Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-11-12
AN ErYmoLoa1cAL DISSERTATION.
ENGLISH COMPOSITION AND TIE "ESGlIsI CON
PROMISE"

Governor Wisc's letter to the Illinois Demo
cracy seems to have fairly confoundcd the cir
clio Of politicians who have made il their con-
slant task for some time past. to carp at every
thing he has said or done, or left unsaid or TIN
done. The only effort at politico-criticiSm we
have yet seen attempted, is the one feeble feint
of the Washington Union" Still the critics
seem determined to make fling at the tiov-
ernor, in some way or other; so the Frcdcrcks-
burg News" backs the Charleston Courier
in the grave conviction, that however incontro-
vcrtiblc may be tho Governors views on con-
sttutonal law and party policy, he fails to OK
press them in commendablc English.
Our correspondent Of to-day, inclincS de-
cidcdly to an opposite opinion. When doctors
differ, who shall decide? Certainly not such
tyros as we are in the art of elegant" compo-
sition. Wo take the liberty. however, to in
scrt for the sake Of the bon mot merely, very
striking view of the question, (iust suggested
by bystander. who ought to he ashamed Of
himself in which, it is said, many of the Gov.
crnor's friends and well-wshers. Lecomptonites
and an:i-Iccomptonitos unanimously coincide,
viz:
"Thoi howeeer badn philologist the Gorern.
or n,ay be eonsidered, hH English is assurflly
much better than the English Compromise; :;
since tie latter il, uithout doubt, the norst sort
Of EngliM that could be coneeired or expressed
unier am poaibh combindtion Of circum.
stances"
For tie Enquirer.
The Fredericksburg News" says "Our
Governor is catching it in tho way Of structures
on the choice English in which his letter to the
Illinois Democracy is done up. The following
critical paxs at it is from the Charleston 'COu-
rier:
"EEegant Hhrascology. gy.-Gov. Wise, of Nir,
ginia, upon declining an invitation to lift up his
voice for Democracy in Illinois, breaks out in
the following beautiful exclamation But, sir,
lam like tied man" Then waxing eloquent,
he grows careless in the Use Of words, urging
those who enjoy the privilege Of fighting never
to yield but in death or rietory.' 1t is a shame
to exhort his gallant friends to yield after gain
ing triumph. Is not the following enough
to excite any bodys sympathy--for the Eng
llSn language
And oh that was unbound; and could do
more than look on. throbbing with every pulse
of Your glorious strugglc-with its every blow
and breath
""Throbbing with every blow and breath.
The Governors condition is truly melancholy.
His breath is prepared to pul<ate."
We refer the fredericksburg ,Ncts and the
Charleston Courier to the best photographers
for thv signifcation of the word "yieM." One
of its principal meanings is Ito give up the con.
test" Why may not an orator in the fire ol
cloqucnce say, never give up the contest but
''in death or rictory" You give it up in death
because you are unable longer to contend
against your adversary You give it up i'll
victory because your adversary is no longer
able to contend with you.
And why may not my pulse throb in accord
with every pulse Of your glorious struggle =
With every blow strike. and every breath |
breathe, why may not my pulse throb with the
excitement. The Governor does not pulsate
with his breath, but when he deals his heav-
lest blows and brcathcs with a hcaving chest
in the excitement Of 4 mighty struggle, his adj
verSarieS can feel full we'll the pulsations of his
heart and the nervous throes of his working
brain. Hence their efforts to ridiculc his Ian
gr,agc, rather than 10 answer his reasoning
These editors will have to try it again.