The Osceola times., 1873-07-26
Reoollections Of an Old Stager

and a man of large scholarly attain
ments, who had as much of tha
mystical quality called genius AZ
any Of his contemporaries in Con
gress, was rs full of aflectation il
tins regard. lie spoke readily
without preparation, his ideas fol
lowing each other consecutively
and with uncommon force; but he
never trusted to the inspiration OF
g moment when there @as oppor
tunlty of studying up the snbjcc'
and arranging his thoughts in ad
vance. He had a habit of absentine
himself from the Capitol for days
at a time, every hour of which he
devoted to reading and study, his
acquaintanccs generally supposine
him to be engaged in a dobauch
After getting thoroughly crammed
and armed at every point he would
come into the House looking eX-
hausted and haggard, giving color
to the notion that he had been on
a frolic, and watching his opportu-
nifty, would pour forth the fruits of
his study, in q strain of off-hand,
striking eloquencc that hardly ever
failed to astonish his hearers. And
the remark was often heard, " What
could he not accomplish if he was
industrious and regular habits"
Mr. Preston, for some time Mr..
Calhoun's colleague in the senate,
was an accomplished gentleman and
a popular orator. He never spoke
without commanding the attention
Of his hearers, and few men in Con-
gress had higher reputation for
brilliant extompOrancous eloquencc.
But he never spoke without most
ample careful preparation. Soon
after he retired from Congress he
was chosen president Of a college
in South Carolina. In an address
to the students, he said he knew of
no such thing as genius or natural
inspiration. Whatever of reputa-
ton he had acquired was by dint of
constant, untiring labor. He had
trusted to study and hard work
solely. He never spoke in Con-
gress or to II popular assemblagc
without arranging what he had to
say, and even prcmeditating his
sentences and the precise colloca-
ton Of his words. And he assured
his hearers that the only road to
distinction lay through the field Of
study and research.
Mr.. Webster was so thoroughly
instructed upon all subjects which
came under discussion in Congress
that he was equal to almost any oc.
casion, and rarely needed any spe-
cial preparation. And yet he was
not above the weakness of conceal
ing his studies, and the sources from
whence he drew his inspiration. No
man better understood the weight
and value of language than Mr..
Webster, and what he said was al
ways marked by precise pcrspicui-
ty; but when coping with formid.
able antagonist he omitted no means
that promised to aid him IN the
contest. He was accustomed to
speak of the master production of
his life, his celebrated reply to
Haync, as n sort of casual effort, |
made on the spur of the moment, |
without much previous considcra-
ton.
Probably the two men IN public
life who could most safely trust to
their own resources and acquire
ments underall circumstances, were
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Calhoun. The
endowment of Mr.. Calhoun were OF
a higher order, and his creative
power were superior to that of Mr..
Adams; but the cold man eloquent
rs he was called, had a memory
and his knowledge was
50 extensive and exact, that he |
never seemed to need any special /
preparation. He was the most Ia |
oorious and methodical man in Con-
sress, and probably in the country.
lie kept voluminous diary, in /
which every event, incident, or
of the day was care
ully noted down and this with his .
habits of industry, made him very .
ioctor in all matters Of controversy /
md argument. 1t was a knowledge |
)f his complete equipment and his
power as an antagonist that prompt
I'd the reply of Mr.. Clay. when
asked when he proposed to renew
he discussion with Mr.. Adams on
he vexed question of the fisheries
oftho Mississippi, as connected with
.hc treaty of Ghent. Finding him.
self getting the worst of the argu-
nent, Mr.. Clay closed the considc-
'ation Of tho matter, so far as he
vas concerned, with the remark
hat he should drop the subject,
hoping to renew it at some 'future
period more favorable for calm dis
,hssion, when he expected to show