Litchfield enquirer., 1860-03-15
Cur Washington Correspondence.
 N.surScTnS n q M.rch Tn 1oca

ME. sEWARDs SPEECH
 My Dear Enquirer The approaching political
 contest is gradually becoming the absorbing topic
 both within and without the capitol in this biz caravansera town. Every thing begins to move, slowly at present, but irresistiblyn in the outer cir
 cles of the great Maektrom Orations at one end of the avenue and Cabinet councils at the other, speeches on the floor and consultations in the committee rooms, the crowd at the miscella- neous evee and the familiars of the coterie state dinners and confidential breakfasts, all feel the impulses of the movement. It influences the votes in the House and the bow on the side walk. It controls the appointment of foreign ambassador and the selection of partner in the German" dance.
 The interest of the speeches of the prominent candidates is of course greatly increased by the impending nominations. You have read MT. Stewards elaborate manifesto, and have with all the world admired it's excellent temper and pblo. sophie tone as we'll as it's eminent ability. The announcement that he was to speak attracted an immense throng in the Senate chamber, the la dies gallery overfowed and an inundation of crlnoline into the reporters seats, nearly sub- merged their quiet occupants. But it was the great reputation of Mir. Seward, and the position he now holds before the country, and the curiosi ty to hear what he would say at this, time that held this great audience in fixed attention for more than two hours, rather than his immediate power as speaker. Indeed Mir. Seward is not an orator. He has very little of that electrical fire which pierces instantly to the heart of great subject, still less of that commanding presence and magnetic voice which sway great masses of men. You never expect from him those sudden bursts of eloquence which, born of the occasion,- struck out in the heat of some great debate,-far transcend all the ordinary capacities of the speak CT himself. He never trusts himself to the inspi- ration of the hour. All his addresses are first carefully elaborated in the closet They are not parliamentary speeches SO much as profound dis courses on political science. He is not an ora tor, but he IS THINKER and philosophic STATESMAN. His speech the other day lay on his table in manuscript, and large portion of it was read by him, and of necessity under such re- strant it gained but little force from any graces or spirit of delivery. The attention which he commanded was, therefore, the better testimony to the intrinsic merits of the discourse In fact in looking it over in print think it appears bet ter to the reader than to the bearer ;-as it is said of those speeches of Burke which the world now reads with constant delight, that when spo ken they emptied the benches of the House of Commons. ae s.
 MT. Stewards portraits have rendered his ap- pearance familiar to every body who have not seen him personally. He is small, thin and now not perfectly erect, dresses somewhat negligent ly, though well enough, appears by no means in robust health, and I think in the last five years has advanced little farther from the boundary of youth than he ever did before in the same De- riod. Still he is yet on onysside, MT. Editor. of sixty, and has enough good Nork in him left for any service which his count ymen choose to re- quire of him. I don't think the phrenologists would select Mr. Stewards head as . confrma-