Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-08-21
Extemporaneous Orators - Marshall.
Webster, Clay, and Others.


Webster, Clay, and Others.
Harper's Magazine for July has the
following on Extemporaneou Orators:
Marshall, of Kentucky, one of the
most brilliant orators of his time, and "A
man of large scholarly attachments, who
had as much of that mystical quality
called genius as any Of his contempora-
ries in Congress, was full of affectation
in this regard. He spoke readily with
out preparation, his ideas followed
each other consecutively and with I'M
common force; but he never trusted to
the inspiration of the moment when
there was opportunity for studying on
the subject and arranging his thoughts
in advance. He had habit of absent
ing himself from the Capitol for days at
a time, every hour of which he devoted
to reading and study, his acquaintance
generally surprising him to be engaged
IN debauch. 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 trolc,
and watching his opportunity, would
pour forth the fruits of his study in
strain of otfhand, striking elOqucncc
that hardly ever failed TO aStonish his
hearers. And the remark was often
heard, "What q brilliant man! What
could he not accomplish if he was ill.,
dustrious and regular in his habits"
Mr. Preston, for some time Mr.. Cal
houn's colleague in the Senate, was al
accomplished gentleman and very
popular, orator. He never spoke with
out commanding the attention of hi,
hearers, and few men in Congress had a
higher reputation for brilliant extern
poraneous cloqucnce. But he never
spoke without the most ample and care
full preparation. Soon after he retired
from Congress, he was chosen resident
OF college in South Carolina. In his
address to the students, he said he knew
of no such thing Is genius or natural in
spiration. Whatever of reputation he
had acquired, was bv diut OF constant.
untiring labor. lie had trustcdto study
aud hard work solely. He never spoke
in Congress, or 10 4 popular as-cmbage,
without arranging what he had to say,
and even premeditating his sentences
and the precise collocation OF his words
And he assured his hearers that the ouly
road to pubic distinction lay through
the field OF study and research
Mr.. Webster was 50 thoroughly in
-trurtrl upon all subjects which came
under discussion in Congress that b."
WAS equal to almost any occasion, and
rarely needed any special preparation.
And vet hc was not above the weakness
OF couccaUng his studies, and the
-uurcc, whence he drew hi, Inspiration.
No man better understood the weight
aud value OF language than Mr.. Webster,
and what he said was always marked by
precision and pcrspIcuiy; but when
coping with \ formidable autagou-iLr
omitted no means that promised To- aji
him in the contest. He WAS accu-tom-
cd To- speak ct the master production nr
his life, his celebrated reply to IlAyno.
a. u oit OF casual effort. made ON thr
spur OF the moment, without much
Prcvlpu, consideration.
Probably the Two men in public lite
who could most safely trust TO their
own resources and requirements, under
all circumstances were Nj. Adams and
Mr.. Calhoun. The cniowmcnts ul Mr.
Calhoun were OF a higher order, and h~
creative power was superior to that of
Mr. Adams: but the "oId man c'u-
queui, as he was called, had 81 memory
50 tenacious, and his knowledge wa -
extensive and exact that he never seem
ed to need any special preparation. lie
was the most laborious and mcthodicu
man in Congress, and probably iu the
country. He kept voluminou- diary.
in which every event, incident or cir
cum-tance OF the day was carefully not
ed down; and this, with his habits OF ia
dustry, made him very doctor i'm all
matters Of controversy and argument.
II was 4 knowledge OF his complete
equipment and his power a. an auia--
oni,t that prompted the reply of Mr..
CLAY, when asked when he purpOsci 40
renew he discussion with Mr. Adam
on the ycXed question Of the fisheries oi
the MisSssippi Il, connected with Tia.
treaty Of Client. Finding himself get
ting the worst of the argument, Nj,
Clay closed the c0u-idcratiDnot the mat
ter, 80 Tar A. he was concerned, with
The remark that he should drop the sub
iect hoping tn renew it AT some future
period more favorable Tor calm discus
sion, when he expected to show that Mr..
Adams was altogether in the wrong.
Some time aitcrw ard a friend asked him
when he proposed the controversy.
"Never," was his emphatic reply. "a
man must be born too! who voluutan-
ly engages in controversy with Mi.
Adams on question OF fact. | doubt
il he was ever mistaken in his lie. And
then, he happens to be indOubt about
anything, he has his inevitable diary, IN
which he has recorded everything that
has occurred since the adoption OF the
Federal Constitution