Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-11-12
THE ELOoUENCE OF THE LATE WIN. t HAS.
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A correspondent of the Columbus (Miss) Democrat,
furnishes the following interesting communication con-
cernng two OF the most gifted orators that ever lived
in the South:
1t is but justice to the memory of Col Haskell to saw
that the warnest impulses of his noble nature were nj
ways directed to the South and to Southern interests not
that he loved the Northern Cesar less but that he loved
the Souhcrn Ro,ns IL the ong-cherished and
oitenexpressed wish of his heart other
OF the States adjoining his He desired meet the
people of the South face to face that he might exchange
those friendly greetings that only felt and appre
ciated in personal interviews All well do know chi
varc brotherhood of Mississippi, the reception which
his burning eloquence would have secured for him in
generous and impulsive natures have seen yast
multtudes coming forth to meet him when travelling
through Tennessee. Ii seemed like the spontaneous oyA
tons given 10 the grand march of conquerng hero re-
turning fresh from the crimson fields of his countrys
glory
s, when, Ike an inspired improyisatore he pour
ing forth his grand extempore-epic poems (for such
his wonderful style -you that have seen and heard
him. when his face absolutely ransfgured and radi
ant with intellectual light when by the irresistible DOW
OF his daring flights you seemed if you were being
lifted bodily from you and borne with him on the
swirl wings OF his eagle Imagination to the very
To such of you repeat have feased upon the intel
ecual banques spread out before you by prodiga
genius Of Sergeant Preniiss just and adequate con-
cepon has been given Of his great contemporary and ri
val VIM. 7. Haskell.
Ii required previous training of the mind no pod-
ding research after hidden resources for these great nat,
ual orators TO speak they only wished for elevated
prompt and vivid the live lightning ut once glorious
concentrated and embodied spraug without auy prelude
or flourish of rumpcts like Minerva the Goddess Of War
full armed from the teeming brain of Jove!
have Haskell, when fully aroused 10 some great
effort approaching to the matchless oratory of
Mr. Prentis than other speaker had the pleas
ure of listening TO. Yes, imagine that see Haskell
now in the midst of thousand upurned faces when all
pressing eagerly upon him. closer and closer as il
determined not to lose the antest word that might fall
from his fervid lips; such the breathless interest
manifested when certain occasion he describing
the night portion OF the bombardmen Vera Cruz IL
required no effort OF my imagination all hear the
distant boom OF cannon the crash of shattcrng and fall
ing tmbcrs the cries Of alarm the shrieks of women
and children in the far of beeagured citythe blazing
and flashing OF bomb-she they sreamed through the
midnight air passing and repasng each other in such
rapid succession that they formed literal network Of
fre the doomed castle of san Juan de Ulloa-ex.
podng sometimes in mid air falling in thousand bril-
liant corruscaons making the sublime and awful scene
for miles away both seaward aud landward look like
poets idea of the final DOOM rather If some dread
internal prototype OF the grim old monster Vesuyus
burst without moments warning from his central fires
to destroy the con,ending armies in cataract of molten
lava!
oh, how nv heart glowed in earnest sympathv with
the great orator, when, assuming he did the delightful
task OF rejecting back the grateful feeling Of the whole
country upon Winfield Scott the spirit of militia.
ry proves on that memorable OCCASION from the fact
that the heretofore mpregnabc old fortress Of San Juan
that Tor years had rowned grim and brislng cannon
defiance TO all former foes made TO shake and
tremble from turet TO foundation stone and finally 10
surrender amid that furious iron blast Of genuine Ame
rican thunder!
The history Of that magnificent bombardmept il still
fresh in memories but description of the supen
dous given by Col Haskell in one Of his great
aringues TO the people of Tennessee impressed upon
the minds of all who heard It idea OF his descriptive
powers In eloquence, that will never be forgotten.
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