Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-07-17
ADDRESS BY MR.. B. A. VAUGHAN
PRINCIPAL OF THE FRANKLIN ACADEMY DR'
LIyEREp AT THE RECENT ExAsINA,
TIoN OF THE STUDENTS OF
THAT INSTITUTION.
Ln.LL..L.L L. -.-..... II II. I,-.--L... = -
THAT INsTIrUrIoN.
(PuBlishei By request qf he Tru5tess)

(PuBlishei By request Of he Trus'sssl
That no one is here present but who is deeply
anxious for the perpeuity OF our national glory
honor anfcharacter, cannot for one moment call
in question; and i being equally unquestionable
that our future national destiny is 10 be controlled
by those who are at present occupants Of the
school room, will not insult your good sense by
an argumen, to prove. Also, that from beneath
our own humble roof may arise, the statesman or
patriot, who, in future years, will be conspicuous
as coadj julor in steadynig the olterng fabric oi
our nations glory; or else in rearing higher
and higher, that supersiructure, whose foundation
was by our oref4thers laid so broad, until in It's
towering height il shall become a beacon light
10 every nation steering for the harbors Of peace
plenty and happiness through the channel oil
liberty, is equally possible
Hence. the question naturally arises, as to how
vnu are preparing these actors in future scene,
for the performance Of their task For an an-
swer O lha, question, | glance hack a. the policy
of our own school,rootn, and truth compes me
10 say, nature- child has been permitted 10 beN
come nalure's man with but little assistance from
cultivation Such being the conclusion arrived
at enquire what is man naturally To find an
answer 10 such a consideration, | have gone to
the wid- Of our own land to find him IN purely
native state; asking the history ot the various
tribes. whal he Is in his oIiiesi elevation But
one answer comes back to us from the east from
the west, from the north from the SOUTH and all
auree that around the council fire natures night
lest mower is exhibited in the power OF speech
which we call oratory.
Then the suhjpc Of oratory with its at"
tending spirit, eluquence, shall be the sub
iect for our brief consideration; while | ask
YOU 10 bear It in mind, that here only you
propose 10 give your sons knowledge oil those
rules which govern oratory and define eio'
quence.
Il is one thing to acquire luowedge--it is an
other to acquire The ant Of dispensing It for The
benefit of mankind. Il shonld be chiefly required
of youth, To trun their minds 10 severe exertlons
by seeking aud rrasuriug up the truths OF science
But you must not forget whilp gathering to learn
how to scatter abroad You should therefore
cherish this institution and by its aid form the
manner Of your children for the busy scenes OF
life. Here you should teach them the use OF ma
terias acquired by study, as you would hope the
loved son Of each Of You, would use them IN al
ter life Your schoorOom furnishes them with
armor 10 20 out aud meet a striving world, Ma
nv Of you feel The necessity of this armor, and
that exclusive Of all other Inducements should
influence your decision in your chids f'rer -
Do you clothe the young mind with this school
room arnor, and my word for IT, his luure VIII
prove that here his hand was made cunning and
his heart bold. whether used for protection
or defence, whether il be the Offering Of the pen,
or the more violent rostrum.
In approaching this theme we seem to enter a
boundIess field. The mind wandering over It,
pances at such interesting scenes,it reunclanlly
stays at a single point Here curiosity may IN
dulee in the luxury of speculation here pbllos-
opby may revel in the sweets Of analysis; aud
from hence genius may arise and scale the heav-
ems. and like Prometheus, glow amid the lusre
; of their fires In such field being so liable to
wander we will conine ourselves to the enquiry
as 10 what constitutes tho orator as It's be we
find moulded in natures highes, form.
Many excelleuces combine to constitute the
orator. Some of them are spontaneous ,olhers are
f Of cultivation.
IL. Nature must have dealt bountiihy o.h
his mind, she must have enriched Il with the pow
er of vigorous thought ond made il susceptible q
sudden and deep emotion. This power does not
belong TO every mind. I}u. how olien Is gos
sessed when it is never developed. II is 90 this
sin I'd call the patrons attention and warn .Hem
10 puard against. The elements Of Intellectual
! greatness are concealed in many minds IKE treas
ures Of fine gold beneath the solid earth. Mind
ri.es in the attribute. Of excellence, by nice and
impercepiihle gradutions. from the weakes 10 the
.tronaest from The walks Of groyeling d ocy, 10
the sublimest elevations, where god>like genius
] dwells. Eloquence iourisbes upon high ground.
Il loves the lofty elevations.
But the orator in some degree. must have the
fire and phrenzy Of the poet His soul must have
( nerves. as well as suews; for what IS strength
without excitement Many giant mind moves
81 pricelessIy and slugishy, as to display moth
ing but a deionned and lOah some buklness' 10
, a mind resting 10 undisurbed IepOse like stag
napt water. what avas Achillean strength =
Did a sIumhering Achilles ever win victory
The orator must possess not only strength but ar
dor fierce o. the renovated fury which stretched
the mighty He.ior upon the plain" lie must
seem al sense. and get ell reason all Impulse
set an intellect. In a word, "ihough' ana pas
zion must blend together. like glass and NE 10
, .tbs apocslypiic vision" Then iei Us enquire Of
YOU. are YOU giving him that strength, that araor'
ibat sense. and cuIiiyaing ihat intellect here =
Can Il be acquired from that limited course oi
studies you compel him 10 pursue
2nd If thus gifted by nature be must out
geptly cultivate bis au. For eloquence Is
an art Here IL is. IN The school room
we must give him such culture. We often
hear Of naiure's orators. L Is true nature has
her orators. vet they are less ber's ihan some
suppose. They are hers ike seeds and SOIL
! which BY culture af1rd deliciou- fruit lhere
: nav be fruit without culture, but much OF u WI
be poisonous and bitter Without eiiuFauon
there cannot be garden Of wholesome fruits ano
frsgrant tfowers.arranged with exquisite taste ana
skill. EIoqu~nee is like blending magnihceG, J,
mo,nfsi, scenery. with the beauties Of wei
cultivated garden. Nature gives birth to ora'or'
,pd cultivation rears hem. This cultivation Is