New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-08-01
MONDAY MORNING. AUGUST l, 1853
THE COURIER AND MR. JENYFER

We formed our judgment of Mr.. Jenlier
talents and requirements from his printed
speeches, delivered in Congress some twelve or
fifteen years ago, as well as from addresses and
letters which flowed from his pen, and most
assuredly they were above mediocrity in style |
and argument, far superior to the general run |
of similar compositions Of wing orators and poll |
ticians, which Colonel Maddox and his party |
friends still eXtol the ne plitS ultra of the |
beautiful and eloquent"
This is but fiat assertion, unsustained by
proof, aud a species of argument which is alto
gether unanswerable, because it presents no
statement Of facts that will admit of rejoin-
der. We may say in reply that the addresses
which flowed from his PEN and his printed
speeches were not above mediocrity in style
and argument and the contest will still
rest where it begun. Let the Courier point
us to any matter of special brilliancy that ever
fell from Mr.. Jenifer, and we will be prepared
to Join issue as to whether the compliment be-
slowed be.deserved.
As to his printed speeches, we will remark
that we have perfect recollection of every
speech delivered by Mr. Jenifer whilst Repre-
sentative, and more puerile, fimsy and frivolous
efforts never were delivered on the floor of Con-
gress We assert that when member of Con-
gress he neither displayed yigor Of mind, wis
dom of views, nor comprehensiveness Of princi-
pies
As the Courier has failed to refer to any Of
Mr. Jenifers "printed speeches, which in the
opinion of the editor are so " far superior to the
general run of similar compositions Of wing
orators and politicians" we, in support of our
negative assertion, will specify few Of his eff
forts which are not 'superior to the general
rum but which have inferiority stamped
upon them that marks them distinct vely as his
own. We will refer the Courier to the speech Of
Mr. Jenifer on the admission of Michigan into
the Union, and ask the editor if it is produc-
ton worthy to be classed as one of great merit
and erudition Let the editor of the Courier
read Mr.. Jenifer's speech on the Sub Treasury,
and pronounce it an effort evincing mental ca
pacity
We have enumerated the only two speeches
made by him during the eight years he was in
Congress, lit was lucky for his reputation that
he spoke not oftener) and we challenge contra
diction when we say that neither of them be-
speak talents or requirements that the most
ordinary man in the community, without any
acquaintance with the best ancient or modern
writer's, could not have equalled, if not sur
passed They contain repetitions Of arguments
that sprung from the throeS of other brains not
Astounding in quotations from ancient writer's
not evincing an acquaintance with the works
of the best English authors, but much below
the common standard.
The editor of the Courier very triumphantly
asks
If this gentleman made so contemplate n
figure in Congress, why did the wings of the st.
Mary's District repeatedly select him as their
Representative in the National Legislature
There is nothing SO very wonderful in that.
The 'swhigs of the ST. Nlarys district" may
have been deceived as we'll as any other vel
meaning people, and why not by man who
only made two speeches in eight years Silence
may conceal world Of stupidity and it wouls
be fat SANDER to say that Mr.. Jeniter was no
master of that small secret
why did the wings of the St. Mary's Dis
trict repeatedly select him as their representa-
tive in the national legislature; Why hay
the democrats of partiular portions of our owl
State repeatedly selected" certain member
to g the National Legislature who possess infin
itely less merit than Mr.. Jenifer Answer II
that, Master Courier.
And why have the democrats here at HON,
repeatedly selected" members of our State
Legislature and of other important bodies wht
were VIGOROUSLY incompetent, and of whom
even their constituents were ashamed Has i
not been because talented men had enough t.
do at home and could not afford to pay I'll
price of the honor involved in an election An
swer us that !! And if the democrats Of thi
enlightened region have been compelled to elec
incompetent representatives, why may not tn
swhigs Of St Mary's have been reduced to tn
same straight? Mr.. Jenifer is not the only weo
man who ever went to Congress- and the Courie
need not go far from home for examples.
The Courier in speaking of Mr., Jeniter Will
in Congress, says;
g In that body he was contemporary with whij
gentlemen who have since stood in front of til
wing phalanx as its leaders and champions
Our neighbor will have it that he kept goo
company, at least, and it had been better 70
him had he kept it still but would such asso
citation have constituted him the remarkabl
man the Courier represents him Would
have taught him the Classics or made him nc
quainted with Z" the best English authors a
the Courier represents him to be All Of u
have seen in the menagerie the little dog in II
same cage with the lion but who ever thougl
of calling the little dog young lion
The most that can be said Of MIR. Jenifer
that he is good compiler, and makes pascal
speeches out of matter furnished from the II
hections Of others. Aloliere observes O! maxim
dinner that any man can do it with the NJ
cessary material, but if professel cook ca
not do it without, he has his art ior nothin
The same may be said Of debater makir
great speeches without capacity: the matter
furnished by him having great mental wealtl
and the skill lies in doing without the capacity
and in arranging the borrowed thoughts in a
attractive form. OF the Courier we may sa,
that in speaking of Mr.. JenifeI as an orator,
has made the discovery how great speeches ma
be made without either learning Or reading
We are in hopes that our neighbor will intori
himself as regards this " Learned Theban," an
we think he will concur in opinion with US, al
acknowledge the fact, that We have done NJ
Jenifer no injustice Ii he possesses literaI
attachments, appeal to every individual
his late Congressional District, if ever such
accomplishment was ascribed TO him by his mt
devoted friends. II he acquired e0nspcuo
standing in Congress as a good debater, /
records of the Congressional debates have fail