The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-07-30

too, to say nothing Of bachelors, who seem to
live singlc{in order to firt. Brilliant parties
had been givennearly every evening to the del.
egates, and dinner parties were. the order of the
day. The whole city, all the time of the ses-
sion, was in delightful excitement, and fair wild.
ows and beautiful girls reigned in all their splen
dor and power. Many a heart was lost-and
some of the most firm disunionists brought over
to the opinion that one kind of union is at least
VERY desirable Probably Nashville has never
seen so gay fortnight rs that during the sit.
ting of this brilliant Convention.
The most talented and active member of the
Mississippi delegation was a Mr.. McRea, a
man, but who has made himself man of acork
by the display of his talents for debate on this
occasion. The most exciting speech made was
| by the Hon. Mr.. Colquitt, of Ga. He is built
like an athlctae short, compact and iron-look-
ing, with large intellectual head, thick with
wiry, gray hair, growing erect all over it, a jut-
ting, black mouth, and a firm mouth, the whole
man and whole face being stamped with a
rough, fiery energy. He rose to reply to some
moderate me,nber, against the Compromise l
believe-and growing excited, he jumped from
his pew into the broad aisle, to have more space.
Here he spoke with perfect abandonment! His
voice ruug like bugle! He would rapidly ad-
vance sometimes five or six steps as if about to
leap the chancel railing at bound, and then
stopping full, terribly stamp his right foot and
discharge his artillery. like thought, which SEEM
ed bursting for more vehcmencc than he could
give, land never man had morc,) at another time
he would retreat step by step, speaking slowly
in whispering irony, half down the aisle, when
suddenly leaping into the air, he would explode
like shell, and elcctrify us all Now he would
turn round and appeal to this delegate now
face an opposite one now he would advance
like skirmisher, and utter hoarsc, denunciato-
ry whispers to the President in the chair. as if
for his especial ear. In a word, he made most
extraordinary speech, in which the manner OF
| all the best orators in the land was mixed up
with that Of some Of the worst 1t was orato-
ry what medley would be in song 1t was
Wild fierce, terrible, dreadful, mad-yet most
wonderful to listen to, twas eloqucnce tied to
the back of wild horse, Mazeppa-like!
General Pillow also spoke several times, and
spoke we'll had the greatest curiosity to see
him, having heard so much of him. He lives
in elegant and opulent retirement, not far south
of Nashville and is very popular i'll this State,
and will probably be its next Governor. All
those foolish stories told about him by the pa
pers, have been proved to have no foundation,
and ought to b" dismissed from the public mind.
He is in the r''"n ne of life, decidedly handsome
man, with marked military air. There is
smile in his eyes, and which generally plays
abouthis finely shaped, firm mouth, that renders
the expression of his countenance sngularly
pleasing. He looks like Il gallant and chival-
rous man, and his speeches were all patriotic
and to the point This distinguished man has
been called zvaiIr,. because some suppose he
wrote a self.commending account of the battles
IN which he had fought so well. There is cas-
sic authority for such a sentiment, which be-
leve is not an unworthy part Of human nature.
Pliny says, in his XiXth letter, book lA, to Ru.
70: i" In my opinion, every man vino has acted
great, a distinguished part, deserves not Only
to be excused, but approved, if he endeavors to
secure Immortality to the fame he has merlted,
and to perpetnate an everlasting remembrance
of himself" Frontinus forbade monument to
be erected to him, saying, "Ihc remembrance
of me will remain, if my actions deserve 1t.
Some men call this modest in Frontinus, but in
my opinion it is the perfection OF vanity; for he
is SO ccrtGiu that his actions will be remember
ed that he proclaims it to the world. think
every man who performs noble actions. should
take pains that they are set right for the eyes
of posterity; and il such a course be vain, then
is Cesar the vainest of men, as he was among
the bravest and wisest
Why is it, Mr.. MMakin, listening to the de-.
bates has led me to the reaection,) that men
talk to one or two persons, but dectaim to
hundred! You see the absurdity Of making a
loud and oratorical haranguc to single auditor,
yet let another and another be added till there
is an assembly, and the conversation is elevated
to oratorical defamation. Pliny, who is a
great tavorite with me, speaking of the same
subject, says:
."The reason imagine to be-, that there is
know not what dignity in the collective senti-
ments of multitude, and though separately
their judgment is, perhaps, oflttle weight, yet
when united, it becomes respectful le."
Major VIM. II. Polk spoke two or three times
early in the session. He has 4 remarkable
voice, deep as a volcano He is handsome
man, but is bearded like an Ottoman chief. His
manner of delivery is striking; from his emphat.
ic enunciation. With every word, he makes an
energetic nod forward, and the vowels are all
enunciaticd with the precision of an elecuton.
ict In M rtiruI,r thn tar,nin atOns inn which he