The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1861-06-29
GEORGE wYTHE.

W A1hS@DCtu Nttye NHBHioI !" t"S JV"'
l726. Having studied the profession Of
Law, he soon attained high reputation
ct the bar. lie died on the 9Th Of June,
1906, in the eightyfirst year of his age.
PATRIOTISM AND ELOQUENCE
OF JOHN ADAMS.
81 wsasrrA
He possessed bold spirit, which dis.
regarded danger, and sanguine reliance
on the goodness Of the cause and the vr-
tues Of the people, which led him to over.
look all obstacles. His character, too,
had been formed in troubled times. lie
had been rocked 10 the early storms Of
controversy, and had acquired decision
and . hardihoOd proportioned to the sc.
verify Of the discipline which he had un-
dergOne.
He not only loved the American cause
devOutly, but had studied and understood
It. He had tried his powers on the ques-
tons that 1t involved, often, and in vari.
ous ways; and had brought to their con-
SideratiOn whatever Of argument or illus.
tratiOn the history of his own country,
the history Of England, or the stores Of
ancient or Of legal learning could furnish.
Every grievance enumerated in the long
catalogue Of the Declaration had been the
subject of his discussion and the object Of
his remOnstrance and reprobation. From
1850, the colonies, the rights Of the colo.
MES, the liberties Of the colonies, and the
wrongs inflicted on the colonies, had en-
gagged his constant attention; and it has
surprised those who have had the oppor.
tunity Of observing, with what full remem.
brance, and what prompt recollection, he
could refer, in his extreme old age, to
every act Of parliament affecting the colo.
MES, distinguishing and stating their res.
pective titles, sections, and provisions !;
and to all the colonial memorials, remon-
strances, and petitions, with whatever
else belonged to the intimate and exact
history Of the times, from that year to
l775. It was, in his own Judgment, be-
tween these years, that the American pco.
pie came to full understanding and thor.
ough knowledge Of their rights, and to a
fixed resolution ofmaintaining them and,
bearing himself an active part in all trans.
actionS,-the controversy with England
being then, in effect, the business of his
life,-facts, oates, and particulars made
an impression which was never cfIaced.
lie was prepared, therefore. by education
and discipline, as well as by natural talent
and natural temperament, for the part
which he was now to act.
The eloquence Of Mr.. Adams rescmbled
his general character, and formed, indeed,
q part Of 1t. 1t was bold, lnaaly, and en-.
ergetic; and such the crisis required.
When public bodies are to he addressed
on momentous occasions, when great in.
terests are at stake, and strong passions
excited, nothing Is valuable in speech fur
ther than it is connected with high intel.
lectual and moral endOwments. Clearness,
force, and earnestness arc the qualities
which produce conviction. True elOquence
indeed, does not consist in speech. II
cOnnot be brought from far. Labor and
learning may toll for it, hut they will toll
in vain. Words and phrases may be
marShaled in every way, but they can.
not compass it. 1t must exist in the man.
in the suject, and in the occasion. Affect
ed passion, intense expression, the pomp
Of defamation, all may aspire after it
they cannot reach it. It comes, II it comes
at all, like the 0utbrcaking Of fountain
from the earth, or the bursting forth o
volcanic fires, with spontaneous, original
native force. The graces taught in the
schools, the costly ornaments and studied
contrivances Of speech, shock and disgust
men, when their own lives and the fate Of
their wives, their children, and their
country hang on the decision of the hour
Then words have lost their power, rhct
oric is vain, and all elaborate oratory con.
temptible. Even genius feels itself re-
buked, as in the presence of higher quail
ties. Then patriotism is eloquent then
self.devotion is eloquent. The clear con
ception, Outrunning the deductions o.
logic, the high purpose. the firm resolve
the dauntleSs spirit, speaking on the
tongue, beaming on the eye, Informing
every feature, and urging the whole mar
onward, right onward to his object this
this is Cloquence; or, rather, it Is
something greater and higher than al
elOquence-it is action, noble, sublime
gOdlike action.
In July, 1776, the controversy had
passed the stage of argument. An appea
had been made to force, and opposing
armies were in the field. Congress theT
was to decide whether the tic which had
so long bound us to the parent state wa.
to be severed at once, and severed forever
All the colonies had significd their rcso
ton to abide by this ddcision, and the
people looked for it with the most intense
anxiety. And, surely, fellow citizens
never, never were men called to a more
important political deliberation. If we
contemplate it from the point where they
then stood, no question could be more full
ofinterest; if We look at it now, and iudg.
Of its importance by its effects, it appears
In still greater magnitude.
Let US, then, bring before us the Assem-
bly,, which was about to decide question
thus big with the fate Of empire. Let us
open their doors, and look IN upon their
deliberations. Let US survey the anxious
and care-wOrn countenances us hear
the Rrm.tOned voices, Of this band of pa.
triots.
HaBcOck prcsides over the solemn sit.
ting !; and one Of those not yet prepared
w HbVuOuUO0 LOu uOSOlutc lnueDeuueIlCe
is OH the floor, and is urging his reasons
for dissenting from the Declaration:
4
II was for Mr. Adams to reply to argu.
ments like these. We know his opinions,
and we know his character. He would
commence with his accustomed dircctness
and earnestness:
"Sink or swim, live or die, survive OF
perish. | give my hand and my heart to
this vote. 1t is true, indeed, that, in the
beginning, we aimed not at independence.
But, there's Divinity which shapes our
ends. The injustice Of England has driv-
! en- US to arms and, blinded to her own
interest, for our good, she has obstinately
persisted, till independence is now within
our grasp. We have but to reach forth
to it, and 1t is ours. Why, then, should
wo defer the DeclaFationi Is any man