The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-19


rc-purchase him; and because Lynch had abso-
lately refused to sell him at any price. some
have been uncharitable enough to infer that
he retained him as an object upon which to
exercise his cruelty.
Mrs. Stoves "extravagant and impossible"
incidents in the life Of Uncle Tom, 10 doubt
begin to LOOK like veritable deeds, even to
Southern eyes Now that the attention of men
is directed to the search for such things, they
loom up in most horribly convincing plentiful
ness.
THE ELoQUENCE OF HON. GERRIT SMITH.
The source of the power of an orator over
his auditors is thing that has never been de-
scribed. Tie presence of the orator can alone
reveal it. His language may be written down
and printed, word for word as he delivers it, and
yet fail to impress the reader with more than
ordinary emotions bat we can only attempt to
describe the looks, the gestures, the tones, and
the moduiations, Of the speaker.
When Gerrit Smith arose to address the
House in an impromptu manner, few days
ago, after Messrs. Smith, of Alabama, and
Of that body member remarked, very audi
bly,, that " the Smith family appeared to have
possession Of the Halln In few moments
however, that gentleman, as did almost every
individual present, leant forward, profoundly
sttentiye, to catch every word that should fall
FROM the lips of the speaker. Along the aisles
there were many who paused and stood still to
listen. We looked around to observe the as
pee. of the House, and could nowhere detect
an instance Of inattention. Whence was the
charm Our readers have perused the words
of the speaker. They were beautifully simple
and appropriate but the occasion did not per-
NIT the utterance of vehement or imprisoned
language. The remarkable effect produced
would not have been witnessed, if any other
orator had uttered these words. 1t has been
said that it proceeded from the peculiar voice Of
Mr.. Smith which is described by writer as
"equal to that of Henry Clay" We were ia
miliar with the tones of Mr. Clay's voice, and
have often been enraptured with its elect
but in our opinion, it was by no means so uni
formly good as that of Mr.. Smith. We have
never heard voice so pleasing, so impressive,
and so unaffected. The elder Vandenhof, in
the zeri.h IF his pCwers-noble and stately
tragedan that he was-possessed voice the
musical richness and depth of which recur to
us as we listen to Mr.. Smith but it was artist
ic: the practced elocutionist could not fail to
detect the agency of art in the formation of
that voice. MIR. Smith, on the contrary, speaks
OF 'ho &c
not strained, and no words are "mouthed," as
Hamlet expresses it.
In the days of his childhood, the writer fire.
quented on the Sabbath large old church, in
which there was g majestic organ, and many
time was he the involuntary but delighted cap
tones Of which were so deep and perfect, as
their tremor rolled along the vaulted dome and
woke an echo in each arch and angle in the
edifce TIE voice of Mr. Smith now produces
u similar influence upon him.
But it is not alone the voice. Not more
distinct and impressive are its tones than
is the inspiration produced By the appearance
Of the speaker Fifty-add years probably have
passed over, without bending his tai and ener-
getc form. His features are strongly marked
with the impress CT an active mind and an in
dependent and elevated character. Upon them,
especially when speaking, rests the pleasing
and subduing influence of benevolence, the
genuineness Of which no behOlder can for
moment doubt. This, if we may be permitted
to judge, is the most effective point in his elo-
quence His intellectual power and the tones
that thrill us may indeed be resisted; but the
attributes of the heart that are mirrored upon
the features Of the face demand our respect and
our sympathy.
In proof of this truth the noble and manly
response of the Hon. Mr. Preston, of Kentucky
may be instanced; as also the effects of the
brief speech to which we have already alluded
when, having given utterance to sentiments so
Numerically opposed to those entertained by
a vast majority of the people of the South and
their representatives, Mr.. Smith was approach
ed by member from Alabama, and by other
gentlemen, who pressed towards him, and
ardently clasped his hands in acknowledgment
of the impression his eloquence had made upon
them. c.
A CAPTURED SLAvER.-The schooner ~ H.
Gambrill, Lieut.. De Camp commanding, ar
rived at New York on the 5 h inst, in SO days
from Loando South Africa, after having exoe-
rienced succession of violent gales, which
stove in her bulwarks, and did other damage:
She halls from Baltimore, is SLAYER, and prize
to the United States friga.e Constitution Com
modore Isaac Mayo, and was captured On the
Sd November off Congo river, and placed in
charge of Lieut.. De Camp, who brought her
home.
1t is supposed she would have received from
300 to $50 slaves, in the narrow space between
the deck and the planking over the water
casks-a space in which man could not stand
erect. Her crew consisted Of eleven inea, all
told. Permission was given TO the captain and
crew either to return in the vessel or to 90 on
shore and shift for themselves. They all pre-
ierred the latter alternative excepting the cook
and one of the crew, who, returned in her.