The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1875-09-10
POPULAR ORATORS.
AN ADDRESS BY THE HON. t. l.. CLING,

u'td other .1Iterican Orutors-- jg.iJnut,ol
Sccaes dt Tie House anil .Sonatc- The
Amsrican "Triumeirafe."
The commencement exercises of the Uni
versity Of the South were held last Thurs.
day at Sewanec, Tennessee An address
was delivered to the graduating class, on the
"Dcfects OF Public Speakers, and The char.
acter'stlcs OF Popular Orators" by the Hon.
4. IL. Clingmau. This address contained
many Interesting "reminiscences of the great
orators ut th'a country, with descriptions of
their styles Of speaking, and personal
anecdotes concerning them. A large por
ton of the address is given below.
WEBSTER AND cHoATE.
Let us, however, now consider the pccu-
iiaritics aud characteristics Of some of the
most distinguished orators tho country
] will in the first place call your attention
% two prominent senators of the same State
Daniel Webster aud Rufus Choate of Mas
sachusetts. Among orators deservedly en-
inent, can recall no more striking contrast
5hau they presented. When first heard
Mr. webster, his voice, though not in any
sense melodioas, was strong, clear, and very
masculine AZ times It reminded Inc pleas
antiy somewhat of the ringing tone of
ravens note heard at a great dis
tance through the air. During his latter
years it lost much of its strength and vol,
ume, bat was always distinct and pleasant.
In 184S he made an elaborate speech On the
subject OF the proposed acquisition of terri
tory from Mexico. he differed with his
Colleague, Mr.. Davis, had much feeling on
the subject, and only spoke after thorough
preparations That speech may DC remem.
bered rs the one in which he said "Politi.
clans are not sunhowers they do not turn
on their god when he sets the same look
they turned when he rose" On this occa-
sion he spoke with unusual earnestncss. and
was very impressive. There were several
Of the new members Of the House present,
listening to Mr.. Webster for the FIRST time.
Towards the close of his speech member
from one of the Northwestern States said TO
me, "What is the matter with the OLD fellow?
what makes h so dull ?" "Why," [ an.
swered, che is to-day speaking with very
unusual animation" Heavens !" he ex.
claimed, "if he were to speak to one of our
Western crowds in that manner and they
did not know who he was, they would 90 off
nve him" Lt u'os thor .ha cnstnn, of
se';o!h Western speakers IL. the House to
ucc'aini "hh great vchemcnce Of manner,
cinchlns their Es,s and marching forward
anu pacS"ard wibh formidable aspect, aud
when they reached thu, most clooucut mart
OF their speeches the cravat was pulled off
with sudden jerk and thc vest was unbut-
toned aud thrown open, partly to diminish
heat aud pcrspiration, aad doubtless also to
impress the audience with the greatness of
the effort then being made TO persons ac.
customed to such speaking il seemed vcrv
strange that MIR. Webster should sometimes
speak for several minutes without making a
gesture, In spite, however, of his usual
want of action, he kept the attention of his
auditors, and his speeches had tha. remark
able quality that when one looked back to
them from week to week they seemed to
stand out more prominently aud loomed in
the distance
a REMARKABLE SPEECH RY MIR. CHoATE.
Early in 1914, in the Senate, he spoke
Gu the Oregon question. Several Democrat
ic senators, following in the debate, assailed
his speech with remarkable vehemence-
1t was evident that they intended TO make
party capital by attacking Great Britain
Conspicuous among them were Messrs Ben
ton, Silas Wright aud Buchanan Though
denouncing the pretensions, the injustice,
the arrogance and the insolence of Great
Britain, they disclaimed any purpose to go
to war with her. While these speeches
were being made, one evening at social
party, oa meeting Mr.. Choate, | said
why has rot your Oregon speech been
published ?" He replied II have not yet
made speech on the Oregon question, but
mean to make one" Soon after he de-
livered probably the finest effort Of his SEN
atorial career. After discussing for perhaps
couple of hours the merits of the question
with an earnestness, a beauty aud an elo-
quenoe seldom egualled, he turned his at
teption to the senator's who had assailed him
Quoting in succession the words Of each one
denouncing the oppression, the insolence
and the arrogance of Great Britain, he OK
claimed: "But the senator wishes for no
War with her." Then, with consummate skill,
ne repeated Mark Antony's oration over
Caesars body, drawing a parallel between
each Senator and one Of the couspirators.--
"Great Britain" said he, "has always been
our enemy she was arrogant, domineering,
and insolent, but the Senator wishes for no
war with her" Pursuing the parallel, he
exclaimed, "there the well-beloved Brutus
stabbed, but Brutus ia an honorable man."
Then quoting another Senator he cried out,
''See what a reut the envious Casca made
but he, too, is an honorable man." So ad-
mirally had MIR. Choate prepared the minds
OF the auditors that it is difficult to give an
idea OF the effect, Of these quotations. AS
one looked oyer the Senate, IL seemed ready
TO burst into laughter, but in fact every one
restrained his feelings lest he might lose
some OF the speakers words. The effect on
the Senators arraigued was not lass striking
While Mr.. Benton strove to throw it of,
with poorly assumed air between indiffer-
ence and defiance, Mr.. Buchanan hung his
head with the sheepish look of one who has