Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1858-05-05

Mr. EvERErT's ORATIoN.-The Hall Of the South |
Carolina Institute hronged last night, and hl-
ed to its utmost capacity with the intelligence, the
fashion, the beauty and respt ctabty of the city, to
hear the distinguished New England orator on
theme which he has consecratsd by his genius and
ennobled by his spontaneous generosity. The stage
was occupied by several gentlemen, among whom
we recognized the Governor OF the State and the
British Consul and after introduction to the au-
dience DIV the Hon. James L. Petigru, Mr.. Everett
.ntranced the faculties and enchained the attention
IF the audience for two hours by one of the most
magnificent displays Of eoquence it has ever been
our fortune TO witness
Before the orator entered on his task he made q
beautiful and touching auson to his political asso
cation with such of Carolnas sons as are numbered
with her deceased statesmen. In this exord:um he
blended with grateful tribute to the hospitality OF
the city, less liberal homage TO the patriotism ot
The State in the of the revolution. We are, oil
COURSE forbid any reference TO the topics Of this dis
course and can aude in only general manner to
Mr. Evereit's mode Of illustrating the character and
career of Washington. 1t would appear, however,
not inappropriate to indulge in few reflections coil
nected with this effort to naturalize among us spe
cies of oratroy eminently conductive to the culture
of eloquence
The example of one of our public men most con.
picuous for refinement of taste and classical acquire
mcnt, appearing on the platform, forms indeed an
epoch in our most eminent rhetoricans. We allude
to the art of rhetoric in its best phase and highest
deveopment-as the perfection Of that loiiest style
Of panegyric, which is far removed from the sphere
Of polemca controversy that so often furnishes de-
bate and envenoms the political passions In france
euogy constitutes Of the forms of that eioquence
which almost alone has survived the revolution, and
has not been extineuished by despotism. The eu-
loges pronounced within the walls Of scientific aca-
denies and at the graves Of her eminent men, form
beautiful memorials from the living TO the dead. In
those tributes paid TO genius, to yalor and 10 science,
the virtues and talents of their poSsessors were con
secratcd in the strains to which the orators owed
their inspiration. We deem Mr.. Evereti's Eulogy on
Washington filling space in the United States.
in the same department Of oratory, but OF still
more ennobling character and more snbdued com'
plexion-less artificial and encomiastic-mOre dis
criminative and truthful.
By the success of this style Of rhetoric among Us
the youth of the country will have constantly beiors
them high standard Of purity both Of dction and sen
tmen;, should the example Of Mr.. Everett lind ioi
| lowers worthy of him and his lofty purpose. Tit
i poprlar taste will be tempered and chastened by
model in which ornamental illustration is made th'
handmade and not the mistress of rhetorical art-h
means and not the end The admiration for publu
men will be controlled by that spirit Of impartia
Judgment which discrminates between the more o
less prominent virtues and ;he higher or lower de
grees Of talent that merit commemoration The un
Distinguishing language Of panegyric, in which a
shades of character and dversites Of mind are con
founded. will find no place in orations framed on tn
pattern OF this admirable Address on Washington
Before the miss Of time have gathered over tn
graves of those Tho have illustrated the annals {
their country. the voice that can best halow the
virtues will have preserved them from tradition,
The remotest poSterity. forming. like the discourse
Mr. Everett, associations that will connect the men
ory of the orator with the fame he has assisted I
immortalize
Mr. Everett's style Of oratory is of the scho'
which stands the nearest to that line Of division
| which Northern and Southern speakers exhibit col
trasted pecuarites. He is example Of the sui
dued and chasened. in opposition to the fervd an
in,passioned order Of speech. Not that Mr.. Evere
is deficient in ervor and passion. but it is the fervt
r Of brilliant fancy, rather than powerful imagin
tion and the passion Of earnesness rather than IN
. Of vshsmsuCa Heapprosches. however, more clos