The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-08-26

they felt assured thai he must, per-
force, take rank among the first and
ablest of u Senators. He has not
only fulfilled the hopes of his friends,
but has exceeded. He has in one
session, by the display of a rare
combination of qualities, been free
Iy accorded the position of leader
of his party in the Senate.
In manner and character Judge
Thurman is more like John G. Cal
houn than any other of tho leaders
OF the English Parliament or Of our
own Congress. He ~ as bold as
| Douglass, without his personal iu-
vective. The keenness Of his arr
casm. which he generally directs
against the measure he is discus
sing and not his opponents, is more
effective. His language like Webs
ter's, Is vigorous, tersc, pure Eng
lish, rejecting ornamentatior. free
from any kind of affectation and
marked by manly simplicity. He
is like Henry Clay IN his direct and
candid craftsmanship. his sincerity,
| Openness and freedom from cquivO-
cation or disguise, characteristics
which made the "sage Of Ashland"
so dear to the public heart. Mr..
Clay carried all before him by his
grace, manner and person, bril-
lance and elOquence, and commu-
! r1l - 49, ~ -,,z- -. ~
enthusiasm. Judge Thurman com
mands attention, and carries con-
v%iction by tho quiet yet forcible
earnestness of his manner. His Or
atory, like CalhOun's. is PLAN,
strong, wise, concise, and Impress
i've; unlike Calhoun he is fond Of
illustration, his great power con-
sists In the p%laInness of his propO-
sItion, IN the clearness of his lorIc
and his earnest sincerity. His
longest speeches rarely reach three
quarters of an hour in length, and
he never fails to make plain and
simple to the ordinary intellect his
views on the subject under discus
son. His manner of speaking IS
rapid, forcibIe and pleasing. He
is eve tedious and never tires;
disdaining all rhetorical fourishes
and circumlocutlons he m at
once to the point; possessed of an
analytical mind and a fund of good
common stnse he makes clear his
vIews and leaves no doubt as 10 his
meaning. As a debator he is the
peer Of any in the Senate, which
arises from his extended experts
ence; his quIckness of repartee, his
thorough seIf-possession and con
troll of self, with n quiet humor,
which never fails to disarm the
feelings Of bitterness, which 200 Oft
en- arise from debate, and TO WIN
the respect of his opponent. He is
always most thoughtful and respect
fuI to his political opponents. This
taken in connection with the pow
erful magetism Of his manner gives
him in return the respect and kind-
lest feelings Of those he opposes;
but in his attack on what he con-
ceIves to be wrong he is most deter-
mined and implacMble. Judge
Thurman eXccls as q leader in Il
legislative body, where his extends
ed legal and general business knowl-
edge can control and direct, but he
has no taste or inclination for that
party leadership, which consists IN
the d~eXterity and schrewdness of
guiding and controlling men for
party ends. Without intending in
vidious comparisons we look IN
vain for any other in either branch
of Congress who has had accorded
him the position of leader, either
through his indomitable will. ener-
gy and ability, as was the case with
the late Thadeus Stevens, or like
Henry Clay, who led his party by
his giant intellect, brilliant orato-
ry and fascination ofmaEner.
We find able lawyers, good bust
ness men, excellent parliamentary
ans, men of experience and business
habits, brilliant orators and most
ready and able debators, but none
possessing that rar combination of
qualities necessary for a popular
leader as in the case of Thadeus
Stevens or Judge Thurman, both
leaders of opposite parties and
most diverse in their qualities, ex-
cept. indeed, in their readiness Of
debate and indomItable energy, and
in these respects differing as wide>
ly rs possible. Stevens IN debate
was personal, bitter, severe and
stung with sharpest sarcasm, while
Thurman equally as ready, is goo1
humOred, pleasant and GENIAL, and
instead of leaving a scar he awakes
a smile. Mr.. Stevens very frequent
Iy Carried his point with his party
through the use of the lash, his
weapon was fear, often disda.ned to
argue the point but compelling ODE
dience with a sneer.
Judge Thurman commands the
respect and cooperation of those
who willingly acknowledge HIM as
leader by his great ability, honesty
of purpose, and the wonderful mag
netism of his manner. To be lead
er IN either branch of Congress is
a position IF which any one may
well be proud, so seldom Is there
found any who possess the necessa-
ry qualities to fit him for such an
honor. The more credItable too
when held by the possession of the
best, finest and kindest traits of
character with which God enables
man, as is the case. of Judge Thur
man, whose moral virtues arc not
eclipsed by the intellectual powers
which have enabled him to rise to
the exalted position he now occu-
pies. 1t is a remarkable fact that
with all the acknowledged ability,
experience. personal merit and pub
lie spirit, which exists to such a
large degree IN the f~orty-sccond
Congress, there is but one who has