The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-02-25


trlarcl of the slavery party in Congress
The pcrvading expression of his counter
ance is that ofexhaustion, rcpose, indolcnc,
indifference. But his ordinary apathy an,
Imm"hility give the measure of his fore,
o" extraordinary occasions. 1t requires
strong impulse to move him, but when til,
motive power is adequate, lis momentum il
great. >s
loombs is stalwart in body and variable i,
expression of countrnancc. His black hai
Is slightly grizzled, his black eyes are bright,
and his rich olive complexion is subducd by
thought. lie has fire, energy, vivaci,y ard
ll"cnt animal spirit. Though not possessed
OF Il regular feature, he is almost handsome
or, ;'s The ladies' would say, i;,>cnatinc.-
lie is equal to himself on all occasions. and
seems to be E,,Iliar with the Senate. lie
has force Of fancy, and the knowledge
rcaprd from severe and proiractcd study.
! OF the three, he is the most Formidable
antagonist III debate, not from superior
/ powers of argument, but from his emphatic
'l"@mai!Sn and assertion of his own person.
atty. His oratory is discursive, embracing
argument defamation and ,lcnunc;atinn.
AMI his clear, loud accents, range the vocal
"aniut There is notllin" conventional or
artistic in his style, which is vigorous. nat
ur;sl AMI occasionally rude. lie is Il strong
man, expressing himself strongly and earn
c>lv.
Davis voice is what the opera people call
Il baritone. 1t serves well the purpose of
public speaking, for though monotonou, it
is plea>in- TO the car. and fills large circle
with lis s"n"r"us ca'lcnccs. If Toumbs is
dl>rur>ivr, Davis is di,l:lctic. He states
rrincl'!"s and rules rather than facts and
arguments. lie seems more addicted to
the rnuncial"n of tic results of his invcs,i-
cations aud researches, than TO ra,ocina-
ton. IL" gives the ultimate inference, but
snrrr"Nscs the mental process 10y which he
discovered it. When he rises to any uucs
ton, You may take it for granted that he is
master Of the subject. The faculty Of gen
cr,Iiza:i"n would seem to he the dominant
on" Of his mind. lie sometimes affects the
pathetic, but with doubtful success, and he
shnns the realm of the Imagination. Even
III his speeches, You cannot fail to recognize
the evidence Of great administrative capac-
lily. He is equally well qualified for shin.
in" in council and in controversy.
Hunters oratory is learned, logical and
exhaustive Of the subject. Reasoning is his
forte. His style is cminently practical and
effective. Though neither brilliant nor str
king i'll parts, his speeches: are more telling
ami conclusive, on the whole, than those o.!
the others; he accumul;.,rs facts and ar.cu-
ments, which in the mass arc irlciraraLle.
He speaks but seldom, bu, labors in,lcEatin-
ably i'll the committees. lie has the rare
merit of prcIcring what is useful to What is
merely p"ru''r, in the filing Of his senate
rial office. Of the three, should ,hinl he
Is the least liable ic errors Of Judgment
Iooml's is very much of gladiator Davis
is rc'.!y enough to break Il lance; but Hum
ter, will the greatest firmncs,s, seems to pos
scss but little combativcncss. If allirma-
,ivcncss, or the assertion Of personality, is
the most obstructive mark OF Toombs' ora
tory, generalization that OF Davis, ANALYSIS
and combination may lc said to be the pc
cnliar distinction Of Hunters. -! Missouri
Democrut.