Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-27

makes his debut on such an arena, on such a
question and at such a crisis, without prepare
alton, gives more evidence of foOlhardy
recklessness than Of a thoughtful regard for his
own reputation, due respect for his listeners,
or a proper appreciation Of his subject. We
choose rather to believe that Mr.. DENINe, no
matter what. he said about speaking without
notes, was not so wanting in regard for him
self and others, and in appreciation oil MS
subject, as to speak without due renec-
ton and preparation. He did his BEST
and the applause of the hour re"arueu
his efforts. AMER all, however, his speech VIII
not stand the test of examination AS incur
OGRE efFort il will do. Ifthis we're its only pre-
tension We would not have aught to say IN re-
card 70 II But when it is sought to be palmed
of upon the country as great Speech and TO
% abroad as a selected specimen OF American
sloopepee and logic, we are tempted, by the
i0.orest we feel in the good name and fair fame
or American letters, to express our dissent
from this estimate of Mr.. DENrNo's speech
We cannot do Justice TO his logic without CIV
ing his whole speech, and for that we cannot
spare the space. DisjOinted passages would DC
unfair to what he proudly calls his ''eoncatena-
tons" The same difficulty does not restrain
us in regard to his eloquence. We have pes
towed due attention upon those portions winch
he evidently intended to be eloquent, and ex-
tract some of the best specimens. He says;
T.. a.. ,hso,ce however, Of such valuable aid,
.,,1st covern myself by the principles which have
bitber}o uniformly guided the executive department
N administering the rectamGfiOHS 81 itS Srora' ana
a., such sifted and uRin fG1nmGtory facts as the
.o99,vers that be- with q cOnsderate regard for the
6ubIic health, permit to dribble out from oiheial
channels Of intelligence.
This is evidently intended both for rhetoric
and logic.
Need l, to substantiate this position, appeal to
those great public jurists, whose weighty maxims
are the imperial rcscrpts to the International CODE
Need summon here Grotius, himself refugee rom
civil war, the founder Of those impershaole statutes
which. as by an elemental force, hold warning ma
tons from rushing madly from their spheres into the
chaos and darkness Of utter barbarsm.
This is intensely sophomore, and smells
strongly of the midnight oil.
Here follows a passage, for which we can
spare the room, but it would be cruel
to omit it
-. We are here. in the full gaze Of the nation and
the civilized world, charged with the future gran
,lepr and renown OF the Republic. we are mere
fairly coming and moulding the rising eras anu sses
nf a continent; we are here attempting to save an
,mpire from being MORALLY wounded by that oail
yhich has hardly yet spent ITS force, anu wnlch
these new converts sped at its head when IN thelI
now regenerate bosOms burned an the eoheeneiase
flames of hell. We are here, having just rescued
he Government from death on the field OF honor
,ttempting Ia save il from the death OF MANY
which would follow its perhdy TO the freedmen VINO
tonight its battles and to the creditor who purchased
is bonds. and iyhen here, under SHch Oppressive
10 the preSeHt and the future 10 Ihe
ring and the dead, ire ask, earnestly ASK HEe tOT-
AIRED Aiar begging for light, LrhGt PTOet-StTOng'
.oaUincHg overwhelming as the enormous 'HaPToO,
rbiHty o The SUPpOSitiOH reQHires-d0 you PTeSent
hat these Ted-haaded rebels can safely participate
nth rs in launching the nor egfrGRch1Sed re-
lubHe on its daSsliHg Orbit Of justice Prooty ana
rreedofa. ire are fOrthlrith answered by fur ~
differing generalities, irhich are no more PROOFS
+ loyalty ihGn the dogged Submissions o. me aSSiS
'in Payae 10 his fGte irGs proof Of loyalty.
We beg to call special attention to the latter
portions of the above passage, which contain some
striking and original remarks on "the dazzling
,rbit of Justice, +" and I" fux Of gittering gene
-,lities." 1t is difficult to say whether these
remarks are most in the vein of WEBSTER or
CLAY.
Sec how scholastic and Baconian this orator
$. lie says.
Il was intending next to adopt more systematic
method of investigation, with the hope OF showing
HAT the intutOns of common sense and the process
Of inductye investigation mutually torty anu VIM
icate the same general conclusions.
That rugged old brute, THADDEUs STEVENS,
would easily brush away a whole swarm OF such
flies as the Hon. Mr.. DENING, and scarcely
know that he had moved his unwashed hand.
As for Mr.. DENING's logic, in one instance
1t least, nc refuted it HIMSELF and that is pretty
good evidence that it is not very formidable
The only good opinion he expressed in regard
20 we poor, hated SOuthernerS, was this " Why,
Nr. Chairman, we all know that hypocrisy is
not one of the vices of the Southern charac-
.er." \ few minutes after saying this, he de-
.lared that he would not trust to "any OATH
we can take.
So mach for the logic and elOquence of this
Connecticut PATRICK HENRY. We have never
known such absurd pretensiOns to challenge
such fulsome flattery.