Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-01-22

ously--paintng him at the moment, week Deiore
last, when he was in the milst of the greatest
among his great efforts on the floor of the House.
Road it,
1t had been rumored throughout the city-told
in the drawing-rooms of the hotels-in the nrlvate
parlors and in the public saloons, that "Stevens,
of Georgia" was to speak on Tuesday Of the pre-
sent week, on the oil absorbing topic Of slavery.
At an early hour the galleries were filled to over
flowing, with the families of our distinguished
Observation-Disclosures of the foreign legations
dashing bellies with a.sprnkling here and there of
our best residents.
As We passed through the lobbics, we were
struck with the deep and reverential silence that
perraded the House. Where was the power that
subdued the stormy confusion Of this (always)
riotous assembly? That vast crowd of listening
faces were turned toward shrunken and atten-
uated 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 unsheathing OF
q stiletto might have been heard amid its still
ness.
When we entered, the speaker was pouring out
a continuous, unintermttcd volume OF thought
and language to prove the sovereignty Of the peo-
pie in the territories. He went on and on, with
unwearied rapidity, arguing, defining, illustrating,
repeating intricate facts, laying down subtitle dis
tinctions; prostrating an objection hcre-selzng
upon falacy there; then retracing his steps, and
re.stating in some original points of view his gen.
cral propostions-then flying off again to the out,
skirts of the question, and dealing his desultory
blows with merciless reiteration 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 single instant; nor even pause for
topic, an idea or M expression. This velocity Of
creation, arrangement and delivery astonished US;
and what added to our wonder was, that 1t ap-
reared to be achieved without an effort Mas.
after mass of argument was thrown off, in phra-
seology vigorous and appropriate while the speak
er seemed the mere organ Of some hidden power
that saved him the cost Of laborious exertion. ap-
parently anxious to impress upon others his own
reliance upon the force of what seemed to como
unsought
lie had little variety Of gest lie, and what he
used seemed perfectly unstudied. He was evi
IDENTIFY so thoroughly absorbed in his subject, as
to be quite unconscious that lie had hands anc
arms to manage. As he proceeded, he occasion
ally raised one hand, and then suddenly struck il
down with extraordinary force. The strength o
the action atoned for its inelegance. This very
disdain of the externals Of oratory had something
imposing in t.; one was made to feel that he was
in the presence of o powerful mind that looked tc
itself alone, and one surrendered oneself more
completely to its guidance from the conviction
that no hackneyed artifce was employed to allure
our confidence.
Before concluding, his whole manner changed
His tones grew solemn in their deep, sonorous
l.. al nn1sk 81 Hn ~
of the measures he had aided to pass-of his par
in the Compromise of 1850 Then in strain Of
matchless eloquence, he proclaimed his fidelity tc
the un,on Of these States.
He scared above the common places of public
speaking-he rose above the mere politician, and
declared his faithfuness to the principles on which
our Union is framed; his faithfulness to the law:
on which it proceeds and operates; his faithful
ness to the institutions which distribute the valid
itv. while they secure the unity of the whole.
As he proceeded, his unearthly face seemed to
brighten into fuller and ghostlier meaning his
ewes shone like sunken pit of fire suddenly dis
closed his attenuated form seemed to dilate tc
his dilating soul his voice seemed exalted to Q
trumpet tone; the word orator like n Transparent
CIV futtering in the breezc) famed around hi:
every look, and gesture, and word, and movement
! The speakers hammer descended in the midst o.
this impassionated burst, leaving an impression
upon the tingling ears of his auditors which many
will carry to their graves. This speech is con
sidercd master piece pure, lofty, dignifcd an(
| impassioned, lcavingan impression on the public
mind of tho patriotic motives and lofty objects O.
the speaker
The marked dispropor.ion between the person
mel and the splendid intellect of MIR. Stevens, /!
most striking. If Rembrandt were living in on'
times, he should paint the phy:qus of this remark
able man. His unearthly face would afford OF
appropriate subject to the shadowy pencil of tha
great artist There should be no gradual melting
of colors into each other there should be no nic'
variety of hue; no sky-no Aowers-no drapery
no marble but shrunkeu and spectral fgur'
should stand upon the canvas, with the greate
! proportions of his form in opacity and shadow
and with a strong line of light breaking through
monastc window upon few locks scattered upoi
small and irregularly shaped head. The palo'
of the grave should sit upon his face. the features
of which, though destitute of all symmetry o.
proportion, yet derive from the mind within, al
expression of ghostly power.
We may, in future article, aludc to the efor
of "Winter Davis" of Maryland who followed
the gentleman from Georgia. NJ. j. w.