The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-08-15
From the shrevepor, Caddo Gazelte.

COL. WlGFALL AMI GEN. HOUS lON.
We fully designed giving synopsis OF the
speeches Of Gen. Houston and Col. Wigall. at
Marshall, but for want of space we are obliged
TO make our notice Of them brief Notwith.
standing the inclemency of the day, the con.
course of hale, healthytinged, honest.faced
people was immense. We must confess, that it
we ever entertained an opinion prejudicial to
the beauty, honesty, gallaniry, and hospitality of
the good people of Texas, that opinion was for.
ever banished from our mind during our tempo.
rary soiourn in Marshall. TO use the EXPIRES.
sive language of the Hero of San Jacinto. "the
Texans are the ceverest people in the world" :"
But, paulo maiora canamus. Gen. Houston's
speech was an able and ingenious, though, we
think, unsuccessful, defence Of his vote upon the
Oregon bill. He evidently attempted, and
doubtless expected, to honeyfuggle The good
hearers, and get up general hurrah for Old
Sam" The onus of bis speech was TRADE OF
virulent abuse, indiscrminately heaped upon
John e. Calhoun and the Southern Address,
H. made no allusion to his deviation from The
pritten instructions of his constituents, sent him
at the same time that he received his appoint.
ment from the Texan Legislature. He made
no excuse for publishing his free soil letter in
the organ of the Wing party. He mentioned
not word tha, fell from his devout lips, when
the abolitionists at the North calculated the IN
triumphe! But he expatiated with Ciceronan
peculiarly upon his identity with the early
history of Texas. Battles, tolls, hardships and
sufferings were recounted; and the achieve
ments of himself passed ouer to the no small
admiration OF the silent auditor. tie dilated
with sepulchral voice, and moving diclion, upon
the attempt of some to take from him his fair
fame, and the waving plume of his bright des-
tiny. His speech was nterlarded with rich
and racy anecdotes, which we relished; but
for the life of US, we could not relish the doc.
trines they were intended to season, and render
paldtable. Gen. Houston is a calm, dignified,
impressive, and selfpossessed speaker. His
address and manner are captivating beyond
description and his action, that which enters
largely into the composition of the orator, is
graceful and easy. His eagle eye, his engaging
manner, his clear, deep toned voice, and his
ininable faculty Of recitation, combined with
good common sense, mother wit, and overpow.
ering irony and sarcasm, entities him to no
mediocre position in the scale oforatorical merit.
When Gen. Houston finished his speech, the
very weIkn rang with call tor Col. Wigfall
This gentleman mounted the stand, armed with
documentary weapons, ready alike for defence
and attack. We saw at once that the tug OF
war" was coming, as the bold, daring, and in.
domitable Colonel, with resolute mein, steady
nerve and impassioned manner, brandished his
rapier over tho opposing Greek. He held him
up to "public reprobation," and heaped Peon
upon Ossa with such de1lerity, that we verify
though, the old Generals world wide fame no
more than the "vsual line which gir him
round" The couplet occurred TO US:
81 pity the man whom the public gaze
Has made the object Of ccnsure or praise"
We cannot too highly estimate Col. "igtall
for his prompt, energetic and patriotic defence
of Southern rights. While such a man raises
his eloquent voice for the Star Stale, no ambi.
tious aud aspiring Senator can misrepresem her
with mpunty. Col. WigfalI's powers of an.
ay,ica and logical augmentation, and his ex.
tensive political knowledge, designate him as
no ordinary man. He is a sound democrat, an
answering advocate of the institutions of the
South, and formidable foe upon the stump.
In the progress, and future history of Texas, it
REQUIRES no great divination 10 see, that the
name of Colonel L. r. Wigall will be promi.
nenty inscribed upon the page that survives
the wreck of nations.