San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-01-04
nylTORS AND ORATORY.


The greatest Orutor VI IniS country-
patrick Henry, perhaps, excepted-says
prof William Mathews, in his new
hook on "Orators and Oratory," all
think, was Henry Clay. Prof. Math-
.vs gives some personal "reminiscences
oftbe great debate between Clay and
Jobu G. Calhoun Witnessed during u
visit to Washington in 1910, when the
New Jersey question was before the
bouse The discussion grew so violent
,bot members shook their fists at each
other; invitations to pistols and coffee
we're given, and, to prevent a tumult,
the house adjourned.
AGREAT SCENE IN THE SENATE.
Proceeding to the senate Prof. Math-
ev,s attention was at once arrested by
a voice that seemed like the music of
the spheres. It came from tho lips of
a talH well-formed man with wide
mouth, flushing eye and a counte-
nance that revealed every thought with
in His voice was one of extraordinary
compass, melody and power. There
was not one word Of rant, not one tone
of vocifcration in the very climax Of
his passion. He spoke deliberately,
and his outpouring of denunciation was
rs slow and steady as the tread of Ne
mesis He gesticulated all over. AS
he spoke he stepped backward and for
ward with effect; and the nodding of
his head. hung on long neck-his
arms, hands, fingers, feet and even his
spectacles and blue handkerchief aided
him in debate 1t was Henry Clay ell
gagged in a hand-to-hand struggle with
another giant of the senate, John G..
Calhoun.
Clay had just tainted him with n
rumor that he had left the opposition
ranks and struck hands with the admin
istration. He (Mr. Clay would like
to know what compromises had been
made between the honorable senator
from South Carolina and the Kinder
hook fox" (meaning President Van
BUREN,.
Calhoun replied: "No man ought to
be more tender on the subject of COM
promises than the honorable senator
from Kentucky" Then, abiding to
the compromise effectedby Clay in the
notification crisis of 1910, he added {:
"The senator from Kentucky was flat
on his back. repeat it, sir, the sena-
tor was fiat on his back, and couldn't
move. Iwrote home to my friends in
South Carolina half dozen letters,
saying that the senator from Kentucky
was flat on his back and couldn't move.
I was his master on that occasion. /
repeat it, sir, was his master on that
occasion. He went to my school. He
learned of me-"
The two antagonists sat at the ex-
IRENE ends OF the semi-circular rows OF
seats-Calhoun sitting in the front row,
on the presidents right, Clay i'll the
rear row, on his left. "The honorable
senator from South Carolina" said
Clay, says that I was flat on my back,
and that he wrote home to his friends
in South Carolina stating that I was
flat on my back and couldn't move
Admirable evidence, this, in a court OF
law! First make an assertion, then
quote your own letters to prove it!
But the honorable senator says that he
was my master on that occasion!" AS
be said this the speaker advanced
down the aisle, directly in front OF
Calhoun, and pointing to him with his
quivering finger, said, in tones in which
were concentrated the utmost scorn
and defiance, ''He my master! He my
MASTER" he continued in louder tones,
with his finger still pointed, and re-
treating backward, while his air and
manner indicated the intensest abhor-
renee. He my master!' he a third
time cried, raising his voice to a still
higher KEY, while he retreated backward
to the very lobby; then, suddenly chang
ing his voice from trumpet peal to al
most whisper, which yet was distinctly
audible in every nook and corner of the
senate chamber, he added "Sir, / would
not own him for my slave A hush OF