The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1870-04-01
PUBLIC xrs OF orHE. DAYS.
Some Of Ex-Governor seymour's Recollec-
items of thein

The last lecture OF the course before
the u tica Mechanics Association. was
delivered at Mechanics Hall nv Gov
ernor Seymour last evening. Tne sub
j-ct selected. Rec0llectiens of Public
Men," toge her with the reputat oil Of
the speaker, brought together large
audienre.
Governor Seymour introduced his
subject by referring to the remarkable
body OF men. who for.y years ago as
sembled in the halls OF Congress. and
occupied prominent places before the
American public. These were men who
lived during eras marked by remarka-
BILE events. who had been schooled IN
oratory and had protitcd by the study
of eminent masters of eiocuion. The
habits oi the people 1T that time were
such that the utterances of public men
made II deep Impression, aud their
| course was closely watched and keenlv
criticised. or his personal reeollsc-
tions of some of the eniLent men OF
that age. Mr.. seymour proposed to
speak. John Randolph he character
ized rs the sensational man OF his day;
ran a strange appearance, strong
miad aud aeen wit III face and dress
somewhat reminding one ot an old wo-
mail. Alexander Stephens, "t Geor
! gia, bears Il resembauce TO Randolph.
liz disposition. Randolph was SHARP.
shire ~d. Impatient, and disposed to be
malignant.
Mr.. seymour met john Quincy Adj
anus In Washington. aud at his rcsl-
aence met Henry Clay. Adams he
described as n small man with u fiigid,
uninvitiDg. formal manner. This re-
serve he attributed 70 the early associa-
tions thrown around Adams IN his
youth, wheu his native New England
WAS governed BY II system Of mutual
inspection. Clay Was. oil the contrary.
genial and winning in his manner and
address. ir private life Mr.. Adams
possessed ability to intereA from his
vast fund OF personal observation, and
| IN u great MEASURE east aside his re-
serve. He was man OF grest strength
OF will, thoroughly In love with public
lite, and determined to die, as he did
die. with his harness OIL.
! General Jackson was tall, erect,
commanding man, with much OF the
| military chieftaia in his appearance,
strong wiltd, and perhaps possessed of
quick temper, but holding his tenn per
well under control. No man of his
time could get mad 80 jldicionsly. He
was gooR Judge of human nature, and
always knew his man before losing his
temper. Uneducated himself, antl sur
rounded by able and disciplined minds.
he always did hIs own thinking. and to
the last moment ot his lite exercised
great control over the public mind. 10
this day public inen are advised tu "do
as Jackson did.
IN person JoIin G.. Calhoun was not
unlike Jackson, except that Calhoun
possessed wonderful eyes. He had
keen insight into the future. and was IL
prophet rather than conspirator. lii
speaking he depended entirely upon
his reasoning powers. The first w"rd
oi his speech WAS the firs: word of his
argument. and the last words of his ar
ginent were the last words OF his
.pcerh. He possessed M faculty OF
Judging character. but fascinated by
his straight forward, frsnk way, ms
fellow meii.
Between Clay. jackson aud Cal
houn the resemblance WAS wonderful.
Ii was herarse Clay and jackson were
81 much alike that they hated each
other as they did. Clay possesrrd II
rich voice. musical even 10 his enemies.
He WAS cnivalrous. patriotic; by nature
IL politician as well ~ n statesman.
Webster was chararte riZed as The
greatest. and vet the weakest of them
all. BY nature Intended Tor a writer
and u student, and Yet Il great man,
great wherever placed. The triumphs
for which hs is remembered. are liter
AIRY triumphs.
Among zen from Oneida county.
Henry K. Storrs WAS characterized hy
eminent public men as " lr from 0lei-
da county who excels us all in debate y
Although now nearly forgotten even
here. lie was the greareSs American
orator after Patrick Henry. He wa- u
man of porily. commanding presence,
with wonderfuiiy musical voice. only
,quailed bv he voice Of Clay. His er.
ratio aud uncertain temperament Wa,
assigned a. u reason Why he had becll
30 soon forgotten.
Attorney General Talcott. also o
,, tins county, was az times grand in his
cloquence. Chief j ustice Marshrll salt
|, that Talcott made the greatest lega
argument he ever listened To. Or on
men neted at that time only one repre-
sentative H. lett. the Hon. W. j. Bacon
late Justice of the Supreme Court.
Ia conclusion. the speaker believe,
! that the average American intellrc
: was ihproyiug bat diverted trem tin
: channels where these men sought re
uown. Then. too, men To- be hear,
must b. in earnest. These men wcr,
j. .wayed bv strong passions; they be
: lia,et in the wickctiup.s of their enc
: mics Now men are liercely attacked
= bat the .tccusers ar. nat credited, ant
: We hardly dare assail political man
u tor We know not hsw soon we may b
called upon 10 affiliate with him il
;. patty measures.