Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-03-31
JEFFRRsoa DEBATING sodIErY.

JEFFERSON DEBATING sOCIETY.
J. RANDoLpH TucSEa, Esq, of YYftctesier. by
invitation, lectured before the Jefferson Debating
Society in this place, on Monday nightIast.
MI II was honored on the occasion by one of
the largest, most fashionable brinan and intsffi-
gent audiences ever assembled I'm jefferson Hall
His reputation as gentleman of NM ability, both
as Lawyer and Lecturer was welitnosvn in This
county, and he was gladly and enthusiastically
received. Il Us
The distinguished lecturer from The commence
nent to the close of his lecture, was listened 10
with marked and aPpreciatfve attention. And.
altho' occupying over an hour and thirty five
mnnies in its delivery .ahe never for sin gle mo-
ment failed TO ehchain his audience by the entire
and, mastery treatment of his subject.
Mr.9T. selected for his theme. for the occasion,
" EpucaTloN-is nature It's results lpksn properly
eoaaaeted-Gnd its relations to HFrgi Aia,
MIR. t. has won tor himself n ew, laurels. His
effort on that occasion has entitled him justly 10
the front rank of able and brilliant orators. TO-
say that the distinguished lecturer handled his
theme with ability and consnmmate skill, would
be but commonplace eulogy. We. really feel our
lack of language TO express in suitable and be-
hutng terms our opinion ard impressions of Mr..
rs mastery nd effective effort. II was indeed a
most exquisite an elegant production, and spark
80 RhtOuSnOuI Win some OF the most eloquent
passages of rhetoric and logical reasoning to which
II mas ever been our good fortune to listen. Itwas
indeed The emanation of mind richly stored with
choicest gems OF erudition purified by. deep think
ing and evidencins the strongest powers of an
alysis.
AstWe listened with unfagging and rapt atten-
ton, we were forciby impressed that the think
ing, rehectings selEoriginating welltrainedmind.'
was portraying lis own powers to ACCLAIMED and
delighted audience. We think we can pronounce
without invidious comparison with other gentle
men who have lectured here,-that the lecture of
Monday night, was decidedly The ablest and most
mastery one ever delivered before the Jefferson
Debating Society With all our feelings of pleas
ure and delight with which we listened to MIR. T.
we must remark that with some of his positions
we do not entirely agree-yet, with our dissent,
we are constrained to acknowledge that our mind
paid willing tribute his Respondent genius and
distinguished abilities.
Mr.. T. assumed and ably argued, thattit was
the mere fact of knowing how to read or write,
and be able to CLEAN the information impaired by
books that constituted knowledge, but that it was
the practical, thinking, selEirained and well dis
ciplined mind that bespoke and gave evidence of
the true results of properly conducted Education.
He eontepded that without the mind fed upon, re-
fecled on, digested and analysed and also origna-
ted from such stores OF informatfop it was but sc
curing learning without gaining wisdom.
He instanced magBprominent men, both of an
cient and modern times, whose -nameslaos 1tfu-
mine the Pages'ot history. yet, who were not men
OF erudition. And, that they wegs in the srictest
sense of the term, men of thought and observation,
and scbooled in the severe discipline of the mind,
governing alike themselves as well as ruling the
world. They have, sad he, by The inherent force
OF their own strong powers of deep thought claim
ed the worlds praise and commanded its admfra-
ton.
Mr. T. nobIy, CALAMITY defended our old com
mOnweallh from The charges made by Northern
fanatics thai she offered less facilities for education
than any state in the Union. The statistical evil
dtnce to the contrary, presented BIZ Mr.. T. proved
thatjust the reverse The case.
Weregret it is not in, ouppower to present the
lecture in full to our readers. We have heard but
one opinion relative to The effort and that is. that
it was, production.Of great power and beauty,
and peculiarly adapted TO and acceptable TO Vir-
ginia audience.
After Mr.. T. finished, ANDREW HuNTER, Esq,
moved tha. the thanks of the Society be returned
to him, which was done in a most hearty and en-
thusiastic manuer.-Ffee Press.