New-York tribune., 1875-08-06
POPULAR ORATORS.
AN ADDRESS BY THE HON. T. L. CLINGMAN.
"REMINISCENCES OF WEBSTER, CALHOUN CLAY AND
OTHER AMERICAN ORAToRs-ANIMATED SCENES
IN THE HOUSE AND sENATK-THE AMERICAN

The Commencement exercises of the University OF
the South were held yesterday at sewanee. Tenn.
An address was delivered to the graduating class on
the "Defects of Public Speakers, and the Charac-
tcristics of Popular Orators" by the Hon. l. L.
Clngmap This address contained many interesting
"reminiscences of the great orators OF this country
with descriptions of their styles OF speaking, and
personal anecdotes concerning them. large por-
ton of the address is given below.
WEBSTER AND CHOATE.
Let us, however, now consider the peculiartics and
the most distinguished orators
OF the country. Iwi in the first place cal your atten
prominent Senators Of the same State Dac
Webster and Rufps Choate of Massachusetts,. Among
orators descyedy eminent, can recall 10 more stllhS
contrast than they presented When nrst heaid MI
Webster his voice though not in any sense meiodloS
was strong clear, and very masculine. AT times u re
minded pleasantly somewhat of the ringing tone OF
ravens note heard crcat distance through The ar
During his latter years Il lost much Of its strength ana
volume was distinct and pleasant In 1917 ne
made an elaborate speech on Tho subject o the lr'
posed acquisition OF territory from Mexico lie Hihered
with his colleague Mr. Davis had much feeling on inc
subject and only spoke aftcr thorough preparation
That speech may be remembered ~ the ono vi when ne
said "Polticans are not sunAowcrs they do not turn
on their GOD when he sets the same look they turnod
when ne rose" on ts occasion ne spoke with unusual
eaincstncss and was very impressive There Wefe sew
to Mr. Webster fer the iirSt time iowall ne Ts -,
his peeCh emr & 5"s , Sne 6a,icr UI e VII, the old m
low what mases him 80 lull Z " ny ahsWeiuu;; ahW;
on, u" 'o-"i u.o>rns he exclaimed, III he
were to speak 20 one Of orr Ntslerh cr.Hos ,S
,ould XII 90 III and leave him. II vas tlo tie ci-t.m ~
certain Western speakers IN the iIDusr 10 dct I'm "l
grri fnyWTrd and i1civar Win orInidnbc
aspect and when the! rca red the most elo1nci r 90,
icrk ana thc vest was unbuitoncd and thrown "p "
partly TO diminish heat and Ierspiraiion ana 90 &
n - 10 impress the audience with the erc'th' .H
effort thc being made 7" persons accn,t'mcd 10 SUI
speaking it cmcd very ~trlnc that Nr Nehs,ti -o'
sometimes speak fcg re'crai mlnlS Mi,ho nom un,,i-
gesture Ir spite, however, Of his usual want ~ hc'h'
he kcrt the attention Of li1 anditor' ana ~. i I
had that remarkable Iud tha Whth enc l"p.c, II, 1, f
10 chem from w,c 10 week tAcy sen to s'UAh on'
more prominently and locmed in the distance.
REMARKABLE SPEECH BY MR. CHoATX..
r,~lv in 1.lf in the Senate he spoke the oregon
question Several Democratic Senators, following in the
debate oss9cI his speech win remarkable ye'iEehcr.
II was evident that they intended to make party capi
by attacking Great Britain. Conspicuous among ihem
we're aIcssre. Benton silas Wright, and Euehanah'
Though dcrcuncHg tie prctclsor', the injustice t.e
aIroaance and the iusoenco of Gr'a Britain t,| iS-
claimed any purpose to - 20 with her While these
scerhcs were being made evening at social litF'
o ,rcen, Mr. Cboatp. said. Why has NOt your ore
con sYorch been pubishcdF He REPLIED: 81 have not
yc made speech the Oregon question bit mean 10
make one" soon after he delivered probably the hnest
enut Of his Senatorial career amer discussing for per
hans connie of honr@ the merit of the question VIII
m eaInc,i1ae, 2 beauty. hui an cooErnce seldom,
pn,4cd n, turned bis attention 10 INC = n"'I, J" Hd
coiioI I'm Ouoiug IN succession Tie words Of cath
nur IcsYpcug the oppression, tie insucnce aud t.c
sIrncance of Great BiIta.n. y" cNclanrd; but Inc
..rai,r wishes for 10 war with hr" Then, "lth coi-
.,Inats skill he repeated Mark Auton}S 'ilti 80 over
Csar'- body drawing parallel between ra.h or',oi
and one ~ the consp spiIattrs. "Grca BiIaih $40 hc,
Ii ,',.ays been our cu,ny she was rfOt'r doni-
uc1li1 and ns,icnt, bat the senator wShc' fr var
viii her" PA ming thc parallel he cNra'mcd tn"ie
tbc vllbcloved rucs stabhcd. hul L.tu j. m honor
ale MAN" Tnon quotn- another S'i. p" 'i1 oi,,
houorahlc man" Sondmirb bly, had Mr io'' prepared
thc mind, of The auditors tha Il IS dh'u. 30 r'' an
ii,o of thr effect Cf GUr.tun- As CH" .0o over
w. scfa i seemed ready to burst into , .to. bu' IN
flct every restrained ms feeling iest M nish '.e
ol the speakers Wo' a. - - -, 80, ',
orra.cd was not less striking. Nnt dr B" ION i"fc
f.t,nrc and defiance, pr. 'a'haMli hlnE lS A'iu
Utl The she.pish look 0f on WHO ms been de-
lsc'7 @ hi in IaS% Mr. las cHoac DIV NV. a. mp to his
nm ii"ht with an air OF great dsiuF. ana said bu
;a,, s'rc anthony and ihcst hoaoraolc Scnntor-
pu,Ni'n d, - fhrr hid, character us wen rs u Re
coi-ie.- oi the senate that should stac H. - ha
& w. ,t M & ~ lucr",I, courfcsv re senator, raised
nit'' t brI bnt H. i- gb,ut to make amend, hand
.o-r.tv Mn Choar aid Win SfIIhinS clib ibha-i~:
An. .ouy was yi:.n; Anthony VAS hyIMr i'r;
rcse honor,. s.,"t ok ',e r c',, c,or a, of tir
il would 'cem tnat h"aiS could not Ian' sihiA
@ .''' T'.."r Of Tcnu,..ec and Grorge ~ slm-
,, ~ V:i.i, bonn tino sroah'.- and orators, win
wnoia happened 10 p aal'hg began 10 cNprfs thcir
tbri1 "ony lad ic rDcr q! jla5, or N"si" 90 t'l-
fr IN tAr World" - hrr win yo' tii. ''it a.
b.. fnc manner that in great dogr in9he' hHr 90 iA-
prco,,e, bat hir ideas al TO- IL .hchsrII" - "f- g..
those cf Tie ucn !ol me- '' an. it h'' 'i","'. I'd
make 80 l1ea on ir, 'in. I',y' NOVICE, ..,-
ii on -pc ..int t, tncp Iin. found HAT ,nc caoc;
had been eroa'i, dnnihi+H'u
MIR wEB,TIR', GRE iTEsT EFFORT.
+f,.s.T = orrl
on The IA Of March, 1850 so mere report OF II VIII sye
one IN ~ a Of its greatness without such knowledge Cf
tlic circumstances under Inch 30 was made a. perhaps
none but tho,r then present could reali1' Intense
an Xicty prevailed III Washington III tc minds % men ~
all shades OF opinion. The shadows oi those events
which cc.rritd dozen years LATER seemed to oppr'ss
tlle minds o a!l present Win tn, anxiety there
hoy. HAT Mr. Webster might solve tie difficulty lie
,norc 10 such an audience "a had never been pre-
yously assembled in the Senate Chamber. All
ft the truth.ulncss Of Senator Walkers word;
When '1 IN ~ aG th nnor. to take np t on WHEN W.
Webster was 10 speak. be said there WAS bat one 'nan
gcthcr aud me alone coud safety, IL i was not
merely That AL tl,c sitting and staining room IN the
Chamber I!lrd Will brilliant ihlohs oi las and
gonicirE, hu, the distinSu he'd CnHc;er OF ne per
sons assembled US rOst rcualbahlc. Being fortunate
crouch get a seat on the a1n Of Nj oIwln ard
I'm. hrug Iiite near Nh Webster, had far view Of
every ccnncndnce turned ,1%4'4 lhe ofaoI dncFe
He had been speaking FOR nearly an hour on tie sJcct
n
he meant take Every face retained IFS intense dnxi-
- Of rNbreSsion until ~ the close Of one ~ his
t.nces he said in emphatic manner, 81 will vote
for the Wmo prOysO." Their seemed at once Ia hc
sense of relief in the audicAce accompanied by slight
ru.ug sound caused by the claNatiUn lie proceeded,
and fuily met public expectation and hope. Il
purely intellectual impression made on te minds Of all
nrcsct and yet the effect was greater than any mere
orator, alone could have produced. never witnessed
such sense relief in the publir mimi Hc hal drawn
from the dark cloud the lightning which seemed ready
to hurt ON the country. Bat Tor tbs effort should
thcn nrpav have had. with what result cannot he
Known the collision which occurred dozen years later
of those resembling Mr.. Webster ia the lar-cne-s and
nowcr of tlcir thoughts. can recall remark
,hlr a. & o % McDufc once asked Col VIM G. Pres
ION nf sifh roliua whom hc regarded as the