Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-04-15
Mr.. Everet,,s O,.o,,on

audience, eager to listen to the Washington Grafton of
of Hon. Edward Everett, of Massachusetts,.
AT s O'Clock Mr.. Everett accompanied by Commit
tee of citizens appeared upon the stage and intro
duced to the audience by Geo. Davis Esq, whose elo
quent though brief remarks formed fitting prelude to
the SPLENDID composition of the distinguished speaker.
Mr.. Everett is, we believe, sxty-fve years of age
tall, rather portly than otherwise, his hair trimmed
short is nearly white and learn from those who have
heard him before that either advancing years illness
have considerably subdued the vgor of his tones and
the energy of his delivery His features those of cu
tivated gentleman have been will be made familiar to
most through the portraits of him which have been pub
| Iished
We have no desire to attempt any sketch of Mr.
Everetts address, further than to glance at very few
points He spoke of three eras in Washington
he fought in the old French war whenhe took command
of the American forces and when he retired from that
command. He spoke of what he denOminated the age
of Washington; reviewed the history of the eighteenth
and the first half of the nineteenth century enumerated
the great things that had beer DONE and the great
that had figured within that space Of time to which fu
ture ages would turn as the Of Washington con
trased the character of the American hero and statesman
with that of Peter the Great of Russia Frederick the
Great of Prussia, Or Napoleon the Great of France
He spoke of the achievements of England in the
eighteenth century, planting broad and deep the founda
tons of Empire in the Western wilds of America by
the expulsion of the French and in Hindosan by the
battle of Plassy in which Lord Give defeated the null
titudinous hosts of the Nawab and virtually conquered
for his country the empire Of the great Mogul. One
century after, find the plains of India deuged with
blood and stained with crime while the Western wilds
that had formed the bone Of contention this Cont
nent have grown into the ourshng States of the West
From Major Washington's visit to Venango, down to
the last stage of President Washngtons e the speak
er followed that great mans career dwelling with inm-
liable skill upon the great and good points of his char
acter.
Better still than his comparison and contrast OF the
character of Washington with that of the great men of
his own immediate day, the episode in which he
turned back to John, Duke of Marlboro, the widest
statesman the most asue dpOmatist the greatest cap
tain of hsday yea dishonest man-faithless to his sover
eign-a traitor to his country and robber of the brave
soldiers whose strong gave him victory. He pic
tured in glowing language the beauty and the grandeur
of " Blenheim the seat which national gratitude or
kngly extravaganza had given to the great bad man
naming it after that famous victory" After ALL Blen-
HEINZ with its storicd urn and animated bust-its POM
rous eulogy and lying praise could only to per-
petuate the shame and inamy of John Churchill. But
away on the banks of the calm Potomac, there
humble mansion,-bOught with no money wrung from
the hands of oppressed and reluctant peCpea man
sion in which the Father of His Country lived quietly
and we'll with his beloved Marha-frOm which he passed
away peacefully to the bosom of his God Around that
humble mansion clustered halowed recolccons unsain-
ed by aught that could dim their purity That home the
women of America sought to secure that they might
guard it as sacred trust, restore it to the pristine
beauty and simplicity in which its great owner had left
it, and transmit as sacred heritage to their children
forever.
In the course of his Grafton, Mr. Everett alluded very
feengy to Washngtons last and most emphatic advice
to his countrymen to preserve the Union of the States
He drew himself most painful picture of the probable
effects OF disunon.
The audience was the fullest we have ever i'll
Wilmington We should think the receipts will not
vary much from thousand dollars. We believe all
pleased many delighted none dissatisfied although some
perhaps looked for rather different style of speaking
more perhaps, of what is generally regarded oraory
more stirring more declamatory. The address was
highly polished beautiful in conception chaste yet mag
nifcent in execution-the work of scholar rhetor
clan, faultlessy delivered too fauessy for orator.
perhaps for oratory is never nshed-t suggests more
than it directly conveys-its apparent failures
times its most effective ponts-its seemng-mayhap its
real forgefunesscs, make US, too orge-carry away
lead our feelings captive--we cease to mark gesture
or tone we feel but do not analyze our feelings Mr.
Everett may be, perhaps is something higher
than an orator. but he is also something different.
Daily Journal 18th inst.