The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-05-21

On the contrary the hearer felt confident Of his intel
leciua strength and yielded his whole feelings To him
without that drawback experience in listening TO
some Of the abest speakers who often have plsrina
imperfeciion, which is continually the effect
of their eloquence. Mr. Writ studied oraiory with |
Ciceronan care, and in the recklessness with which
he let fly the of his wit, he much resembled
the Roman. The power Of ridiculing his adversary
was MIR. Wirt's forte. The appropriate manner in
which he applied anecdote was admirable. After
be had demonstrated the ahsurdity of his opponents
arguments with clearness that the critical To-
gican would have admired; after he had illustrated his
position with athe 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 case he explored every field Of literature
and science, bringing their joint sanction to his pur
poses j after he had called up the truths Of philosophy
the experience Of history and the beauties Of poetry
all coming like spirits hronging to his CALI after he
had expatiated upon the with such reflections as
you would suppose Barrow or Tilot-sn to have used
when speaking of the "oppressor's wrong" after he
had done all this, Mr. Writ would ifthe opposite party
deserved the infection, pour forth upon him lava like
ridicule which famed while il burned, and which was
at terrible and beautiful-terrible from its sever
~ and TRUTH and beautiful from the chaste language
in which it was conveyed
Mr.. Writ always struck me 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 nature He had not that with
ering scorn which Brougham possesses so strongly
could he rise above the tempest of popular commo-
ha all ID I.
supreme dominion" He wanted deep passion
Comparing him with the leading orators of our coun-
try, it would be said that Clay far surpassed him
in the power ofcontrolling miscellaneous assembage
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
the glow Of vehement defamation would have had the
advantage him. but before auditory who loy ed to
mingle wit with argument and elegance with strength
who would make truth more beautiful by the adorn-
ments of poetry and poetry useful the handmade of
TRUTH adding to all those exterior graces which make
oratory SO captivating such auditory, it
may be said, without great hesitation, that Mr.. Writ
would have surpassed either of them in general effect
Mr. Wirt's gesture too, that Of which the Grecian
thought much in keeping with his other excel
lences The fault that they Sunderland
yet the art with which he concealed his art
summate 1t was only by the closest observation that
it could he detected
For long time, Mr. Wirt's chief opponent, at the
Baltimore bar, Mr.. fancy, the present Chief
Justice of the United States. MIR. fancy removed to
Baltimore, fiom Frederick the death of Mr. Pnck-
ney, and there Mr.. Writ and himself were the great
forensic rivals. No two men Of the same profession
could be different in their intellectual gifts than
were these gentlemen They were as unlike in these
regards they were in their personal appearance
Mr.. fancy then slim to feebeness, (Le looks now
improved in healthy he stopped, and his voice was
weak, and such was the precarious condition Of his
health that he had to station himself Immediately be-
fore and near the jury to make himself heard by them
Mr.. rt always placed himself on the side Of the trial
table, opposite the jury, in oratorical position Mr.
Taneys manner of speaking was slow and frm-nevel
using the least rhetorical ornament but pressing into
the heart Of the case with powerful arguments like
great leader, with unbroken phaanx, into the hear
Of besieged city. His style plain, unadorned
and forcble and direct that it might be called palpa
Bile With his snuff box-for the Chief Justice then
too, used snuf'-compessed in his closed hrnds he
reasoned for hours without the least attempt at wit
eioqucHCS Anu yctt a. uhes, Hc was Truly eioqueHt
| from his Deep yet subdued earnestness In ques-
ton Of bail in the of youth who had shot at his
teacher, remember, though then youthful student,
that crowded auditory were sufused in tears. 1t
the ervor of his feelings speaking right out
that made him eloquent He did appear to know that
he was eloquent himself twas inspiration which
came to him, if it came at all, unhdden-and which
would no more answer to his call than Glendowers'
Spirits from the Vastly deep"
One of the most interesting witnessed at
the Baltimore bar, trial in a Mandamus case, in
which the right to church was contested. Mr..
Duncan had been established in the ministry in Bal
| timole by number of Scotch Prcsbyterans, in an
obscure cdfce. His talents drew such a congre-
CATION that it soon became necessary to build
larger ltwas done and in the progress of events
the pastor preached liberal doctrine than he had
at first inculcatcd His early supporters remained
osly 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 in the divided flock which could not be
healed, and which was eventually, by writ of man
damus, carried before legal tribunal. Mr.. fancy
counsel for the old school side and Mr. Writ for
the defendants. The court ROOM, during the trial,
crowded with the beauty and fashion Of the monu-
mental city. II was such display of eloquence and
full appreciation Of ii, as is seldom witnessed. Mr..
Writ was always happy in making quotation, and
in concluding this he made of his happest
After abiding to the old school members, who it has
been said, Scotchmen, and after dwelling upon
the tragedy of Macbeth, the Of which are laid
in Scotland, he described their preacher as being in
the condition Of Macbeth's guest and said, after
rebuke upon them, that though they should
coed in their cause which he felt conGdcntthey would