The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-03-10
An Exordium,

An Exordium.
The Congress of the United States is the
best school of defamation in the world We
have read some of the smoothest oratory in the
columns Of the Globe that we remember to
have seen anywhere--the extract below from
the Speech of Hon. Mr.. Clemens of the Wheel.
ing District, in defence of the Lecompton Con-
sttution is very pretty. We give only the cx-
ordirm, the agumentative part of the speech
would fill our whole paper, and it is not our
habit to publish long speeches or reports on
either side. The great mass of the reading
public want to know only the beginning and
the end of story-here is the beginning of
Clemens speech, the end is that the Lecomp-
ton Constitution is technically legal and there
fore should be adopted in defiance of the sub.
sequently expressed will of the Legislature of
Kansas Territory. We do not endorse Mr.
Clemens statements in the least, but we admire
the style of his language aid give the extract
merely as specimen Of Congressional ora.
tory:
MIR. CLEMENS. Mr.. Chairman, the even
ing before the hattie of Talavera. in Spain,
The armies of England and France cncamred
on the opposite banks of a river which, guil,less
OF human blood, still flowed between them
and the soldiers of each, as the shades of even.
ing hasiened on came quietly down 10 the brink
OF the water aud filled their cantecns in ,rcpa.
ration for the CORY work of the morrow. Sir,
we who have hored there was to be, and would
De. some cessation to fratricidal st:ife that we
had reached at last the palm tree and the foun.
tain in the great Sahara of political life and
that, in the great principles Of the Government
as established by law, Patriotism would en-.
trench itself so strongly that we might we'll
bid defiance to world in arms, now find our
selves. erewhilc, ranged along each side of a
beliigerent line of opposing camps, marked out
as distinctly as that cleaning river in Spain
which divided the cong erers and the conquer
ed. While the white flag of Peace still flaps
in the breeze, let Us 60 down to the lin, id
stream and quietly drink together, whatever
may be the fate of the country.
Sir, am not here to indulge in auy senti.
ment of objurgation or rcploach The Repre-.
sentative OF larger white population than any
member from Virginia, coming, as do, from a
part OF the State damned up like q wedge be
tween Ohio and Pennsylvania-my people hav.
| ing many precious connections with both-find.
ing amongst my immediate constituents large
mass or northern men who have built ND manu-.
featuring est iblishments and devoted their en-.
terprise, energy, and capacity, to the develop.
ment OF the resources of my native city and
State profess to speak on all questions here
which apl arenlly wear sectional phase, with.
out one particle of acrimony, but at the same
time with the emphasis which is dua to the
time and the occasion.
Sir, a vene able man. weary with the cares
OF State who has been for forty years in the
service OF his country, at home and abroad
who has illustrated her history in every D liticsi
department by the high EN- rise of his st ,tes-
manship; with no child to inherit his we'll.
earned fame, but giving 10 still united reopc
all his love with no ambition before him ex.
cept to dis hare honesty the high functions
teraining to the most majestic osition upon
earth-Is now u on his political trial! On the
steps OF yonder porico, but few fleeing
months ago, in the PRESENCE Of assembled
tho sands OF his coun'rymen, he took solemn
oath to support the Constitution of the United
States; under which it was his imperative duty
to take care that the laws shall I've ia thfuly
executed. A. the very outset of his admins.
triton the difficulties W hich s rround,d him
SCENE almostinsuperatle Poison, in the GOV
cred dish; internecine war civil st: ife geo.
graphical ejudice treas n, with its bold, bra
zen. and defiant front; ambition, with its cool
pln,tln tnscupulous schemes bank uptcv
| Will nc utHoS VI LrlareI s. throwing C rises in
| his path sedition, with its ear-kissinr arou.
mems; sha p-toothed unkin!n ness, tied as sul
ture to his heart, until, like Lear, deserted by
his own kin in the midst of the pitiless storm
he migh t well say
| "Close pent-up quilts
| Rive your concealing continents, and cry
IheSe dreadful summonerS grace. l am man.
| Mole sinnd against, than SHINING"
Sir, ! am not here as his unreasoniny advo.
cate. l am not here to rate OF blind loyalt,
to him, or 10 any other MN but as one OF tho
humblest OF those who stood by him in a fe ce
trial than this. shall not limit, come wha,
may, to see him wounded in the house of hi;
| fiiends.
Pass with me. then, sir, from the pettv con.
| sideraton of who shall be Earl of Du ham, or
who shall be Vicar of Rray-f.om the heated
arena, where mingle the exacerbations md pre-
JUDGES and ASSIGNS Of the hour-back to the
earlier and better days of the Republic, and lie,
us see how far the resident can be s. stained
ether ny precedent Or by existing law, which
he would have been recreant to himself if he
had not faithfully enforced
----~o--
The Weather.-For the past week the wealth
er is entitled to much credit. The days arc