Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-04-06
of man. The best readers and speakers are not

speak 'r'gnt on. Ihey do not stop TO give
rising infection of voice, here failing, there;
and a circumflex, elsewhere. DR.. Goldsmith
says that "to feel our subject thoroughly, and |
to speak without fear are the only rules of elo-
quence." 1t is certain, that in order to be elo-
quent, we mast surrender ourselves to the spi.
rlt which s'irs within us, and the "nouth" must
speak "from the abundance of the heart" Being !
perfectly satisfied with NATURES system of co- |
cutlon, the author has not presumed to lay down |
series Of artificial rules in the shape, either
Of marks Of infection or rhetorical notation, in !
the vain hope of attempting to make a better. |
Those extraordinary endowments of intellect, |
of imagination, and Of sensbity, which are de-
rived from nature, and without which, prc-em.
nence in oratory is unattaiainabe, are possessed
by few men in any age or country. But all
may learn to read and speak correctly and i'm
pressivcly, by becoming familiar with the Gle.
men'ary sounds of our laugnage, and the other
important principles of elocution, and by en-.
gaging in practical elocutionary exercises
1t is gratifying to know, that elocuton is be.
ginning TO securea portion ofattenton, CORES
ponding, in some degree, with its Importance.
But still it is too much neglected, not only by
community generally but even by public speak
ers and teachers of youth. There are, as vet
few or no distinct professorships of e,ocu,ion in
our literary institutions. The bishop of Cloync
! says, "thot probably half the learning of these
Kingdoms is lost, for want of having proper
delivery taught in the schools and colleges" Is
not half the learning Of these United States,
"lost Tor want Of having" elocution properly and
thoroughly taught in our SCHOOLS and colegesl"
Does not religion suffer in the hands of those
who, owing TO their ignorance of elocution, and
their want of those feelings of love to God and
love to man with which the gospel inspires all
who believe and practice its precepts, present
that solemn and surprisingly important subject
to the world, in cold, lifeless, and bunglinr
manner !! 1t is, as DR.. Blair observes, "a poor
compliment, that one is an accurate reasoner, II
he be not persuasive speaker" Why NAV
not the people of the United States, become as
much distinguished for their eoquence, as for
their free and glorious institutions Is not
eloquence as valuable now as it was in ancient
times Is not freedoms soil adapted to its
growth! And would it not Be e"glorous to ex-
ceF' other nations, as well as other individuals
'n that article in which men excel the brute -
The Supreme Being has kindly allotted 70
us our portion OF human existence, in a country,
the constitutions and laws Of which recognize
in every citizen, the right TO iorm, to cherish,
and to express his opinions on all subjects in.
terestirg TO our common welfare,-a country
where the opinion Of majority prevails, end
where eloquencc creates public opinion. Here
as in the free States Of antiquity, "every mans
opinion should be written on his forehead"
Here, too, the noble science and art of clocu-
tlon should receive, at least attention enough to
elevate the standard of public speaking, partlc-
ulary among our representatives and senators
in congress. Then, when foreigners visit the
city of Washington, as they often do, they
would witness something more than "'rhe flag
of the Union floating over the capitol" they
would hear within its walls, specimens of elo.
qucnce the power and grandeur of which, they
could not otherwise than admire. They now
anlmadvert very severely upon the manner in
which our cOngrcsslona orators are accustomed
, to speak. After crossing the Atlantic, they VIZ
sit the seat OF Government, in the expectation
of hearing some of the most eloquent speakers
in the United States. In thst respect, they
are not disappointed. And not only so, but they
, hear in the Senate, if not in the House of Re-
, presen,a,lves, orators, compared with whom,
: the best speakers in England or any other
D country, are not superior, if equal. The ca.
vllers undervaue the merits Of American spPa-
kers. In their books, they critcise too severe.
ly those who have seats in congress, as well as
other citizens of the United States. But if we
, would entirely escape censure, let us endcavor
to avoid deserving any portion Of it. Let A.
3. nerlcan speakers unite elegance Of language
a with force OF reasoning, so perfectly, that ever
the inhabitants Of other countries will be con
il strained to say, with regard to them, as Mil,or
!. did in another case:
i "Fhat their words drew audience and attention
Still as night and SUMMER noontide air."
l. American young men are, then, called upon
IS by considerations Of national honor, to become
1t good speakers. In order to accomplish so de
}. sirable an object, that honorable enthusiasm fo
It the art OF eloquence, by which the great mel
Of OF antlqu",jy were characterized, should pervad
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