The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-01
LETTERS FROM THE CAPITAL.
WAsHINcToN March 81. 1,

WASHINGTON, March 81 1882
You have doubtless heard much, ere this, OF
Mr. Soule's splendid Intervention speech, de
hvered in the Senate on Monday last. This
effort had for some time been looked forward
to with unusual interest. The character of
this brilliant Southron, the peculiar dramatic
style of his oratory, his position in his party as
regards some of the great exciting questions of
the time-the questions themsclves-all con-
splred to render his coming out " an event of
moment
AT an early hour the Senate was crowded,
as | only remember it to have been during
the great Compromise struggle. Mr.. Soule
rose, and began speaking with that quiet, de-
hberate dignity that somewhat elaborate grace
80 peculiar to him. His voice was pitched on
low key, and its foreign accent was for a time
more than usually apparent. This quietude of
manner, this elegance of word and gesture,
would have puzzled one then first looking on
his strong French-Spanish face. and meeting
the flash of his intensely dark eyes. Such
tones, such action, seem no true interpreters of
powerful and passionate nature, and we can
but believe them the artistic result of long
study and resolute practice. In Mr. Soule we
can see that will is ever supreme over impulse.
ana that the artist has mastered the genius
Ana Is not this wise! for with the conscious
ness oil the power which genius gives. he escapes
an Its dlsagreeable liabilities re he denies
himself the wild joy Of full and fearless aban.
uoh 10 impulse and inspiration, he is spared
snoSc miserable imputations of madness and
,9ny, poured upon the enthusiast and the poet.
ne does not build, with his genius. radiant
eio9d-palaces in the far heavens: he does not
priuge with IT. aerial structures the shadowy
chasiis and infinite deeps of thought: he but
erects, here and there along his way. slender
Dreclan column, or throws over it fair. orna.
mented arches beneath which he walks grace
fully, AZ to slow and somewhat solemn music.
towards the close of his speech, the manner
OF Mr. Soule became more impassioned his
tones grew clear and ringing. and his dark
tragic face was Illuminated with entbus;asm :.
yet through all there was.not one ipeleyantlv.
energetic action. There must he nrmaI
g law in his members of unerring grace. or
he Is finished artist in this respect
The tone Of this speech is brave and gener-
Gus and il contains passages of rare strength
ana beauty. I have never heard anything finer
IN the Senate Chamber than that portion of
.nls speech beginning with these eloquent SEN
"a or, let MS not be lulled into slumber by the
as mat We are too distant from Europe TO be
vo', by her political couvulsions Know
ion;a "o' That violence and oppression are con-
tim and that their triumph, in any point Of
moral worldi ' VI '"' s'o''' ''"''' y" '"'
whom ~ Mr' President, speak of isolation,
con,;oyy oa can ride your floating palaces from
- e"' 10 continent i'm less time than il
e.. your fathers fifty wears AGO 10 travel
prom prom Buffalo to New YorL from Roston 70
Philadelphia when every wave Of The Ocean
1rlngs you swift messengers blown over 10
mes, .hee shores by the same breeze tina. waited
i i"s'n .. IRON the Eastern hemisphere : when
'Ss as u heats, you can hear every n,,sa,;on
WIG European heart beneath the ron hands