New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-09

executive and judicial authority, then it Is, be-
yond auestion. "the ablest body of men ever
assembled in the State of New-fork." AT
any rate, we believe it to be too able to leave
provisions which are behind the age unamended
or unrcpealed. To say this is no more to pay
a compliment than it would be to praise man
for having outgrown the garments of his boy
hood.
Perhaps the Convention may not be extra
ordinarily brilliant in respect of mere speech
making; we have we admit, known more 10
quacious bodies: and it is possible that rheto-
Tic and elocutOn are not so highly esteemed
as they once were anywhere In the country
We have had too much of them; and we some
times fancy that we see the signs OF o salu-
tary reaction. The spread-eago STYLE as II
has been called so long cherished by aspirants
for popular favor, is no longer 50 common "a
il was, either upon the stump or i'll Congress,
for the war seems to have made men more
earnest, rational, and direct. Now and then
some poor, forlorn representative gives bride
to his tongue, and INDUCES in a spasmodic eX-
hibtion of his tluency, tearing passion 10
tatters, splitting the ears of his fellows,
and fatally conscious OF the circulation
of The Congressional Globe among his
constituents; but nothing comes OF 1t all except
amusement and ronical cheers. Twenty years
ago it was easy to talk the House into tu-
multi; now, honorable gentlemen who cannot
stand the racket 90 out and those who are
accustomed to it 60 to sleep, or seize the lucky
moment either TO write home to their beloved
wives or to read the morning newspaper Yet
Congress has always been the stronghold OF the
takers for, by virtue of tongue, an asplrant
could reach seat there who would have been
thought unfit FOR any other place OF public ser
vice. The people have admired and ut the
same time distrusted the orators. Of all the
Presidents only one Mr. John Adams, has any
fame as n speaker; while Messrs. Webster
Clay, P0indcxter and host of others, whose
names will readily Tccur to the reader, made
themselves celebrated 10y the brlliancy
of their attacks upon Gen Jackson's
Administration, but could never achieve
tho Presidency, although some of them
longed for it in sickness OF heart, and with
hope continually deferred. Qualities of another
character were preferred by the people. They
liked fine speaking, but they did not care for
u Incorporating President. They still remem-
bcrCd that Washington was no Demosthoncs.
In selecting an Executive, they gave the pref
erence To business abilities, and relished the
dry formal, statistical tone of the Messages.
To be sure, they desired President who, IL
he would talk upon his legs, knew how to
talk lucidly and according to the laws of the
venerable Lindey Murray; but a Magistrate
with common SENSE firmness instead OF obstl-
Macy and q reasonable degree Of sObrety, was
easily forgiven il he failed to be Ciceronian
upon small or even great occasions. The plain,
blunt Antony had usually large majority over
the orator Brutus.
A singular instance Of the inetliclency o.
verbal fuency was presented in the last Con-
stiiutiona Convention held in Massachusetts.
All thc takers in the State were elected and
there wa, specch-makng in the morning and
the evening from day to day, from week to
week. and from month To month the report
ers taking down everything, and the printers,
at enormous expense, preserving the whole IN
three great volumes. After much ado string
of amendments was agreed upon, sent to the
people, and decidedly rejected. Ana YET this
Convention was also said to be the ablest
body of men ever assembled in the State of
Massachusetts, 1t certainly did make a shining
show, and contained many quick clever, versa
tile persons, with the notion that a Constitu-
ton should be framed to promote their politi-
cal fortunes. If the gentlemen now assembled
in Albany only exhibit common sense and I'M
tagging industry strict economy and ntinch-
mg honesty, the people will regard them as
men Of ability to do the work intrusted To
them, and readily pardon any lack of corruscat-
ing genius.