
Mr.. Wirts gesture, too, that of which the Grecian
encies. The fault was that they were studied-and
yet the art with which he concealed his art
summate. It was only by the closest observation that
it could he detected.
For along time Mr.. Wir's chief opponent, at the
Baltimore bar was Mr.. fancy, the present Chic
Justice Of the United States. Mr. fancy removed to
Baltimore, om Frederick, the death of Mr.. Pinck.
ney, and there Mr. Writ and himself were the great
forensic rivals. No two Of the same profession
could be different in their intellectual gifts than
were these gentlemen. They were as unlike in these
regards as they were in their personal appearance
Mr.. fancy then slim to feebeness, (le looks now
improved in health,) he stopped, and his voice was
weak, and such was the precarious condition Of his
HEALTH that he had to station himself Immediately be-
and near the jury to make himself heard by them
Mr. Writ always placed himself the side of the trial
table, opposite the jury, in oratorca position. Mr.
Taney's manner of speaking slow and firm-neve
using the least rhetorical ornament but pressing int
the heart of the case, with powerful arguments like
:, great leader with unbroken phaanx, into the hear
D of besieged CITY, His style plain, unadorne
and forcble and direct that il might be called palpa
% BILE. With his snuff box-for the Chief Justice then
70 too, used snuf-compressed in his closed hrnds h
reasoned for hours without the least attempt at wit
10 eoquence. And yet, at times, he truly eoquen
from his deep, yet subdued, earnestness. In CUES
ton Of bail in the of youth who had shot at hi
teacher, remember, though then youthful student
that a crowded auditory suffused in tears. L
was the ervor of his feelings speaking right out
made him eloquent He did appear to know that
he eloquent himself It was an inspiration which
came to him. if it came at all, unhdden-and which
| ia -, tb,
"spirits from the vastly deep"
One of the most interesting witnessed at
the Baltimore bar trial in Mandamus case, in
which the right to church was contested. Mr..
Duncan had been established in the ministry in Bal
timoie by number of Scotch Presbyterians, in an
obscure edifce. His talents drew such congre-
CATION that it became necessary to build a
larger was done; andin the progress of events
the pastor preached liberal doctrine than he had
at first nculcaed. His early supporters remained not
OILY unchanged in their faith, but they resolved to
have it preached to them by with whom they could
entirely agree upon religious matters. The majority
of the congregation agreed with Mr.. Duncan. A deep
schsm arose in the divided flock which could not be
healed, and which was eventually, by writ of man
damus, carried before legal tribunal. Mr.. fancy
was counsel for the old school sde and Mr. Writ fol
the defendants The court room, during the trial
was crowded with the beauty and fashion of the monu
mental city. 1t such display Of eloquence ant
full appreciation of it, is seldom witnessed. Mr.
Writ was always happy in making quotation, an,
in concluding this he made Of his happiest
After abiding to the old school members, who, it ha
been said were Scotchmen and after dwelling upol
the tragedy of Macbeth, the scenes of which la
q in Scotland he described Their preacher being il
e the condition OF Macbeth's guest; and said, after
stern rebuke upon them, that though they should sue
coed in their cause, which he felt confdentthey wou
: not, that they would feel like the guilty thanc. +
!, - "Tbis Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been