The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-27
WASHINGTON CITY.
Lessons in Rhetoric.

The Union is out with criticism on the style
and spirit Of the inaugural Of Gov. MEANS, Of
South Carolina. AS for the spirit of it, Of
course we don't expect the Union to concur
The style is pronounced by the Union bombas.
tic, and sophomorcal. We have read the mes
sage; it is decided and spirited expresses the
feeling natural to every true-hearted and high
spirited Southerner But in relation to the
style, We think for brevity Of diction, and con-
sistency of metaphor, it will bear triumphant
comparison with the most classic productions Of
the North. By the way, the South, the land Of
fervid cline and warm impulse, is generally
more distinguished for classic simplicity of style
than the North. Mr.. CALHOUN, in that respect
is superior to DEMosrHENEs. There, for in.
stance, is Mr.. WEBSTER, man of mature mind
Of splendid genius, and the intellectual dictator
Of Northern taste and style, who INDUCES in re.
dundance of language, and confusion of meta
phor, which we defy the critics to parallel in the
inaugural of Governor MEANS, who is young
man, and who speaks the language of State
with which the time for argument has passed, and
the time for feeling and for action has come
We find the following passages in Mr. WEE
sTER's speech at the recent New England din.
her, in New York-and although it was dinner
it was a Pilgrim dinner, a poitico- religious
dinner, to which Mr.. WEBSTER went all the way
from Washington, and with ample time to reflect
on what he was going to sly, and how to say it
"Gentlemen, this has been a stormy, cold, in
hospitable, boisterouS, and Indictment day. The
winds have been harsh, the skies severe, and the
aspect Of nature repulsive and forbidding. II
we had no houses over our heads, no security
against The inciemency of The skies; if we were
wan and worn out, half of our number sick and
ready to descend into the grave, and if we had
come upon bleak, barren, AMI unknown
coast, ,cith nothing oper our heads but the heav.
ems and the God of the heavens and if we had
beside. hungry and distressed wives and children
upon our hands, we should see something like
the memorable scene presented at Plymouth on
the 22d of December, 1920! In the delivery
of this passage, Mr.. Webster's voice shook with
emotion; one gentleman near us was so much
affected by its pathos, that he burst into tears
and could hardly restrain his sobs. y
Speaking of the MayHower, he says:
"Gentlemen, that little vessel, on the 22d o.
December, 1920, made a safe landing on the
shores of Plymouth. Amid all difficulties, anc
through all disasters, the voyage was accom-
plished, and the ship safely landed her crew.
Let her b. considered an emblem of New Eng
land. New England is ship Of stout timbers
and manned with faithful and steady hearts,
She may be occasionally thrown into the troughs
Of the sea, but depend upon it she will come GU
right, put her bead TO the sea, and obey hel
helm. Loud cheers.] We have hardly begur
TO realize the Importance of that little vessel
)reighied as she was with the gems of civil anc
religious liberty, aud with the Bible, the word o
God. Those gems hare taken root, and thriret
ouer the vast expanse Of this country. New
England has L. anScended the Alleghenies, cappeC
the Rocky Mountains, gained the shores Of the
Pacific and have not doubt that a year from
this day Pilgrim Society will celebrate thi:
same anniversary in California"
Where is there anything in Governor MEANS
inaugural to equal the taking root Of gems, Of
the Gaping of the Rocky Mountains by Yam
KEGS!