The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-02-23
An Amateur stump Orator.

The Clarksvile (Tenn.) CAtoD,cr tells
true tale upon one Of the fresh.fedged
orators Of that prolific county, which is
good enough to keep. 1t was told the
narrator by an eyewitness. lie says:
Himself and another prominent citizen
were opposing electors in our county du-
ring On exciting period in our political
history, when party conventions and gath
erings were quite numerous. One of
these came of in neighboring county,
during the progress of their race,a which
Andy johnson and Aaron V. Brown were
announced to speak. On the designated
day the two electors turned their Rosi.
nantes towards the convention, and, una
ware of each others intention of going
thither, one was some miles in advance of
the other, but riding at such leisurely
pace as consorted with habit of orator..
cal improvisation to which he was ad
dicted was overtaken by his opponent,
who recognizing him ahead, rode STEALTH.
ly up, to surprise him by his unexpected
proximity. Just as he was about to make
known his presence, sudden clapping of
bis opponents hands,and vehement shout.
ing OF his name, arrested his intention,
and he listened for the denouemen,.
After some moments pause, as if wait.
ing some imaginary acclamaton to sub.
side, his opponent threw himself back in
the saddle, and thus began his exordium,
gracefully gesticulating the while to bis
viewless audience Fellow.citizeus,
thank you most warmly for the high com.
pliment of this enthusiastic call to the
stand, just after it has been vacated by
such distinguished orators; but whilst
feel deeply grateful for the unmerited
honor, it but tenfold enhances my diff.
dence and distrust, thus to follow in the
wake Of that clarion eloquence whose tones
are yet ringing in your ears. And, fel-
low-citizens, I assure you nothing would
induce me to respond to your call, under
such disadvantages, but lofty faith in
the cause which I advocate. Thrice is
he armed, who hath his quarrel just and
panoplied in the invincible armor of De.
mocracy, stand before you here to-day,
gentlemen ,an humble, but fearless cham.
pion of that glorious cause, which has re.
deemed, regenerated and disenthralled a
crushed and bleeding world!"
Here he paused, with tremendous clap.
ping of his hands and shouts of "Oh,my
-, go it my - calling his own
name. The fsncied applause subsiding,
he resumed "Chosen, gentlemen, by the
Democracy Of my county as their stand.
ard-bearer in this contest, I have planted
the proud banner, in victorious triumph,
on many hard-fought field. WELDING
the ponderous mace of Democratic truth,
I have cloven my opponent down through
head-plate, skull, brains, backbone and
bowels and left him like shapeless mass
of thunder.riveu, j Jove-splitted humanity"
Just at this impetuous rush Of his orato.
ry, loud laugh from his listener behind,
overwhelmed him with discontinue but
he recovered the next moment, by the fol-
lowing apt quotation from his favorite
author Angels and ministers Of grace
defend us 4! What may this mean, that
thou, dead corserevisits thus the glimpses
Of the sun, making day hideous, and we
fools Of Nature to shake so horribly III
our dispositions.