Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-08-28

american Literature, and will equal ifuot surpass
ay similar correspondents in any language, not
\ ally for the higher qualite Of wisdom and patriot
i'm which make II chiefly uablc to US but in lit
gary eNcelience-the grace, of expression aud fe-
lcitous illustration. The lters of John Adams
thomas Jefferson james Mslison. Alexander Ham.
ton, Benjamin Franklin, ohm Jay, Gouyerneur
Norris, John Dickinson William Livingston, and
ONE of their contemporaries, will always possess
peculiar literary value, besles that which they
lcriye from their authorship aud the gravity of
heir subjects.
The Public Speeches of aniions chief lerisla-
ors are among the most luniipus landmarks of its
policy the most lucid develop ents Of the cllarac-
r. aud genius Of its institution, and the noblest
exhibitions Of its intellect n speeches of many
# our greatest orators have ~ been preserved.
md like those Of Demades the .lheulan who was
eemcd by some of the ablest olhis conempora-
rics superior to Demosthenes the are forgotten -
OF the oraiions Of Otis, which ,re described as
flames Of FIRE, we have but fepmeagre reports.
We are persuaded Of the eloquen of Henry only
by the history of its effects Oh passionate ap-
peals Of the elder Adams, which 'nyed his hear
crs from their seats are not in prii But for ira
dtion it would be unknown that Riedre was one
Of the greatest Of orators. There in existence
scarcely yestige Of the ressIless ddamatiou and
argument Of Pinkney. Some Of speeches Of
Fisher Ames have come down 10 with their
passages Of chaste and striking beav. and they
constitute nearly all the recorded elo hence Of the
time in which he was an actor.
OF the great orators of later day--1f Webster
Clay Calhoun, and othcrs-we have c means of
forming more accurate Judgment Their works
belong to our Standard Literature. riy are thor
oughly imbued with the national spirit rhey glow
with the feelings Of the people, The ould have
been produced only in America.
Daniel Webster has written his name our his
tory lie has engrayen it indelibly on Al rocks of
our hills. lie has associated i, in sontway with
all that is grand and peculiar abou, US Whatever
may be the effects Of Time upon his rap iaiion as
politician, unless the world return to -barism,
il cannot destroy his fame as an author. Fl we're
TO compare him to any foreigner, it woi he to
Burke. But he is a far greater man than e Irish
Colossus. His genius is more universal lie is
more chastc His style and argument lae more
compact His learning is more yariousal pro-
found. The literature Of the language has more
splendid rhetoric or faultcss logic. Born most
contemporaneousy with the nation he has rown
with its growth, strengthened with its sirengt and
rbssomo mpersonatian offs eharac;er--sr an
impersonaion as we proudly point to whenhp re-
member we are Americans.
The distinguishing Characteristic Of the spec be-;
OF Henry Clay is an eminent pracucalncss (ley
are not imaginative, nor poctcal, nor impass 10 d.
They lack the solidity, compactness, and inherent
force Of Webster, and the phosophc genertua-
ton Of Calhoun; Wright is more plausible aud he
genlous, Preston is more graceful and ieryld, atl
Choate more brilliant and classicaly ornate. "
there is an unaffected earnestness Of conviction
profound heartiness Of purpose, frank aud per
feet righteousness, a manly good sense eNhibde
IN the works Of this great statesman, which com
IN md ia In lima md ~
proval. Although the manner of the orator add
force e. significance the matter so that his speech
es should be heard TO be truly estimated, they ar
found TO bear value in the closet not possessed b
the productions Of many who have enjoyed III
highest emnence in the Senate, the forum, and III
world of letters
MIR Calhoun is another author of the very high
est rank, and his works, though in many respect
very diileren, from those Of the great orators hav
mentioned, are scarcely less peculiar and ndtiond
II has been too much the habit to consider him on
ly as politician. His claims as a literary ma
have been almost overlooked. No one has NOR
skill as dialectlcan. His sententious aud clos
dlction, his remarkable power Of ANALYSIS his sin
pllclty and dIgnlly-his doctrines, and ali the ell,
men's OF the power with which they are maintain
ed-will secure for his productions a perfnaner
place in the worlds consideration
My limits will not permit me TO attempt particl
lar analyses Of their characteristics but in conclr
ding this part of my subject, may point to job
Quincy Adams as altogether one of the most r,
markable men OF this century, in whose volumir
GUS and various works there is not only marked nj
tionality, but wisdom which astonishes by its un
versatility and profoundness to Edward Everett {
all orator Of the most comprehensive learning, eli
giant taste, and noble spirit to Rufus Choate,
the finest Of our Senatorial rhetoricians to II
brilliant Preston and many others, whose speechc
like those TO which have before directed attention
when their histories as partizans are forgotten, wi
be regarded as portions of the classical literature
the United Slates-ht n be ranked among the fl
J est works of their kind AID produced in the mo
; highly cultivated nations Of ancient or modeI
I times am, respectfully, your obe't servant,
RUFUS W. GRISWOLI
Philadelphia, July, 1916.