The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-17
General Robert Y. Hayne.

L
the name. When Ben Butler stands up and
harangues an assemblage of Boston negroes,
telling them that nothing could be more ia
the fitness of things than that ignerant, be-
sotted and thriftless colored people should
rule South Carolina; nay, that they are far
more tit to do such governing than the white
people; and when Wendell Phillips, on Tues
day last, IN New York, contemptIously re-
ferred to Us, the white people OF South Caro-
lima, as sthe pitiful babes," it is indeed
| refreshing to take even hasty retrospect
i've glance at South Carolina, as it was IN
the palny days of the Republic; when states
men who commanded the respect and ad-
miration of the whole country, and orators
scarcely second to the brilliant dalecticians
of Athens or OF Rome, listened with ears
erect to the feryid eloquence OF one of South
Carolina's sons, on the floor OF the United
States Senate. Daniel Webster we still in
our simplicity believe, 'as as great a man
as Ben Butler, and deserves quite as well OF
his country as Wendell Phillips, yet he-the
sodIike Dan-never dreamed of handing
over the Commonwealth Of South Carolina
to the tender mercies of an ignorant horde OF
semi.tarbarols negroes; nor did the idea
ever enter his imagination OF calling bis
political antagonist in the Senate Chamber
pitiful babe. These are modern discove-
ries, in the science OF Statecraft. We were
led to this train OF reflection BY seeing in the
Southern Reuiew, published in Baltimore,
paper on the life and genius OF Robert Y.
Hayne, perhaps the most brilliant name in
the annals Of State peculiarly prolific OF
illustrlous sons. This sketch, it is under
stood, was contributed by his nephew, the
well-knoUn poet and lHterateur, Paul Il.
Hayne, ESQ, and is as interesting piece OF
personal a.nd political biography as we have
read in long time. We have only room for
few extracts. First, as regards the elo-
Quence Of the great Senator:
''Like Chrysostom's, his oratory was golden
mouthed' Deficient neither in power nor In
NSN->~~
ed it, With righteous scorn or fiery invecliVe,
1t was chiefly through cordial magetlsm OF
tAna .,na----..--.--~-- .,A..An nj
persuasive ,oarmth, that he won the hearts of
his hearers, played upon their sympathies as
one might play upon the strings Of an instru-
mcnt, and finally so melted and fused in The
glow of. his own equable but Intense genius
nr hot fNIf %
ment, they saw with his eyes, reasoned with
his Judgment. and felt with his spirit, surren-
dering their intellectual and spiritual identity
to the tocces of spell us soft as 1t was ire
sislible. He never lost, at'the height OF great
argument or even in he sweep and rush OF
just deuunciation, that supreme seif-restraint
which, ALWAYS implying reserve OF power.
mukes the orator so emphaticaliy master OF
his theme situation and audience.
Unlike the elaborate masterpieces OF LeSare,
which often confounded the ignorant, and daz-
zled, rather than illuminated the average mind,
reserving their full effect for the appreciation
of the scientist and scholar, Haynes speeches
took captive the learned and ignorant alike;
they addressed not so much the taste as the
soul, not 10 much the casuistic braia as the
ardent, ursophisticated affections. Over those
feelings in man which are primitive, simple,
universal, such as recognition OF natural rights
and reputation of Unnatural wrongs-al can
did, spontaneous emotions which enter into
the constitution of unspoiled manhood, Us con-
tradstingllished from the more complex SEN
salions and sensblities which belong rather 10
the region of art-over all these Haynes ora
torical sceptre was complete.
Before brutal, infuriated mob, ripe for
mischief, II not blood, Hayne would appear
with bold front and kiudlins eye, apd hardly
had he lifted his hand aud uttered few words
OF expostplation and warning, in his clear, re-
sonant voice, ere the rude. chaos was stllled
anger gave place to respectful attention, atlen-
ton to conviction, and the insubordinate
crowd, bent some moments previous upon acts
of lawlessness, were transformed into decent,
sober, obedlent citizens"
The great debate with Webster, in 1882, is
thus alluded to:
''The occasion upon which Hayne was called
forth to advocate the doctrine OF State Rights,
&C., can aever be forgotten in the history OF
Congressional debate. Then it was that he en-
counlered the great apostle Of Consolidation,
Daniel Webster For the first time in the
country's history the principles Of State SOW
eregnty and Capitalization, stripped on either
side of all DISCUSSES, We're opposed in mortal
combat upon the floor OF the Senate.
All compromise between them was over. The
issue had been sharply drawn. In the pres
ence of the elect for wisdom, reputation and
experience, from every portion Of America, a
baltic was; 10 be fought and decision arrived
at which, little as some concerned therein
might foreSee the truth, was destined to build
between the two great sections OF the land q
wall OF partition-moral, political and social
which only the violence OF revolution conlu
breaa down.
"Never, perhaps, was senatorial debate
followed through all its details with such pas
slonate, absorbing eagrrness. The long galle-
ries, as MacauIay says of famous English
trial, were crowded by such an audience as
has rarely excited the .ears or The emulation
of any orator. There were gathered from
every part OF vast realm, grace and female
loveliness, wit aud learning, with not few
representatives of science and the arts.'
''As the debate deepened in Its meaning, aud
grew more rapid In the flow of its argument,