The Daily spy., 1850-08-14
BENTON AND WEBSTER COMPARED. q


I BENTON AND WEBSTER COMPARED. A.
Grace Greenwood, in letter to the Saturday
Evening Post, thus graphically notes the impressions
made upon her by the two most noticeable men IN
the Senate, at the time Of her visit, some weeks
since
''On Monday, we had a great, though not very
lengthy speech ffom Benton. 1t was clear, CEN
densed, and pointed and powerful argument, as you
viii perceive, thong not wildly in the reading
In the manner of MIR. Benton there is often fierce
and terrible force. His sarcasm is keen and scath-
ing, and his tones, looks, and gestures, barb and
drive home his sharp and singing words. He is q
proud, stern, lordly, and uncompromsing speaker
always manlfesting hearty and honest contempt for
wordy patriotism and political blarneyall the hon
eyng and humbugging of constituents, the cant and
rant of Buncombe oratory.
| He is no juggler, tumbler-no player with
balls and eathers-he fayors you with tight rope
dancing, and throws you no summcrsets, hut strides
into the ring as fierce and hardy gladiator, or a
stout boxer, not to play but to fight. He is always
In earnest always confident, and follows up an OPP
ponent with the sure, unfagging, remorseess eager
ness of bloodhound on the scent
1t IS surprising how mildly the speeches of Mr..
Benton read, compared with their spoken effect
His manner is at times strikingy dramatic in its Bit
ter, unmltlgated severy-and some of his tones are
crate even in his passion. He does not board the
enemy's ship with spike and brand nor fire it with
grenades-but crushes down upon it like some pom
derous and ptless iceberg. In that portion of his
late speech in which he made his exultng and mer-
cess expose of what he pronounced the dishonest
compromise plot-graspihg the bill and holding it up
as "a criminal, it curious to mark the effect of
his words and manner the three great leaders op
posed TO him.
I'LL. 4 Al
keen eye of Clay Webster's sternest gances
| cleaned out from beneath the black ledge of his
lowering brow-whie the weighty countenance of
Cass wore shocked and mildly indignant express
sion, for self and pafners,' seeming to say, as the
worthy Fastaff would have said, 'How the world is
given TO lying There is but three honest politicians
IN America, and one of them is fat and grows old
| Col. Benton seems full of calm, determined ener-
| gy and endurance There is about him no sign of
yielding or decay The cold, steady look of his eve,
and ms thn compressed lips, show an almost super
human strength of willpatient, even more than We
hement, unwearying, uneonquerable- renewing
ITSELF and putting fresh manifestation of its
vitality and It's vgor. In personal intercourse Mr.
benton Is said to be, at times, exceedingly proud
distant, and naughty. One reason for this NAV be
that ne is not always rightly approached. proud
man respects pride in another and his occasional af-
liability certainly has the more meaning and effect,
that II Is neither common nor assumed.
On Wednesday, Mr.. Webster spoke in favor of the
Compromise bill. | then admired him greatly, but
wus by no means carried away by enthusiasm. The
granlte-ike grandeur Of his head the solemnitv OF
his tones and manner, the severe beauty of his Ian
guage; the symmetry of his style, are certainly i'm
presslve, but not over-mastering or electrifying-
Outward warmth and central force, intensity of feel
ing and earnestness Of purpose, are too obviously
wanting. Irde, he seems serious in most that he
says, but rather doggedly than deeply So Even his
wit Is sort of heavy and elephantine playfaness-
his humorous saes light up his own dark face but
for an instant, and seldom call forth genial and ir-
reslstble response People laugh when Webster
leads the way, from patriotic and party consdera-
tions
In the course of his speech, the distinguished
statesman commenting with almost annhiIatina
contempt on the Wilmot provso-stood there CRYING
down the political thunder once claimed as his pe
culiar property-like an old lion growing at the
echo OF his own roar But the galleries appIauded
and his admirers will probably receive this speech
as they receive all the words of the great leader
mamma from the seventh political heaven Blythe
by, ms enemies might say that his principles resem.
BILE the celestial food of the Israelites in another re-
sPect1are new every morning; and in yet another
will not do to keep"