The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-12-07
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ELcQUENCE OF KERRY CLAY.


ELoQUENGE OF KERRY CLAY. ,azt
: Whoever heard Mr.. clay for the FIRST time,
was almost certain to be delighted with him
without exactly knowing why. There was q
charm about his oratory that de6ed analysis
and rendered sober criticism well-nigh im-
possible. You went away too we'll pleased
and too full of admiration for the ma1to think
of asking how be had managed for the last
hour, to put you in a rage at one moment, and
make you laugh or cry the next, at will
There was something about him different from
any other speaker Fever heard. Webster was
like steam engine for concentrated power.
and the rush and roar of bis assault upon an
enemy, a sort of human volcano, when the
fires we're kindled in those eayernous eyes, and
he poured forth a torrent of burning words
scorching and scathing all before it. Calhoun
vas the very genius of abstract reasoning
calmly and deliberately adding link after link
to the iron chain of his logic, till the yhearer
fell down at the end, bound hand and foot in
the unyielding meshes Of an Irresistible neees.l
sity. But Clay-when he mounted the ros.I
trum universal smile illuminated mems faces
and they looked at one another with an ex-
preston which said palmer than words, Glad:
to sec. you up. Mr.. Clay. !, Begone dull care !
We're going to have good time. : This heavy
work is over at last. Business done-now
comes pleasure Clay said General Jack
son, in the writer's hearing, is the most plau-
sible speaker that ever opened his mouth in "a
public assembly. II you listen to him he will
make you believe any thing he pleases.' This,
from an enemy was not meant for praise, but
.tosthe factsold Hickory was perfectly compe-
tent to testify. .-ss
Hush, Mr.. Clay is going to address the
jury Looked at those twelve gentlemen
with some interest, for fellow-being was on
trial before them. for bis life.- accused of q
most atrocious murder. Heavy, substantial
looking citizens they were = rather dull, l
thought, and about as likely to be moved by
an appeal to their feelings as the stalaetites in
the Mammoth Cave. AS Mr.. Clay COM
menced, q friend whispered in my ear, That
villain ought to be hung, bat he's got wife
and child, and his old mother is here in
court. and that's enough for Clay, he'll have
the jury blubbering in less than half an hour
doubted it, but so it was Those great hulk
ing fellows we're sobbing and mopping their
faces over the sorrows Of the prisoners family
as depicted by the speaker, as though they
themselves had just lost their dearest, friend
Even the court blew. its nose vigorously, for
some reason, duihg the appeal in behalf Of
the old woman, and although perfectly con
vinced that was sold in SO doing, could
not resist the epidemic, and sighed and sobbed
in concert with the bench, bar, jnry, and spec
taters 1t is needless to add that the prisoner
was acquitted. .oagziaaqs :, ,.a O, es1-4s
Several years ago. while in the vicinity Of
Ashland. / called upon Mr. Clay. He was
absent from home attending a fair in the neigh
borhood. Being desirous Of an interview. I
followed him to the fair grounds, and finding
him Just about to address the multitude, took
a seat among them. Directly in front of
me sat two ladies. One Of them appeared 10
DC III u-uuu1OE kor eOuc fcdsOut duu i ofSi-
heard the petulant remark, Il don't want to
hear Clay. Wonder if nobody in Kentucky
can make speech but him. My husband is
a Democrat" Mr. Clay proceeded, and hav-
ing occasion to refer to the domestic articles
on exhibition, paid the ladies present some very
high compliments upon their skill and indus
try, and in allusion+ to the beauty and good
qualities Of his fair coansry-women generally.
said that with regard to them, as well as with
other fine fabries his preference was for do
mestic manufactures, instead of foreign In
ports. 7i2 fsIl i9ae eH 81 --aSslssllt fasfvi
The mingled air of gallautry and drollery
of the speaker, in this part of his address, the
halE-iest and half-earnest of his manner, the
wit, the auecdote, and the pathos, as he al
luded to his advancing years. and increasing
iu6rmities, were inimitable and irresistible. /
looked at the Democrats wife. at was plain
that her efforts to hate Clay had resulted in
miserable failure. She had been laughing and
crying like the rest of us, and after the tu-
multuous applause which followed the close of
the address had subsidized, was surprised to
hear her say, to her female companion, james
its no use not liking him because he's Whig Is
is il suppose John won't like it, but Pm IL
q going to give him nay blankets - Epaaget- 4
ist lIs.., Ia