The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1857-01-27
HON. ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS.

of the Charleston Courier, furnishes the
following interesting account of a recent
speech made by Mr.. S. in the House of
Representatives
1t had been rumored throughout the city
told in the drawing rooms of the hotels
i'm the private parlors and in the public sa-
looms, that stephens, of Georgia" was to
speak on Tuesday of the present week, on
the all absorbing topic of slavery AT an
early hour the galleries were filled TO over
flowing with the families of our distinguish
ed statesmen-memberso of the foreign lcga-
tions-dashing bellies, with a sprinkling
here and there of our best residents.
As we passed through the Hobbies, we
were struck with the deep and revential ST.
lence that pervaded the house. Where was
the power that subdued the stormy confu-
sion of this (always) riotous assembly =
That vast crowd of listening faces were
turned toward shrunken and attenuated
figure. the shoulders contracted and drawn
in-the face dead and of the color of ashes.
There was something grand in the mere
spectacle of this shadowy figure, binding
up the very breath of the house in hush
so silent, that the unsheathng of stiletto
might have been heard amid its stiffness.
When we entered, the speaker was pour
ing out a continuous unintermitted volume
of thought and language TO prove the SOW
ereignty of the people in the territories
He went on and on, with unwearied rapid
ty, arguing, defining, illustrating, repeating
intricate facts, laying down subtitle distinc-
tions; prostrating an objection here--seiz
ing upon falIacy there; then retracing his
steps, and restating in some original points
of view his general propositions-the fly
ing off again to the outskirts of the ques-
ton, and dealing his dcsultory blows with
merciless rciteration wherever an inch of
ground remained to be cleared and during
the whole of this, though his face exhibited
signs of great exhaustion, the god like mind
within did not flag for a single instant, even
pause for topic, an idea or an expression.
This velocity of creation, arrangement and
deliAery astonished us, and what added to
our wonder was. that it appeared TO be
achieved without an effort. Mass after mass
of argument was thrown off, in phraseology
vigorous and appropriate, while the speaker
seemed the mere organ of some hidden
power that saved him the cost of laborious
exertion, apparently anxious to impress up
on others his own reliance upon the force
of what seemed to come unsought.
He had little variety of gesture, and
what he used seemed perfectly un<tudicd
He was evidently so thoroughly absorbed
in his subject, as to be quite unc onsciOus
that he had hand and arms to manage. As
he proce eded, he occasionally raised one
hand, and then suddenly struck it down
with extraordinary force. The strength of
the action atoned for its inelegance. This
very disdain of the extcrnals of oratory
had something imposing in it; one was
made to feel that he was in the presence of
powerful mind that looked to itself alone,
and we at once surrendered ourself more com
pletcly to its guidance from the conviction
that no hackneycd artifce was employed
to allure our confidence.
Before concluding, his whole manner
changed. His tones grew solemn in their
deep, sonorous swell, as he reviewed his
political life. He spoke of the measures he
had aided to passed. his part in the Com
promise of 1850. Then in strain of match
less eloquence. he proclaimed his fidelity
to the union of these States.
He scared above the common places of
public speaking-he rose above the mere
politician, and declared his faithfulness to
the principles on which our Union is franz
ed ; his faithfulness to the laws on which it
proceeds and operates; his faithfulness to
the institutions which distribute the validi-
ty, while they secure the unity of the whole.
AS he proceeded his uneaythly face SEEM
ed to brighten into fuller and ghostlier
meaning; his eyes shone like a sunken pit
of fire suddenly disclosed his attenuated
form seemed to dilate to his dilating soul:
his voice seemed exalted to trumpet tone;
the word orator (ike transparency fut-
tering in the breeze) famed around his eve
ry look, and gesture, and word, and move
ment. The speakers hammer descended
in the midst of this impassionated burst,
leaving an impression upon the tingling
ears of his auditors which many will carry
to their graves. This speech is considered
master piece, pu e, lofty, dignified and i'm
FASHIONED, leaving an impression on the
public mind of the patriotic motives and
lofty objects of the speaker.
The marked disproportion between the
personnel and the splendid intellect of Mr.
Stephens, is most striking. If Rembrandt
were living in our times. he should paint
the phpisque of this remarkable man. His
unearthly face would afford an appropriate
subject to the shadowy pencil of that great
artist. There should be no gradual melting
of colors into each other; there should be
no nice variety of hue; no sky-no flowers
no drapery-no marble; but shrunken
and spectral figure should stand upon the
canvas, with the greater proportions of his