The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1855-12-12
ELooUENCE OF THE WEST.
BY JOHN nEwbAND MArF1r.

Habits of thought and style OF orato
ry are 30 doubt influenced by the scene
ry and general features of the country
as well as by the modes of education and
the forms Of society. Admitting the
truth of this assertion, it is no wonder
that the elo1uence of the west is bold
energetic and magnificent. In this glo-
rious region, mind developes earlier, and
approaches the maturity of it's vigor in
forms of fresh beauty and sublimity,
which may be sought for in vain in the
Older sections of the continent. Even
without the highest degrees of mental
culture, and comparatively unlettered,
the mind that is admitted to contem-
plate the scenery of the west, TO range
over almost interminable prairies or gaze
beautifully upon the mountain fastness-
es of the Alleghsnies, or to span the
ocean-like rivers, cannot but be filled,
imbued and over powered with the
strange and solemn impression of the
creation around him.
But yet it is not fact that the west
ern mind is in any general sense desti-
tute of the aids of letters less, than the
same low-land dwellers of the sea-wash-
ed sandy coast. Yet, while it reads the
fearfully distinct impression on natures
open-leaved volume, it is also not with
out the tones of masculine eloquence-
thrilling as the free notes of the noun
tain horn, and full of the elements of
passion-are the native productions of
the, west as much in keeping with the
scenery of the region as mind ever should
be with matter, and as true to nature as
the torres of a wind harp to the breath
of the evening.
The opinion that may have been ex.
tensively propagated in the elder states
and along the sea- board, of the intel
lectual inferio-ity of the west, was no
doubt the effect of religious bigotry
or of that jealousy which ever agitates
the various portions of the community, /
in the rivalry of influence aud power.
That opinion is now dissipated like a
vapor before the light of truth, The
great west, with sufficient energy and
ability to vindicate claim to the nat
ural talent and genius, has exhibited
and still exhibits in the profession of
law and the sacred calling of pulpit or
atory, the elements of unqualified elo-
quence. The inquiry, what has pro,
duced this state of things, is replete
with instruction and interest.
In the west a asuperabundance of east
erD, northern and southern talent con-
gregates. The dull, the unaspiring, the |
idle never think of overpassing the cloud
capped barriers of the Alleghanies. The
bold, the resolute, the am hitious, leave |
the white cottage of New England, the
sunny avenues of the south, and carve
out their home from tie kingly forest
Or the fresh untouched wilderness. What
has created their eloquence What
has given it its tone ofthunder-its wild,
soul-tcuching pathos?
The practice Of holding religious meet
lngs in the open air, extensively pre-
Failing in the west, has given nobility
10 the soul of Western eloquence. The
iome made by the hands of man, spring.
ng its arch towards heaven is yet the
bounded concave that must con6ne the
soul that was made to range the skies,
to the delightful outlet of her prison
house. The camp meeting has changed
lie nomenclature of pulpit eloquence. !