The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-06-05

pslmy days he must have been host i,
himself. II was in the great debate t,
which we have more than once alluded
and which, az we never heard any thin.
like il, we .eel sometimes disposed to cal
the combat Of the giants; for the sma lies
man engaged in the conflict, was a heat
and shoulders taller than the majority o
great men belonging to the present era
His style OF speaking was very difEsren
from any thing we saw, even at that day
aud evidently belonged to another period
He INDUCED 10 none Of the frantic ges,ic
ulations with which orators Of the presen
and Of long preceding day are and wer,
wont to give force to their arguments. II.
neither vociferated until be was uninleIi
gible, nor grew hoarse Of utterance, no
became red in the face, nor sweated like
can-horse in the effort TO give birth 10 hi
ideas. His manner resemhled ,hat of 3
man engaged in earnes, conversation-hi
tone was animated, as bis genius rose, bu
il never became harsh or bnisterous. Hi,
words appeared to flow in continued, un
interrupted, lucid stream, strong, it is true
hut strong without fury-pregaant will
thought, but full without overlooking. Th'
great powers Of his understanding were
apparent from the very marked effect which
he produced upon the convention.
The character Of Mr.. Giles mind, nnt
his peculiar tastes, qualified him in yer,
eminent degree for the part Of great de
batter. Controversy was the very elemen
in which he existed. Those who knew
him in private life have often spoken TO u
Of this peculiar trait. lf his speeches, j,
the manner Of their delivery, resemb'e'
private conversation, so his conversation
had very much The character Of public
speaking. He delighted TO introduce
III the private circle, topics Of debate
which were at the time agitating tht
country, and he discussed them with
III the enthusiasm of veteran soldier
fighting over his battles by the fireside
Ills memory was perfect record Of all tht
events which had occurred from the forma
tion Of the Federal Constitution; and where
prejndice or passion, too often the nfrmi
~ Of great minds, did not warp his judg
men,, no man was more capable of illus,ra
ting them, BY argument, by anecdoie, b,
reference 10 facts. and BY deductions fron
first principles. There are few names up
IN. the roll Of that convention which vii
stand higher than his. when Virginia shal
have begun TO make mp her jewels.
MONROE.
The wan, Of the habi, Of public spcakin,
WIS verv conspicuous in several Of the old
er members Of the convention, and in nom
more than in Mr.. Monroe. !, is wei
known that he was never very eloqnen
speaker: but in lormer days bis speeche
we're said to be remark able for plain com
non sense, expressed 10 clear and intelli
yihe language. He had entirely lost this
no doubt from long disnse, before he cam
10 the convention. His ideas appeared 4
he confused. his delivery awkward. hi
manner perplexed, and his whole demeano
hat Of man overwhelmed bv the magni
'nde Of his subject, To have judged from
his speeches on the floor. one might yer
veil hrve Supposed thu; hc had no cIea
perceptions upon any subject. and that h.
nad not mastered the par'rnlar one npo
| which he WIS engaged for the time being.
Yet those who know the history Of Mr.
| Monroe, are well aware that such was NJ
The character of his mind. lie WAS em
neu,lv man Of action; he saw his wa
rlearlv in ever, difficulty, political or d
| / ,ma,ic, and though he might not be abl
j, point il ont 10 others. he never lost
himself In this respect he resembled ih
Engli.h statesman Cas,lereagh. who, if III
,cconm of Lord Brnugham is to be credit
ID was the least luminous OF all speaker
hat ever addressed the House of Commons
He formed perfec, contrast to his grea
rival and enemy, Canning. who was III
most polished OF speakers, the mos, attic 9
Wits, tho most entertaining of rdconteur'
Yet when the time for action came, IN
master spri, developed itself at once j
C,stlereagh. lie managed the helm wit
he b,ldness Of pilot who delighted in tb
ev-itement Of tempest and danger, Will
his more eInquen, adversary. iflef, to hin
sell in the honr Of peril. would soon hav
rnn the vessel on = sho,l, or have cause
] her H. founder at sea. The reader who h.
been educated in the highest reverence e
Canning's name, need only read the Gu
wood publications 10 be convinced Of hi
total inefficency in the hour Of trial, an
nry learn how near he came to neutral
ling the great abilities and splendid io'
nnes, even ol Wellington, IN the Penlnsu
{. campaigns. He was in fact FIR NOR
| dangerous enemy To that great Genera
than Spnlt or Massena, and it required tn
nIl exercise Of all bis talents, backed b
the strong common sense of Castlereagi
/, escape from The formidable dillicultie
in which the man Of rhetoric involved hn
a I'd the cause he was sen, touphold. Fror
this the world might learn, fit pould lear
any thing from the experience Of The past
that the best takers are not always III
,est statesmen, and that to make speech
which shall carry delibera,ive body b
,cclam,lion. is one thing; to conduct
.reai war toa successful issue ia anothe
md very different one.
Fortunately for this country, Jane
Madison seems to have been we'll aware a
his distinction; for in the darkest crisis n
the war Of 1912, after the capitol had bee
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