The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-18
The Pyesidents q ths United States - PublAe
Speaker.

addresses Of President Pierce have been highly gra-
tilted with the display Of his oratorcal powers; and
the readiness with which he responded &c tepore to
the speeches of welcome which were made to him by
official dgnitares, during his late tour and visit TO
this city, attracted very general admiration. It was
known that, as leading member Of the New Hamp-
shire bar, and rs a debater in Congress and other
legislative bodies, Mr.. Pierce had acquired disnc-
ton for the ability he had shown on many OCCASIONS
but the public not prepared for this uncommon
~ pleasing and ready manner, fuency and address,
which he has exhibited in his popular speeches since
he has been elected to the Presidency. It may be
said by severe critics that the Presidents style
and manner is too theatrical for that Of person
holding his dignfed station, and that his speeches
are wanting in originality and enlarged views;
but all admit that he has perfect selfpossession
speaker good taste in his selection OF language
adapted to his subject and his audience with the ad
vantages Of good personal appearance, aud grace
full and forcible manner OF devery-qualities which
cannot fail to command popular favor.
II may be interesting to our readers to compare
President Pierce with his predecessors in the charac
ter Of public speakers, and We WILL therefore, very
briefly take retrospective view Of the Presidents 10
this capacity.
Washington, it is well known was no orator. He
and Taylor were the only two of our Presidents who
not educated for either Of the learned profess
sions, both were brought up as farmers sons and
both were early prepared for the military life for
which they evinced taste in their youth. Washing
ton never commenced the study of the ancient clas-
sics 1t is even doubtful whether he received any in
struction in the principles Of language. By prac-
tice reading, and study in after life, he gradually
overcame his early defects in composition, till at
length he wrote with accuracy, purity of idom, and
striking appropriateness of phraseology and clear
ness OF style. While in the army, after the French Of
cers had joined the Americans, he bestowed some at
tention on the French languages but at time could
he write or in it, indeed translate any pa
per. At the age of nineteen he was appointed Ad-
jutant General with the rank of Major, of the Vir
ginia militia His military propensities had in.
creased with his years, and he prepared himself, by
the study Of books the military art for the life of
a soldier.
After his campaign at the West, Washington was
elected member Of the Legislature Of Virginia, in
which body he held seat for about fifteen years pre-
vious to the of the Revolution His influence there
was produced more by the soundness Of his judg-
ment, his quick perception, and his directness and
sincerity, than by eloquence or art. He seldom
spoke never harangued, and it is not known that he
ever made set speech, or entered into stormy de-
bate. But his attention was at all times awake, and
he was ever ready to act with decision
and frmness. His practice may be in.
feIred by the following counsel, in a letter
to nephew who had been chosen member of the
Assembly Of Virginia:-He says-"The only advice
will offer, you have mind to command the atten-
ton of the house, is to speak seldom, but on import
ants MI alato Tn
constituents, and in the former case make yourself
perfectly master of your subject. Never exceed
decent warmth, aud submit your sentiments with
difidence A dictatorial STYLE though it may carry
conviction, is always accompanied with disgust"
Washington was member Of the Virginia Con.
vontion Of liza, which body elected him one Of tue
delegates Of the first Continental Congress, which
met at Philadelphia in September, IVA. He was
also delegate to the Congress OF 1875, by which
body be was chosen Commander in Chief of the Con-
tnenta Army. The choice was by ballot on the
10Th Of June, and Washington was unanimously
elected As soon as the result was ascertained the
house adjourned. On the converting of Congress the
next morning the President communicated to him
officially the notice Of his appointment and he
rose in his place, and signifed his acceptance
in the noble, modest, and appropriate reply
which is familiar to all readers Of American his
tory. This and his subsequent addresses to Con-
gress, to the army, and to his fellow citizens on
various occasions he doubtless previously prepared,
as we have evidence that receiving, in early life,
a military appointment from the colonial Assembly
Of Virginia, Of which he was member, he was una.
bic to reply in,prompfx, the announ cement to
him, and was relieved from his embarrassment by
the happy tact Of the Speaker of the House, Colo
mel Robinson)
Mr. jefferson remarks al served with General
Washington in the Legislature of Virginia, before
the Revolution and during it, with Dr. Franklin, in
Congress. ! never heard either OF them speak ten
minutes at time, nor to any but the main point
Which was to decide the question"
In the National Convention which framed the
constitution Of the United States Washington made
two short speeches, one on taking his seat rs Pres
dent of the Convention, the other near the close of
the session. asking the consent Of the Convention to
change Ae ratio Of representation in Congress,
which request was readily granted.
John Adams was equally distinguished as an adj
vocate at the bar debater in legislative assemblies
popular orator able writer and diplomatist, and
an accomplished statesman. in the language of one
of his eulogists, CMr. j. E. Sprague, of Massachu-
setts such services as his are never known to the
public, or if known, only in history, when the act
of the day have passed from the stage, and the
motives tor longer concealment cease to exist. AS
we ascend the mount Of history, and rise above the
vapors Of party prejudice, shall all acknowledge
that we owe our independence more to John Adams
than to any other created being and that he was the
great leader OF the American Revolution" On
meeting the Senate as their presiding officer, in 1877,
Mr.. Jefferson remarked that the duties of the chief
magistracy had been justly conidcd to the eminent
character who preceded hm-whose talents and in.
tegrity have been known and revered by me through
a long term of years." 82H
Mr.. Jefferson, like Mr.. Adams, received clssi-
cal education, and studied law with George Wythe.
There are still extant (says Mr.. Writ a mum
Der of arguments which were delivered by
hin, ar tho har unop Some nf tho rpost intricate