The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-07-03
The Recollsctions of an Old stager.

Marshall, OF kentucky, one OF the mOsC DILL
liant orators of his time, and man of large,
scholarly attainments, who had as much of that
mystical quality called genius as any of his
contemporaries in Congress, was full of affec-
tation in this regard. He spoke readily with
consecutively and with uncommon force; but
he never trusted to the inspiration of the mo-
ment when there was opportunity for studying
up the subject and arranging his thoughts in
advance. He had habit Of absenting him
self from the Capitol for days at time, every
hour of which he devoted to reading and study,
his acquaintances generally supposing him to
be engaged in debauch. After getting thor
oughly crammed and armed at every point he
would come into the House looking exhausted
and haggard, giving color to the notion that he
had been on frolic, and watching his oppor
tunity, would pour forth the fruits of his study
in strain of off-hand, striking eloquence that
hardly ever failed to astonsh his hearers. And
the remark was often heard, "What brilliant
man What could he not accomplishif he was
industrious and regular in his habits
MIR. Preston, for some time MIR. Calhoun's
colleague in the Senate, was an accomplished
gentleman and a very popular orator. He
never spoke without commanding the attention
of his hearers, and few men in Congress had
higher reputation for brilliant extemporane-
Gus eloquence But he never spoke without
the most ample and careful preparation. Soon
after be retired from Congress he was chosen
president of college in South Carolina. In
an address to the students, he said he knew of
mo such thing as genius or natural inspiration.
Whatever of reputation he had acquired was
b. dint of constant, untiring labor. He had
trsted to study and hard work solely. He
neNr spoke in Congress or to popular assem-
blag without arranging what he had to say,
and zen premeditating his sentences and the
precis. collocation of his words. And he as
sured Is hearers that the only road to public
distinction lay through the field of study and
research
Mr.. Whistler was so thoroughly instructed
upon all sbjects which came under discussion
in Congress that he was equal to almost any
occasion, am rarely needed and special prepa-
ration. AnGyet he was not above the weak
ness of conceling his studies, and the sources
whence he drE his inspiration. No man bet
ter understood he weight and value of language
than Mr.. Webstr, and what he said was always
marked by precision and perspicuity; but when
coping with formidable antagonist he omitted
no means that prolised to aid him in the con-
test. He was accusomed to speak of the mas
ter production of hislife, his celebrated reply
to Hayne, as sort o. casual effort made on
the spur of the momet, without previous con-
sideration.
Probably the two ma in public life who
could most safely trust to their own resources
and requirements, under all circumstances,
were Mr.. Adams and Mr.. valhoun. The en-
dowments of Calhoun were higher order,
and his creative power was Superior to that of
Mr.. Adams; but the "old maheloquent," as he
was called, had memory so teacious, and his
knowledge was so extensive anoexact, that he
never seemed to need any specia preparation.
He was the most laborious and mehodical man
in Congress, and probably in the euntry he
kept voluminous diary, in which Gerry event,
incident or circumstance of the day vas care
fully noted down; and this, with his labits of
industry, made him very doctor in allnatters
of controversy and argument. 1t was :nowl-
edge of his complete equipment and his lower
as an antagonist that prompted the repy of
Mr.. Clay, when asked when he proposed tore
new the discussion with Mr.. Adams on te
vexed question of the fisheries of the MissiA
sippi, as connected with the treaty of Ghent
Finding himself getting the worst of the argu
ment, Mr. Clay closed the consideration of the
matter, SO far as he was concerned, with the
remark that he should drop the subject, hoping
to renew it at some future period more favora
BILE for calm discussion, when he expected te
show that Mr.. Adams was altogether in the
wrong. Some time afterward friend asked
him when he proposed to reopen the contro
yersy. "Never" was his emphatic reply. "a
man must be born fool who voluntarily en-
cages in controversy with Mr.. Adams on
question of fact. doubt whether he ever wa!
mistaken in his life. And then, if he happens
to be in doubt about anything, he has his in
evitable diary, in which he has recorded every
thing that has occurred since the adoption O
the Federal Constitution. ."-Earper's Weekly.