Sunny South. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1856-18??, 1860-11-01
THE GREAT SPEECH
OF THE
HON. L. G. G. LAMAR.

On very short ne'ice, one of Abe Target and
most intelligent crowds We hav ever seen assem-
bed at the Court House in this city, on Satur-
day night the 9th inst, for the purpose of bear>
ing this gifted and accomplished young orator.
Five years ago, Mr.. Lamar name and genius were
unknown, beyond the circle of his immediate
friends and acqnaintances. who however, warm
" appreciated him, and firmly believed in the
bright future that was before him. Now, in that
brief space of time his reputa ton as an orator,
finished scholar, u moral aud intellectual philoso-
pher, and Statesman, has rose SO high, that its
shadows have been cast over the whole empire,
and his name Is almost as well known on the Con-
nectcu or the Hudson, as it is on the banks of the
Mississippi Many Of the audience were learned
men Of all par les, and the members Of the Oppo-
siton, be it said to their honor, were out in
large numbers and gave the SPEAKER polite and
attentive hearing
1t was the unanimous opinion Of the intelligent
men of all.partes, of men who have listened to
Webster, Clay Prcn,iss, Choate and others, that
it was great speech delivered by great man..
| We cannot undertake to give even an outline
Of the speech, or the matchlcss manner of its de.
| livery
| One of the distinctive features Of the manner
was. the intensity and depth of his earnesness -
Whatever men, and however men may differ with
him, all must accord to him sincerely, that is not
always found among political speakers. Another
striking quality is the entire originality of the
manner and matter of the speech. From the first
sentence of his exordiup. to the last of his pero.
ration, there is not word or syllable of the polit
zeal clap trap, banded TOO often between stree,
politicians. The thoughts arrangement OF
the subject, and the language are all his own -
There is no mere word painting, not much of i'm
Yet for The apiness and appropriateness of his il
Illustrations, and above ALL for the power, cogency,
and condensation of language, he has few equals
lie can dress up dish Of dry logic and nj Ike il
more palatable and inter esting to mixed assem>
bly, than any man We have ever seen. Indeed his
power as logcian and his powers Of analysis are
the eadin. features of his intellect. 1t is eviden,
that he has studied hard, and thought deeply, pro-
foundry
| Few men can hold an audience 80 long and SC
well The strange look of intense earnestnes,
about the man, and the wonderful clearness with
which the subject il presented renders every hearel
unwilling to lose sight of the SPEAKER or to mis-;
| word.
His vindicaton of the Southern Democracy,
from the charge of having originated, and kept
alive the slavery agitation for mere party purposes
was triumphant and it is difficult te conceive how
any one could have heard it, and ever make the
charge aJain From the time that the first abo,
: ition petition was presented in Congress, TO the
present moment the Democratic party had present
ed persistent, unwavering opposition to the march
Of abolition.
lie demonstrated that the Union was not in
danger, hut the great danger is that the rights o
the States and the liberties OF the people will with
er and die in the shade of colossal cent, alization
He arragncd the free States for long series oil
crimes and nggressons on the rights OF the slave
States aud we sincerely pity the heart Of the mar
with good understanding, that did not burn and
glow with Indignation at the revolving picture,
| While he INDUCED in no low personalities OF
abuse. it must be admitted that the cannonadng
which he gave the Bell Everett party, and its lit.
tie plafrm, was terrific. lie never for one moment
descended from the high attitude of the dignifed
Statesman but there was kcenness in his wit a
pungency in his sarcasm that was severely felt by
his opponents, and warmly admired By his friends