Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-22
GENERAL cHEATHAM.

he BaPtA1 NGt@N - "FNN---- -
light in ridiculing General Cbeatham
because he has on various occasions
used manuscript when addressing the
people, and taunt him for lack of ora
torical powers. They forget for the
time, at least, that many professional
sneakers aud lecturers never venture
upon the stump or the rostrum without
an ample roll of manuscript for refer
snce when they run short of an idea or
lose the thread Of their discourse. Col
onel Landon c. Haynes is acknowledged
IN he an orator second to but few ever
uroduced in Tennessee. Yet we have
seen him, on special occasions, dellber-
ately uuroll written speech in the
presence Of a vast multitude, and pro-
coed to read it almost line by line. Yet
none Of the effect was lost, for he threw
himseIfinto the delivery with an intense
mess Of feeling that came from the
heart, and carried conviction to every
mind. Wendell Phillips has the repu'
tation Of being powerful man on the
rOstrum, yet he never appears before an
audience without his IDEAS being all com
mitted to paper in advance, and each
gesture and attitude evidently well
studied, il not practiced before the mir
ror. Many Of the ablest ministers read
their sermons, aud will not preach ex-
tempore even after years and years OF
training. In Congress- very few speeches
Of any length are made that have not
been prepared by the midnight oil
and rehearsed Gd sereafim. 80 1t IS IN
the Senate and in all deliberatiye assem-
blies. Solid men must both think and
write before they are ready TO express
themselves; but yapid brainless men
can often speak on any subject at mo
meut 5 notice, and for the nonce dazzle
the sympathetic multitude with their
glittering generalities. This does not APP
ply to Mr.. johnson, for he has both brains
and oratorieal training, after fashion,
but il goes to show that mere volubility
IL not always an evidence Of common
eenSe below the surface, any more than
quiet. discreet tongue proves lack OF
depth or Of business capacity. Aaron
WAS a man SLOW Of speech, yet the priest
hood was bestowed on him and his sons,
while Moses, who was gifted in elOquence
and reared in the courts Of the Pha-
raohs, never lived to reach the prom-
ised land, or 70 transmit his honors or
endowments to bis posterity Demos
themes learned eloquence by long and
severe practice, and overeame extraort
binary difficulties and natural defects.
Thomas jefferson, the immortal author
Of our Declaration Of Independence.
never, perhaps in his life, made coz
aected, forcible speech. The treasures
Of bis mind glitiered not on the surface
10 fall from his lips in measured ca
dences to please the ear; they only
yielded.to an effort Of the will and came
forth slowly, but TO burn forever on the
pages Of history. Tie mere gift oil
words without ideas is Of little value.
Many brieaess young lawyer would
challenge the attention of Senates, yet
might not have Que practical idea TO
advance. We could e on and multiply
instances by the score TO illustrate our
position, which is simply this: that q
lack Of tongue is no proof of an alb
.sence Of brains and practical sense
A. 7. Stewart BaE never known to
make stumpspeech, yet. in bis line, be
has achieved considerable sHeeeas in
life. Geaeral Gran, is not remarkably
fluent on the hustings, although be has
had some substantial success, in his
way. On the Other haHd. there is George
Francis Train--tbe best taikes on the
American Continent, by oil odds, and,
at the same time, universally conceded
10 be the champion iuuatic in or out OF
any asylum in the known world. In the
Of Cheatham's detEaniors,
Train would be the very man 70 send TO
Congress-; for he could make Rome
howl" and occupy one whole session
With an introduction 10 one Of his
speeehes, which could be concluded
during recess Of Congress srouud the
State at large. George Francis viii De
wanted II anything happens to Andrew
Johnson before the election.
with all Of Cheaiham's manuscript he
h.. learned TO make johnson vince and
,h., vsth his hands behind him. snd bis
speeoh folded up in bis pocket From
All accounts be has improved IN ms
s,yle Of delivers. and has acquired a
decree e selfcon6denee aad force Of
expression thai is anything but pleasant
% his enemies. BE has managed On
..v.r.l f..cf.ions. 70 make himself IN