Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-09-04


his fuo figure and priucely air, when speak
ing, was like that of vivid flash in tho
midst of darkness. What Paganini was in
music that Webster was in oratory, the ono
charmed Europe with ono string, tho other
electrified multitudcs with his eloqucnoo.
Io once complained to mo of the wrongs
done him by tho reporters, but in vain; tho
world would read whatever bore his honored
name, aud the grub worms were ever ready
to crafty the desire BY fragments Of rathcr
caricatures of his mighty cloqucncc. His
speeches indicate the powers Of the great
autbor-.thcy nre lofty but not impassioned,
correct but not fluent. Henry Clay was
every inch patriot aud an orator. l heard
him on British aggression. Never certainly
had l ever beheld 30 powerful an exhibition
of natural oratory. The grace of tho atti-
tudes into which ho threw his flexible figure,
tho striking gestures of his arms, and,
above all, the fire which shot from his bril-.
liant eyes, impaired an effect to the coutinu-
ally charming accents Of, his voice of which
the most accomplished actor may be proud.
A. ouo moment leaning forward when stat
ing circumstantially the grievances of which
tho nation complained, and then standing
bolt upright, with clenchcd hands and a
countcnanco distorted With passion, hc
poured out tide Of invcctvcs. The effect
on his audience was clcctric-onc on all,
they stood regarding him with sparkling
eyes aud trembling limbs, as though they
were listening to the inspired voice of
prophet. Henry Clay was the greatest
actor off the stage Calhoun was tho faso
rite of tho South. Morally, he is to be
rated higher than either Webster or Clay.
He was keen in tho observation of what.
ever was minute. lie was attracted by the
lofty aud ideal. Similarity, resemblance,
pictures and analysis caught his eye. They
wcro seized aud secured aud thrown down
upon his page in gorgeous groups and splcn
did colorngs. His logic was compressed
and concealed; the train of reasoning ho
seemed to be pursuing might be clear and
continuous to his own mind; all its facts
logically articulatcd from cnd to end; but it
Under Sfouua, that showed itself now and
then, or BY succession of openings and
jets, the ono apparently deep, tho other light
and sparkling. He was distinguished for
his power of condensation. Metaphors,
tropcs and figures Of all kinds were never
found i'll his speeches. Ills cloqucnce and
and logic set on fire. I heard him on one
Of his alterations with Clay. l was sur
priscd that Mr.. CuIhoun's cloqucncc did
not produce tho least reply. 1t felt like a
thundcrbolt upon an iceberg, glanced along,
hisscd and vas cxtinguishcd"
Jefferson Davis, Yancy, Brock enridgc
aud Toombs, whose names ho mentioned, as
well as set of equally prominent men in
the North, Gen. Ice characterized as "poli.
ticians," and "they," said he, drought on
the war" He went on to say: II was
opposed to the war at the outset. I wcpt
when heard of tho bombardmcnt of Fort
Sumtcr sought retirement so that
might not hear or sec any Of the political
leaders, the great end and aim Of whose
craftsmanship was to precipitato the havoc
that subsequently swept their fields and
cities. But when Virginia, my native
State, seeded, there was only one course
for mo to pursue, namely, to follow her
fortunes"
| Sr0NEWALL JACKSON.
Referring to the great loss sustained by
tho Confcdcracy in the death of Stoncwall
Jack son, Gen. Lee remnrkcd
"ln surprise marches and in the art Of
creating the resources Of war, Jackson far
surpassed the level Of his age, and rose to q
comparison with Hannibal and Napoleon,
the TWO greatest commanders of ancient
and modern times. In every relation OF
private and public life his character was
perfect. The South has produced some
ablo soldiers, and n few in point of military
talent were his equals, but it cannot and
never cou!d boast of one moro beloved, not
by personal friends alone, but by every
solder and officer that served under him.
His dispatches, even when announcing the
grandcst success, were brief statements of
facts unvarnished; many such passages aa
this would occur:
"'Wo arc about to open the campaign
havc prayed earnestly to God that ho will
enable mo to pass through it ia His fea,
knowing no greater earthly blessing than to
have conscience at case in the discharge
of duty"
left tho presence of Gen. Lee i'm
pressed with tho consciousness that pride
hatred, revenge had no place in his noble
nature, and that having lowered his colors
and sheathcd his sword, ho wos fully enti-
tied to the respect and consideration of the
gallant aoldicr to whom he surrendered. II
is needless for mo to say that, 10 my opin-
ion, had ho lived, he would fully have up
hold in tho most distinguished manner the
union Of the States, the reconciliation Of all
classes, and tho prosperity and happiness Of
tho entire country. Formost amongst the
Confcdcratcs, and first in peace, Gen. Lee
was not only chivalrous gentleman, but
ho was cmincntly Christian. In al, his
| oots hp waa pi ftoI with On roro n bin nooo