The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1870-03-26
Men of the o'de; r'me-~ome
of Ex-GOv. SeynROur's EsecOl-
lectiOMs OF Them.

The last lecture of the course before
the Utica Mechanics Association was
delivered at Mechanics Hall by Gov
Seymour, last evening. The subject Sc
lected, "Recollections of Public Men,
together with the reputation ofthe speak
er, brought together large audience.
Gov. Seymour introduced his subject
| bv referring to the remarkable body O
men, who forty years ago assembled ii
the halls of Congress. and occupied pro-
minent places before the American pub
lie. These were men who lived during
eras marked by remarkable events, who
had been schooled in oratory and had
profted by the study of eminent masters
of elocution. The habits of the people
at that time were such that the utteran'
ces of public men made a deep impress.
sion, and their course was clo~ely watch
ed and keenly criticised. Of his person.
al recvllections Of some of the eminent
men OF that age, Mr.. Seymour proposed
to speak. John Randolph he charac.
terized as the sensational man ot hi~ day;
a man of strange appearance, a strong
mind and keen wit; in face and dress
somewhat reminding one of an old wo,
man. Alexander Stephens, of Georgia
bears resemblance to Randolph. In
disposition, Randolph was sharp, shrewd
impatient. and disposed to BE- malignant
Mr.. Seymour met John Quincy Ad.
ans in Washington, and at his residence
met Henry Clay. Adams he described
as small man with trigid, uninviting
formal manner. This reserve he attri.
buted to the early associations thrown
aro'nd Adams in his youth, when his
native New England was governed by
"a system of mutual inspection. Clay
was, on the Contrary genial and winning
in his manner and address. In private
life Mr.. Adams possessed ability to in,
terest from his vast fund of personal OBJ
servation, and in great measure cast
aside his reserve. He was man of great
strength Of will; thoroughly in love with
public life, and determined to die, as he
did die, with his harness on.
Gen. jackson was a tall, erect COM
manding man, with much of the militia.
ry chiettain in his appearance, strong
willed, and perhaps possessed of quick
temper, but holding his temper We'll un.
der coutrol. No man of his time could
get mad so jndiciously He was a good
Judge of human nature, and always knew
his man before losing his temper. Une-
ducated himself, and surrounded by able
aud disciplined minds, he always did bis
own thinking, and to the last moment OF
his life exercised great control over the
public mind To this day public men
are advised to "do as Jack>on did
In person, John G. Calhoun was not
unlike jackson, except that Calhoun
possessed wonderful eyes He had a
keen insight into the future, and was a
prophet rather than a conspirator II
speaking he depended entirely upon his
reasoning powers. The first word IF hi.
speech WIS the first word of his argument
and the last word of his argument
was the last word of his speech He
possessed no faculty of judging charac
ter, but fascinated by his straightfor
ward, frank way with bis fellow men.
Between Clay, Jackson and Calhoun
the resemblance was wonderful. 1t wa:
because Clay and Jackson were so much
alike that they hated each other as they
did. Clay possessed rich voice, mu
sical even to his enemies. He was chi
valrous, patriotic; by nature politician
as we'll as a statesman.
Webster was characterized as the
greatest and yet the weakest of then
al. By nature Intended for a writer
and student, and yet great man
great wherever placed. The triumph:
for which he is remembered are literary
triumphs.
Among men from Oneida county, Hen
ry E. Storrs was characterized by emf
nent public men as che from Oneidi
county who excels US all in debate Al
though now nearly forgotten even here
he was the greatest American orator af
ter Patrick Henry. He was man 0
portly, commanding presence, with .
wonderfully musical voic', only equaiet
by the voice of Clay. HIS erratic ant
uncertain temperament was assigned a.
the reason why be had been so soon for
gotten. +.z:",
Attorney General Talcott, also of thi
county, was at times grand in his elo
quence. Chief Justice Marshal said tina
Talcott made the greatest legal argu
ment be ever listened to. OF our mel
noted at that time only one representa-
tive is left, tn Hon. w. ]. Bacon, lat'
Justice of the Supreme Court.
| In conclusion, the speaker believef
| that the average American intellect wal
improving, but diverted from the chan
nels where these men sought renawn
Then, too, men to be heard must be il
earnest. These men were swayed by
| strong passions; they believed in tn,
wickedness of their enemies. Now mer
| are fiercely attacked, but the aecusprs
| are not credited, and we hardly dare as
| sail political man, for we know not hov
| soon We may be called on to affiliate witt
him in party measures Utica Herald
March 10.
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