Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-11-04
WESTERN KLonIrENcT-
mos. cORWlH.

tory rrd c.a-sical Review. on the subject of
the Westend Western Eloquencc, from which
we extract ,he following notice OF the ontory
OF ohio's iaNoIitc son, Senator CoRwiN.
The heterogeneous character ct Western
audiences opposes no ordinary barrier t6 the
highest success in eloquence. and results ia
two marked characteristics: excessive caution
III alludnG To anything calculated To excite
prejudice IL d MIXED multitude, and the us
oi appeals lodmded on principle, SO broad and
inCOn,rovGrtible as to BE- usually admitted.
Whether these arc favorable 10 the growth
OF eloquonce, Let Others decide, and We, facts
stand out prominent, showing that vast mas
ses OF men at the West, have been moved bv
suca means, as when . tempest rushes over
the calm Ocean, stirring It's lowest depths, and
mdrshaNlug the world Of waters into contend
Ing waves Auinstance Of this kind occurred
at the great political meeting held at DAYTON.
ONO, IN the fall OF 1872, in honor Of Henr,
Clay. There WAS tremendous cnthUgiasll
when this distinguished statesm an addressed
the mutIltudes yariously estimated from so,
Oo0 10 l2OGNl; but II arose not 50 much from
the actual power he then eXertcd, as from the
remembrance Of an eTeEttul lite, crowded
with splendid achievements, which now gath
cred their laurels about his head, OF course
crowd but little rest could BE- obtained during
the night Succeeding the meeting. The ia
tigues OF the previous day and night would not
predispoSe men TO be moved by e.oquenCe.-
There was one man, however, conscious OF
power 10 control men under any circumstance
lie mounted the platform. and al the sound e
ms trumptt-toned voice, the multitude gath
cred In dense masses around him. America
on the highway 10 ruin from the Conscience
less measures Otdemagogues. was fine theme
Tor popular effect. and he manifested a tre-
mendons power. The tatigucs oil the barbecue
were forgotten, aud all yielded themselves to
the oient incantatiOu. a one moment, the
tears coursed down Sunburnt cheeks, aud ere
they had dried would b. succeeded by convul-
slons OF laughter. Then that sea Of upturned
faces would glow with wrath. as corruption.
fraud, and demagoguism were revealed to
them Tor their unqualified adherence. Then
this passed away 10 be succeeded by the glow
oil hlgh-souled patriotism. The transitions
were rapid and iitlul as a spring day, and the
multitude gave evidence that the orators
power was rcsjs,less
a cool Scotchman told friend, that when
Mr.. Corwln commenced his speech. his own
fatigue was so great, that he calmly took his
seat on the opposite side of the street, at some
disanc2 from tie platform, careless whether
he heard the speech or not. But said he
: in very little time found myself standing
IN the middle OF The street with the crowd.
like Simpleton, IN p RECT ecs asy ga ing p
at the wonderful man whose words " ere SUB
DUNG u.s."
This seems favorable opportunity to speak
OF this gentleman, as afording one of the fl
nest specimens of the native Western orator
In the remarks already made, and those vet to
be made letm9 dlsclaim all political bias, my
only object being TO speak OF orators without
regard 10 party. His enemies being Judges
Thomas Corwin-now in the United States
Senate--ls an loqucnt man, able 70 excite in
his hearers juN such feelings as best please
him, \ splendid. compliment was pa:.t him
not many years since, in the House OF Repre-
sentatiyes. A member from Michigan had
made some slight remarks concerning Ohio,
which called Mr.. e.. 10 his feet. lie gave the
oilenter severe scourging: and the process
was SO annihlating, that Mr.. Adams the next
day alluded TO the demolished member as "the
LATE Mr.. -- Of IHichigGRw a re-
tentive memory, careful observation, calm in
vestigauon, perfect control of all his know
ledge, unite TO lay broad foundation for the
sIperstructure OF cloquence. The English
language, III all its capacities for wit, humor.
rldicule, pathos, passion of every kind, and
for lifting him, as on eagle pinions, to the
third heaven OF purest eloquence, is slave 10
the man. His arrows reach the heart Of eve
ry one. So broad are the principles upon
winch he bases hlsappeals, and so cautious isl
ne 10 arouse no adverse prejudice, that he
compels the assent and sympathies Of ALL
Certainly II any man on earth be able TO make
his hcare1s uenose fully, that they do see with
their own eyes, shat horrid monster obscu-
ring the sun" that man is Thomas Corwin, OF
Obi
Perhaps nothing contributes more 10 the
effect OF his wcllChosen words, than lis face,
which Is altogether "n0nsuch," That swar-
thy lace is noble one, and there is no passion
nor feeling IN his heart but is proclaimed by
his countenance before words can utter it. Ii
Is magic mirror rejecting upon his auditors
wrath, contempt, patriotism, pity, Iidicule,
sarcasm, so stnhngly, that all feel themselves
spmpathillng with him in emotions not vet
aruculated. Those who were Witnesses, will
never forget the indescrbable drollery of his
tones, gestures, and physiogomy, in 1870, at
Columbus, while answering the objections Of
some man oil straw antagonist. My g. had
the day previous, addressed a multitude OF
LOFTY or ilty Thousand, and was Ia address as
great number the succeeding day. The cit
lIenS OF Franklin county waylaid him, and
compelled him, although greatly exhausted to
speak. lis strain OF remark was uncommonly
Drillant,s ming TO transcend his usual efforts
lie supposed an honest inquirer aud opponent
TO b, proposing questions in reference 30 the
cry That tines are killing hard" why. my
dear sif.' saws the opponent. chow can Il b..
possible that 50 much trouble and hard times
exist, ana set The men whom we have elected
70 Office, and in whom we have mistaken con
lidcnce, never whisper a word OF oil this?--
SIr, you must be mistaken. or our oiice-hol-
deIs would speak" Mn C's comtenance
was the very impcrsonatiOn of the "sero-
comico' gravity whilst stating this objection
Then began that droll working of bis features.
at the very sight OF which before he had loil
word hundreds found il impossible not to
laugh outright Fellow citiLcus," slid he.
IN deliberate tonft. II ever alluds 10 the
Holy Scriptures with the dccpest reverence
and on occasions like the present but seldom.
bnt that venerable patriarch, job. has 50 com
plei.iy unravclled the difficUltics OF my hon
est opponent, that must tresspass 10 quote
his words Doth q Wild ass bray Whit kc
hath grass, or Laicsth The or oUtr his fodier?'