The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-04-06
MISCELL ANEOUS,
From the State Rights Republican,.
Ogur Public NHcss.
Long Speeches-Long Official Papers

Long SPeecneS-bOn2 onlClsh TapeA"'
a most striking popularity in our
statesmen and official dignitaries gen
orally, is a propensity to heavy, pro-
sv speeches, aud indefinitely long
official papers. This extreme pro-
li&ity is great fault, and one, too,
that should be rcformc | together.
It would require but little thought
and attention on the part Of our put.
lc men to effect this, AID the people
should demand it Of them. Look at
the vast majority of onr Executive
Messages, State and National; look
at the reports which proccc | from
the various departments; what mon
strous Recommendations extremely
elaborate how utterly regardless Of
all consideration for the reader! The
information which is intended to be
conveyed to the masses ls these an,
nual cpistlcs is lost, anil few, compar-
atively, arc better or wiser for their
emission. The messages OF our Presl-
dents and Governors have long been
proycrbial for their prollxity. They
seem to be extremely given to incon-
tinency Of words, and so singular is
it for any one to pursue thcm, that
the man becomes quite famous for
having achieved IL thing 50 lahorlous.
And look at Congress-and many Of
our State Legislatures too. Day at-
ter day is spent i'll the mere war OF
words. The subject in debate is gen
orally the last thing alluded to. The
press groans under the thunder Q!
defamation; type suffer pancr and
ink suffer, while nothing useful, or
even ornamental is the result. We
arc inclined to think it would be a
good thing, if in Congress the public
interests we're conidcd to the ac-
knowledged leaders in the expression
of tho sentiments deemed necessary
for their support. BY such an ar
arrangements tic e!cctionccrinS might
be done out of doors, and the ap-
pointed speakers make their address
os as cxpositions Of the opinions of
those who were in favor of. or against
the matter under discussion.
Brevity has always been a dist!n-
gushing characteristic Of great ola.
tors. There are, Of course, exccp-
tions to this remark. On occasions,
when there is a necessity for much
speaking, there arc some gifted intel,
lccts that can, for hours, interest and
instruct. These, however, arc com
paratively few i'll number. BY far
the most effective speakers, the most
practical, the most eloquent, arc
those who come at once to the point,
and they are eloquent, as much
through the intrinsic worth Of what
they say, as their mere delivery.
Bcnjamin Franklin, who, in his
day, was one of the most effective
speakers in Congress, and the Com
vention that framed our Constitution.
seldom spoke more than few min
ntes, often limiting his remarks to a
few illustrative anecdotes. When
the Convention was, at one time. agi-
tatcd almost to dissolution, he huShc,l
the storm and brou !ht its mc:nbcrs
back to reason, by relating the sin,
pic fable Of the quarrel between Tie
body and its members. He curhcl
Jefferson's Indignation ut the liberty
that was taken with his draf. of tic
Declaration Of Independence, BY re.
lating story about Philadelphia
halter aud his sign. It is we'll known
that Mirabcau hurled his thunder aid
lightning with 1uickncss that rival.
ell the sudden storm; and yet he SCI.
dom spoke more than twenty uin.
utcs. Some Of Circro's oralons can
be read in less time. Demo s,hcncs
never consumed an hour in his most
elaborate display. Burke was The
most di.lilsc Of his contempora!i, s:
but even his brilliant mind finally
ceased to interest, and he is said to
become wcarisomc. Walrolc, tha
elder Pitt, and Fox, were powerful
from their condensation. They were
artists; they weighed the jrWris OF
their thoughts before they displayed
them to the worll, and their value
was immcasurably increased by the
simple beauty Of their scttinr.
when We turn to some who alc
esteemed among the most brilliant OF
our own distinguished living orators,
we find too many Of them lncTr
speakers against time. Oar Lcgis
lativc bodies, both State and Nation.
al, and our Courts, arc continually
injured in reputation and effective.
ness, by the habit Of long speaking.
1t rctards the progress Of business,
and ilnpairs the usefulness Of the DO,
dies i'll which it is INDUCED. 1t ia.
tigues, except III extraordinary cases
all who are compelled to listen. 1t
renders sense subscrvient TO mere
sound, thus defeating the sole object