The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-05-25
Alex. H. stephens, OF Georgia.
From Rev. W. II. Niburns "Ten Years of Preacher

powerful orator in Congress, and that with
all the odds against him. When standing
he is man of medium height, but when
seated he looks like boy, for his trunk is
remarkably short, and his face exceedingly
youthful. Careless of bis personal appear.
ance, his hair, falling in masses over his fine
brow, his black, brown, or any other colored
cravat, he seems to know not which, tied in
sailors knot, hiss clothes fitting well, if he
has been fortunate in his tailor rarely the
case,) an immense gold chain terminated by
heavy seal falling from his watch fob, he
presents an unpromising, not to say outre
appearance. When in repose his face does
not promise much more pale, with slight
~ sallow tiDge, sometimes with hetic flush
upon his cheek, it seems to belong to
beardless boy. His arms and legs are very
long, and his whole frame, not compactly
knit, appears loose and awkward, and the
victim of lifelong disease. How nearly dis
ease and genius may be associated is
question which l leave for phisiologist and
psychologists to settle. But 1 feel sure that
sleepless nights and days of pain and fever
have had much to do with the brilliant in
tellect of this remarkable man. His voice,
too, in common talk, gives as little token of
his power as his other features, for it is thin,
high-pitched, and inclining to falsetto.
Trained as lawyer at the Georgia Bar,
wondeful school for the development of pop
ular eloquence, flor the jury system is there
pushed to its remotest limit,) be early dis.
played those gifts which have made his
name so famous sharp, incisive intellect,
broad in its comprehension, firm in it's grasp,
as keen in its perceptions, coupled with an
emotional nature, delicate as it is strong,
giving him an invicible hold upon the in.
terest and sympathy of his hearers. Returned
to the House Of Representatives when
scarcely thirty years of age, he had by the
time first saw him already gained the un-
divided ear of the House. When be stood
up to speak, there was no lunching, chatting,
or apathy in the Hall, which seemed divided
between the silence and his voice. The al
most feminine squeak of his opening, soon
became consistent, ringing tone, penetrat.
ing every corner of the spacious apartment !;
and judging from his effect upon the ear, l
can we'll believe, what have so often heard,
that the impression of his presence upon the
eye almost amounted to Transformation.
In defence of his position he is at once logi-
cal and persuasive, setting his argument
before you in clear light and striking lat
titude, insomuch that the remark of Mr..
Horace Greedy is justified, "that you forget
you are listening to the most eloquent man
in Washington, and only feel that he is
right" His manner is rapid, sometimes ve>
hement, always collected. Having in an
instant gained your absorbed attention, he
wins your confidence by his apparent fair
ness of reasoning, until at length you submit
yourself to his control without conjunction,
or the dread of his being overcome. The
most brilliant albeit not the most satisfying
part of his oratory is seen when he turns
upon his opponents. His powers of satire,
ridicule, sarcasm, and invective are fearful !;
and yet the man of good breeding never
forgets himself, never is hurried away into
truculent abuse. Many man has smarted
or even withered under Mr.. Stephens irony
or denunciation, but question if any has
ever had cause to say that he was not a gen.
tleman.
l fancy that there are several points of
apparent resemblance between Mr.. Stephens
and John Randolph, of Roanoke, but there
must be more of real difference. Both have
been the victims of disease, whose origin
dates far back in life, and each has subse-
quently been the owner of a body, which,
however exqusitely it may have been strung,
has been perilously sensitive. Both have
exercised almost unequalled sway upon the
floor of Congress and both have been
noted as masters in the art of offensive par>
liamentary war. Both have been admitted
to be unimpeachably honest and fearless
statesmen, stunning no danger, and Drawing
every peril in the maintenance of their pc
culiar and cherished convictions. But Mr..
Randolph had scarcely friend. Mr.. Ste
phens has hardly an enemy. Bodily mfr
nifty, if it did not master Mr.. Randolph's
will, soured his temper, and gave to his
perfect diction the poison of NORWOOD, and
to his spirit the gall of bitterness that
verged upon misanthropy. Mr.. Stephens
has conquered suffering, and keeps himself
strong and noble by entering heartily into
the sweet charities of life. Proud of his
lineage and his birthplace, an intolerant ar
istocrat, with varied and finished culture,
refined taste, a high sense of honor, mind
disposed to prey upon itself, and a contempt
for those who did not share his advantages,
the Virginian, nevertheless, presented a
curious spectacle, as the unfinching advo-
cate of extreme Democratic doctrines,
whilst at the same time he was unable to
free himself from the tyrannous sentiment
of exclusiveness and caste. With an air
of stately haughtiness be entered the lists of
congressional debate, like some solitary
champion, with visor up, that all might
recognize him, wearing the colors of a fair
lady, whose place upon the throne of his
affections never knew rival, and in honor
OF bis own Virginia, defantly threw his
gage of battle to all corners. He challenged
your admiration and demanded your sub.
mission be disdained your sympathy and
scorned your weakness. If you were not
gentleman by the four descents, he would
hurl at you all the fiery darts of his jeering
ridicule and if you were not born in the
Old Dominion" nothing could expiate
your offence, and as a Pariah, you must
bear the insult of bis complacent or scofing
pity. Any provincialism of pronunciation
or phrase upon the part of man whom he
thought worthy 10 be considered as an an.
tagonist, was chastised in the summary
fashion of pedagogue, and more than one
distinguished member of our national coun.
Gil has been taught English by the great
Virglnian, insomuch that in his day he de-