The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-09
Sketches OF the virgsnia Convention OF
10000.
BY HUGH R. PLEAsASTs.
GILES.


batter a. Fox, AZ least he had no superior in the
American Congress during his time, and that time
embraced the best days Of Madison, Bayard, Dex-
ter, aud . hundred others, who have right to be
There were some who could make an argument as
powerful-there were others who could speak az
readily, and with as little prcparation-but there
were none who combined the two cxcellencies In
so remarkable a degrec-none who could
cessfully combat new view Of any question,
sprung suddenly and in the very heat OF discussion
He caught every movement of the sort. at the very
first hop; he had no occasion to ask for an adjourn
mcnt In order to collect his ideas. He was ready
for the debate the instant the question sprung
upon him, and it made no difference to him whe-
Their he was caught in parliamentary ambush, or
had to fight the regular forces Of his adversaries
forewarned and forsarmed. We have heard that
on some occasions, during the administration OF
the elder Adams, Mr.. Madison had prepared notes
10 answer great speech made by some great Fed.
eral leader. but was taken sick the night before
he was to have replied. As 1t was Of the utmost
Importance that reply should be made. he sent
for Mr.. Giles, and, placing his notes in hs hsnds,
not misplaced, for, with the little time allowed
him, Mr.. G. made one of the abest speeches which
at that day had ever been made in either House OF
Congress.
Governor of Virginia. He was, moreover, suffer-
ing under the effects of long continued i'll health;
but it was understood that his mind still retained
its elasticity, and his energy was altogether unim
Amelia district resolved once more to trust their
rights in his hands. We rscolect TO have heard
him speak but once during the session Of the con-
vention, but we could very well conceive that in
his palmy days he must have been o host in him
self II was in the great debate to which we have
more than once alluded, and which, as we never
heard any thing like il, feel sometimes disposed
to call the combat of the giants; for the smallest
man engaged in the conflict was head and shoul-
ders taller than the majority of great men belong
ing to the present era. His style Of speaking was
very different from any thing we saw, even at that
day, and evidently belonged to another period. He
INDUCED in mono Of the frantic gestculations with
which orators of the present and Of long preced-
ing day and were wont to give force to their
arguments He neither vociferatcd until he was
unintelligible, nor grew hoarse OF utterance, nor
became red in tho face, nor sweated like a cart
horse in the effort TO give birth to his ideas. His
manner resembiod that of man engaged in earn
est conversation-his tone was animated, as his
genius rose, but never became harsh or bolster
ous His words appeared to flow in a continued,
uninterrupted lucid stream, strong il il true, but
strong without fury-pregnant with thought, but
full without overlooking. The great powers OF his
were apparent from the very
marked effect which he produced upon the con-
vcntion. esr
The character of Mr.. Giles's mind, and his pc
gree for the part Of great debater. Controversy
was the very element in which he existed. Those
who knew him in private life have often spoken to
us Of this peculiar trait If his speeches, in the
Y, Ic6oLUDLcQ
versation, SO his conversation had very much the
character Of public speaking. He delighted to in
roduce in the private circle topics of debate which
were at the time agitsting the country, and he
discussed them with all the enthusiasm OF vete-
ran soldier, fighting his battles by the fire.
side. His memory was perfect record of all the
events which had occurred from the formation of
the Federal Constitutions; and where prejudice or
passion, too often the nfrmity Of great minds, did
not warp his judgment, no man was more capable
Of illustrating them, by argument, by anccdote,
by reference to facts, and BY deductions from first
principles. There are few names upon the roll of
that convention which will stand higher than his,
when Virginia shall have begun to mako up her
jewels.
II BARBOUR.
Among those who came off with fame not only
undiminished, but even greatly enhanced, was
Philip p Barbour This distinguished gentleman
OF those who made that convention 20 illustrious.
He came to it with reputation established by long
experience in Congress, where he had stood among
and visor to the debates q that body in the times
ID at immediately succeeded the war of 1912. His
strength well understood in the convention for
his career had been 20 long national, that it was
perfectly familiar to all When, in consequence of
the inability of the llustrious gentleman who had
been first chosen president Of the body on
count Of the foeblcness natural to his great age to
preside over its deliberations he declined to serve
any longer in that capacity, Mr.. B. was chosen in
his place. The convention had had an opportunity
to estimate his talents At their true value for he had
spoken ON one two of the questions which were
House of Representatives with great credit to him.
self, and was we'll known to possess cvory requisite
necessary to presiding officer.
Logical acuteness was the distinctive charac-
teristic Of Mr.. BIS mind, and it was that which
prevailed throughout every speech which he ever
made in Congress, in the convention, or at
the bar. No man could reason from premises to
conclusion with moro unerring certainty, was
H. 49, kol k,v<
chanery of an adversary. The view which ho took
of a subject was never very broad, but it was al.
ways strong, and he maintained it with an ability
corresponding with its natural strength. He was
a most formidable adversary in argument, as we
have heard from those who had the best opportu-
mites Of estimating his powers. If there was any
fault TO be found with the material of his public
speeches, il may be said to have consisted in an
ture of his mind, and the skill which long habit
had impaired, in handling the weapon of logic,
no doubt led him into this error. From indulging
in it too freely, he sometimes took what the law
and wandering through all the mazes of meta
physics lost himself and his hearers, in cloud of
distractions In the convention, however, his
speeches bore mono of these characteristics. They
Few men Of Mr.. Barbour's day, and not great
many since, possessed great capacity for la
Dor, which, after all is the true secret of greatness
that indicated rather pleasure in labor. He never
thought of failing. As a judge he was remarkable
for the promptness With which he discharged his
duties, and the readiness with which no decided
questions of the most complex character. This
arose a. much from natural aeuteness as from the
state Of preparation in which his habits Of close
application always Left him.
In his day, while at the bar, Mr.. Barbour
scarcely met with rival in his own portion of
the State. Even now, his forensic efforts are re-
mcmbered and spoken of with admiration in all
that region Of country In Congress. the greatest
effort which he over made was his speech against
the tariff in 1924. The Washington papers Of that
day pronounced ii ono of the sblest speeches ever
delivered in Congress, aud that it deserved this
high praise there cannot be q question. Such,
moreover, must have been the opinion of Mr.. Clay,
the great father of the BILL for he thought it neces
sary to reply to it especially, and that occasion
delivered his celebrated speech upon the American
system.
Surely in recalling these great names, we may
say, with the Book Of Genesis, "there wero giants
in those days."
MONROE.
of ~. h.l. ,c H.