Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-03-15

Yet Mr.. Choate, who was on the platform
with him, tells Us that he never suffered
more in his life, the delivery was such a
failure
Much has been said as to the morality of
Mr.. Webster, but de maortuis nil mist bo-
num- Of ore trait in his character can
testify. I mean his great reverence for the
Bible. When I first came to this city, I
found that buying male slaves and sending
them South was regular business, and I
was so shocked that went to Washington
to see if anything could be done to stop 80
uefarious traffic. In consulting with him
on the subject of slavery, found that be
was most anxious that some measure should
be inaugurated for its gradual abolition
He confessed, however, that he could not
see any remedy, and thought it vulnus
immedicabile. But whenever / quoted q
passage from the Word of God, he always
received it az tie truth to which all should
yield entire obedience.
In this reverent submission to the sacred
Oracles, l grieve to say Mr.. Calhoun was as
inferior to Mr.. Webster as be was superior
to him in the unimpeachable purity of his
moral character. knew him we'll, both in
Washington and at Fort Hill, his residence
in South Carolina, and I never knew man
more upright, conscientious and virtuous.
He was, too, somewhat regular attendant
of the Episcopal Church in Pendleton,
though never communicant in any Church.
But his intellectual pride and independence
made him iutolerant of any authority
higher than his own reason. He professed
to believe in the inspiration of the Scrip
lures, but, forgetting that important part
of knowledge which Informs US of the lin
itatioD of the human uuderstanding-jeal.
oas of faith, lest it should be credulity-
accustomed to inquire as TO every doctrine,
not whether it was conformable to God 8
will, but to his own; loving truth, yet low
ing system more than truth; satisfying
himself that be had established his point,
if he could show the objections to any one
position, without considering those to all
others; in short, never suspeeting bis own
judgement, always confident in bis own de-
cisions, and therefore resolved that no ar.
gument could be adduced which might
change his opinions, he knew nothing of
that humble, teachable spirit, which is the
great element in Christian faith. He sim
cerely regarded slavery as divine and be-.
ne6cent institution. "The negro and the
white man." he said to me, "are both ele.
vated by it"
If quoted text which expressed his
views he would give it his hearty assent,
and dwell upon it, certainty. But if it
condemned his cherished convictions he as
promptly questioned it. 1 was with him
during his last illness, and upon one occa
sion, when cited that command, "Honor
all men," he turned quickly to ue and
said, "What, honor all men Never, i'm
possible, God never said that God can
not require me to honor the man iu the
White House, nor the unprincipled politi,
claus, the selfish deuagogues aaW 10 both
Houses of Congress, who are bringing ruin
On the country"
Of his power of conversation a great
many have spoken; but in fact be never
conversed he harangued as earnestly when
alone with you as when in the legislative
halls. Hc loved the society of young men,
and won their hearts by the courtesy aud
condescension with which he listened TO
them. 1t was, however, only that polite
ness which was striking taait in his char
acter. If he paused to listen, it was but
the interval between the flashes of light.
ming, which soon blazes out again, smitiug
and shiveriDg all opposition.
As an orator, he was perfect contrast
to Mr.. Webster. 1t is we'll known to his
friends that he proposed Demosthenes as
his model, and studied closely those Grecian
master-p pieces to which all knew what eo.
quence means, how it is as high above mere
rhetoric as the heavens are above the earth,
will ever look up in admiration and rapture
If, in his we'll known remark about "Ac-
ton" as the essential ingredient in speak.
ing, Demostheues meant graceful gesticu
latons, the South Caroinian was Detective
There was something stiff, singular, awk
ward in his manner But nobody, unless
it be teacher of rhetoric, can ever thus
degrade those words of deep and noble wis
dom No, again, No. 1t was not by the
puerile tricks and starts of an accomplished
declaimer that the Athenian
-.'Wielded at Will the fierce democracy.
Shook the arsenal, and fulmlned over Greece,
To Macedon and Ara1erHcs' throne"
By "Action" he meant Delivery, earnest,
impassioned delivery, in which the whole
soul is fused into every utterance, and which
can 20 more live and glow with anything
artificial than fire and straw can dwell to-
gether in heated oven. Who can listen
to a more finished rhetorician than Mr.. Ev-
ereti? His face and person we're pleasing.
Every movement had been practiced. His
beautiful passages filled the mind with ad-
miraton and delight But who ever felt
his heart burn within him ; who was ever
conscious of that "somethiug immense and
infinite" of which Quintillian speaks who
ever found himself transported, melted to
tears, fred to enthusiasm, while listening
to his elaborate compositions? In straight.
forward, close-linked argument, in noble
CONTEMPT for all trappiugs and decorations,