Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-08-26

apathy, cautious without being dilatOry,
patient without being dispirited, person.
ally brave, but never rash. Judged by
Napoleon's test, who did all that? he
is, in my opinion, among the most sue
cessful of the Federal officers who have
played a prominent part in the history
of the war;" In the course of conver-
sation he spoke Of Sheridan as most
brilliant and magnetic commander.
Then as we talked of the causes of the
war we drifted to the old statesmen.
General Lee referred despondingly to
the nations lack of statesmen. Speaking
of Webster he said: ~ never saw a
more striking object than Webster in
| the Senate. The effect of his fine figure
and princely air, wlen speaking, was
like that of livid flash in the midst of
darkness. What Paganini was in music
that Webster was in oratory; the one
charmed Europe with one string, the
other electrified multitudes with his elo-
|
quence. He once complained to me of
the wrongs done him by the reporters !;
but in vain the world would read what
ever bore his honored name, and the
grub worms were ever ready to crafty
the desire by fragments or rather carica-
lures Of his mighty eloquence. His
speeches indicate the powers Of the greac
orator-they are lofty but not impas-
stoned, correct but not fluent. Henry
Clay was every inch Il patriot and an
orator. heard him on British aggles-
sion, Never certainly had | ever beheld
SO powerful an exhibition Of natural or
atory. The grace of the attitudes into
which he threw his flexible figure, the
striking gestures of his arms, and, above
all, the fire which shot from his brilliant
eyes, impaired an effect to the continu-
y-changng pccents of his voice, of
which the most accomplished actor
might be proud. AT one moment lean
ing forward when stating cireumstan-
tally the grievances of which the nation
complained, and then standing bolt up
right, with clenChcd hands aud coun-
tenance distorted with passion, he pour
ed out Il tide of invectiyes. The effect
on his audience w0s electric-one and
all they stood regarding him with spark
ling eyes and trembling lmbs, as though
they were listening TO the inspired voice
of prophet. Henry Clay was the
greatest actor of the stage. Calhoun
was the flyorlc of the South. Morally,
he is to be rated higher than either Web
ster or Clay. He was keen in the oh
sCrvation Of whatever was minute. He
was attracted by the lofty and ideal
Similarity, resemblance, pictures aud
analysis caught his cyc Vhcy were
seized and secured and thrown down
upon his page in gorgeous groups and
splendid coloring. His logic was cont
pressed aud concealed; III, train of roa-
sonhg he seemed to be pursuing might
be clear and continuous TO his own mind;
all It's facts logically milculaicd from
end to end; but il was only indicated to
the audience, It was like u stream Of wa
ter working its way under ground that
showed itself now and then, or by u sue
cession of openings and iets, tho one APP
parently deep the other light and spark
ling. lie was distinguished for his pow
er of condensation. Metaphors, tropes
and figures Of all kinds were never found
In his speeches. Ills eloqucnCe and log
lc set ON fire. ! heard him In one of his
alterations with Clay. was surprised
that Mr.. Calhoun's eloQuencc did not
produce the least reply. 1t fell like
thunderbolton mn iceberg, glanced along,
Kissed and was oXtlnguished,"
Jefferson Davis, Yanccy, Breckenridge
and Toombs, whose name he mentioned
as well as n set Of equally prominent
men in the North, General Lee charac-
terl2ed as "politlcions," and they said
he "brought ON the war;" He went on
to say: al was opposed TO the war at
the outset. wcpt when heard the
bombardmcnt ut Fort Sumptcrl sought
retirement 30 that might not hear or
see any of the political leaders, the great
end and aim Of whose craftsmanship was
TO prectpllato the havoc that subsequent
~ swept their fields and cities. But
when Virginia, my native state, seced-
cd, there was only one course for me to
pursue, namely, to follow her fortunes"