The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1873-06-25
ExTEMPORANEoUs EFFORTS,

SI0TTS, ~. ~.
ExTEMPORANE0US EFFORTS,
Marshall, of Kentucky, one of the most bril-
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
afiectation in this regard. He spoke readily
without preparation, his ideas following each
other consecutively and with uncommon force
but he never trusted to the inspiration of the
moment when there was opportunity for study
ing up the subject and arranging his thoughts
in advance. He had habitof absenting him.
self from the Capitol for days at a time, every
hour of which he devoted to reading and study,
his acquaintance generally supposing him to
be engaged in a 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 frolc, and watching his OPP
portnnity, would pour forth the fruits of his
study in strain of off-hand striking elo-
quence that hardly ever failed to astonish his
hearers. And the remark was often heard,
sWhat brilliant man What could he not
accomplish if he was industrious and regular
in his habits -
Mr.. Preston, for some time Mr.. Calhoun's
colleague in the Senate, was an accomplished
gentleman and very popular orator. He
never spoke without commanding the atten-
ton of his hearers and few men in Congress
had higher reputation for brilliant extempo-
raneous eloquence. But he never spoke with
out the most ample and careful preparation.
Soon after he retired from Congress he was
chosen president of a college in South Carroll
ma. In an address to the students, he said he
knew of no such thing as genius or natural in
splation. Whatever of reputation he had ac-
quired was by dint of constant untiring labor.
He had trusted to study and hard work solely.
lie never spoke in Congress or to a popular as
semblage without arranging what he had to
say, and even preneditating his sentences and
the precise collocation of his words. And he
assured his hearers that the only road to pub
lie 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
occasion, and rarely needed any special prepa-
ration. And yet he was not above the weak
ness of concealng his studies, and the sources
whence he drew his inspiration No man bet
ter understood the weight and value of Ian
guage than Mr.. Webster, and what he said
was always marked by precision and perspi-
Guilty but when coping with formidable an
tagonist 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 Hayne, as sort of
casual effort, made on the spur of the mo-
ment, without much previous consideration.
Probably the two men in public life who
could most safely trust to their own resources
and requirements, under all circumstances, were
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Calhoun. The endow-
ments of Mr.. Calhoun were of higher order,
and his creative power was superior to that of
Mr. Adams but the 'old man eloquent as
he was called had memory so tenacious, aud
his knowledge was so extensive and exact that
he never seemed to need any special prepara-
ton. He was the most laborious and metho-
dical man in Congress, and probably in the
country. He kept voluminous diary, in
which every event, incident or circumstance
of the day was carefully noted down and
this, with his habits of industry made him
very doctor in all matters Of controversy and
argument. 1t was q knowledge of his com.
plete equipment and his power as an antago-
mist that prompted the reply of Mr.. Clay, when
asked when he proposed to renew the discus
sion with Mr.. Adams on the vexed question of
the fisheries of the Mississippi, as connected
with the treaty of Client Finding himself
getting the worst of the argument, 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 favorable for calm
discussion, when he expected to show that Mr.
Adams was altogether in the wrong. Some
time afterward a friend asked him when he
proposed toreopen the controversy. "Never!'
was his emphatic reply. "a man must be
born fool who voluntarily engages in con-
troversy with Mr. Adams on question Of fact.
doubt whether he was ever mistaken in his
life. And then, if he happens to be in doubt
al out anything. he has his inevitable diary, In
which he has recorded every thing that has oc-
curred since the adoption of tire Federal Con-
stager, Tin Harpers Maoasine for July,