St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-08-21

sppreme at philippe (taken in the
sense of Demosthenes and Cicero), },
where the political attack on public
mans measure was to be enforced and
heightened by personal attack on
his conduct. He owed much of his
fascinating power over his hearers to
the exercise Of this talent-always so
captivating in popular assembly,
and in the galleries of the Senate
not so much so in the Senate itself ;
and to him it naturally fell to become
the organ Of the feelings of his party
towards Mr.. Calhoun. And very cor
daily, and carefully, and amply, did
he make preparation for it.
The storm had been gathering since
September; it burst in February. It
had been evidently waiting for an oc-
casion and found it in the first speech
of Mr.. Calhoun, of that session, in fa-
vor of Mr.. Van Buren's recommends
ton for an independent treasury and a
federal hard money currency. This
speech was delivered the 18th of Feb
ruary, and was strictly argumentative
and parliamentary, and wholly confin-
ed to it's subject. Four days thereaf-
ter, Mr.. Clay answered u and altho'
ready at an extemporaneous speech,
he had the merit when time permitted
of considering we'll both the matter
and words of what he intended to de-
liver.
On this occasion he had had ample
time for the speech of Mr.. Calhoun
could not be essentially different from
the one he delivered on the same sub
ject at the extra session and the,per-
sonal act which excited his resent
ment was of the same date. There
had been six months of preparation,
and fully had preparation been made
The whole speech bore the impress of
careful elaboration, and especially the
last part f; for it consisted of two dis
tinct parts-the first argumentative,
and addressed to the measure before
the Senate and was, in fact, as well
as in name, a reply. The second part
was attack, under the name of a reply,
and was addressed to the personal
conduct of Mr.. Calhoun, reproaching
him with his desertion, as it was cal
led, and taunting him wit the compa-
ny he had got into-taking care to re-
mind him of his own former and sad
account of that company: and then
launching into wider field, he threw
up to him all the imputed political de-
linquencies of his life for near twenty
years-skipping none from 1916 down
to the extra session although he him
self had been in close political friend
ship with this alleged delinquent dur
ing the greater part of that long time
| Mr.. Calhoun saw at once the advan
tage which this general and sweeping
assault put into his hands. Had the
attack been confined to the mere Cir
cumstance of quitting one side and
joining the other, it might have been
treated as mere personality; and,
either left unnoticed, or the account
settled at once with some ready words
of retort and justification. But in go
ing beyond the act which gave the Of
fence-beyond the cause Of resent
ment, which was recent, and arraign-
ing a member on the events of almost
a quarter of century Of public life,
he went beyond the limits Of the occa-
sion, and gave Mr.. Calhoun the oppor-
tunity of explaining, or justifying, or
excusing all that had ever been objec-
ted to him and that with the sympa-
thy in the audience with which attack
forever invests the rights of defence.
He saw his advantage and availed
himself of it. Though prompt at a
reply, he chose to make none in hur-
ry. A pause ensued Mr.. Clay's con-
clusion, every one deferring to Mr..
Calhoun's right to reply. He took the
floor, but it was only to say that he
would reply at his leisure to the SEN
ator from Kentucky.
He did reply, and at his own good
time, which was at the end of twenty
days and in way to show that he
had "smelt the lamp" not of De-
mades, but of Demosthenes, during the
time. It was profoundly meditated
and elaborately composed: the matter
solid and condensed the style chaste,
terse and vigorous; the narrative
clear the logic close the sarcasm
cutting and every word bearing up
on the object in view. 1t was mas
terly oration, and like Mr.. Clay's
speech, divided into two parts but
the second part only seemed to occu-
py his feelings, and bring forth words
from the heart as well as from the
head. And well it might I! He was
speaking not for life but for character,
and defending public character, in the
conduct which makes it, and on high
points of policy, which belonged to
history defending it before posterity
and the present age, impersonated in
the American Senate, before whom he
stood, and to whom he appealed as
judges while invoking as witnesses.
He had high occasion and he felt it /;
high tribunal to plead before, and he
rejoiced in it; a high accuser, and he
defied him !; high stake to contend
for, his own reputation and manful-
ly, earnestly and powerfully did he de-
fend it. He had q high example, both
in OratOry. and the analOQies of the