Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-13

pluOus anu ~ VIII v MeSHAASSHe
one.
Sketches Of the Prominent
Southern Debaters.
Correspondence Nashville Americana
WASHINGTON, May3.-The Kellogg
and Spotford debate has already deyel-
oped the fact that the fresh and new
men from the south are a match for
the ~tallest on either side in the realm
of debate. So far there have been no
speeches made by any one else except
southern senator's. No voice has been
heard in reply from even a republican.
1t is true they have dealt very bounti'
fully in their tactics of interrupting
speakers by interrogatories. In this
programme they have made but little
capital. Bailey led off. He was
followed by Vance, and he by Vest.
1t is well known that the senate is a
very staid and solemn body. In it
for years, it was about as much as a
new senator's life was worth to get up
and speak during his first term. Eli
quette and conventionalism and ira
diiion said for him to sit up prim and
owlish in his seat, and observe how
things were done. Noticeably, the
first infraction of this law of this
august tribunal was committed by
that fiery aud impassioned orator,
Daniel Wolsey Voorhees,. | heard
that effort, and it was a ringing and
stirring appeal for the reconciliation
of silver. 1t was widely circulated.
Perhaps more copies of that speech
we're sent to the people than any
speech of our day,
John I. Morgan, a man born at
Athens, in McMinn county, Tenn,
and now representing Alabama
in the senate, committed the next in
fraction of the ancient rule, and shot
to the zenith at once as a star of the
first magnitude. His speech brought
him into a long controversy With Ed
munds, by all odds the intellect of the
republican party. Morgan routed him
and did it in the best OF ityie.
The next man to follow suit was
Bailey, ofTennessee. Like Voorhees,,
he ''heshed his maiden sword" in the
great silver debate. Ever since that
day he has been ranked among the
first of the really great lawyers of the
senate. 1t is already known that he
was selected to open this Kellogg and
Spofford debate, on account of his
ability as a lawyer and his conserva-
tism Of bearing, thought and tempera-
ment.
The next example is furnished by
Vance, of North Carolina. The other
day he literally forced Kellogg to fly
the senate chamber, like another
Cataline, under the merciless whip Of
his ridicule and sarcasm. 1t was
while unfolding the mysteries of the
cipher dispatches Kellogg had used
while stealing his seat that Vance
caused the flight of Kellogg. The
latter had asked Vance a question or
so, showing that he had found out
that the North Carolinian had got
hold of the key to unlock his tele-
grams. In reply Vance put it so hot
for the cipher fraud that he left, and
as be left Vance brought ae#n the
house by saying:
'He smiled o kind Of sickly smile and curled
upon the floor,
And the subsequent proceedings interested
him no more"
This was not as classical as the
memorable "abiit erupit," ETC., of
Cicero, but it was more humorous
and exactly suited to the calibre and
make up Of the usurping carpet Dagger
from New Orleans.
The next infraction was by Vest, of
Missouri. Twice be has made set
speeches during his first session.
Both times he made decided hits.
The other day he kept the chamber in
such an outburst of laughter that the
presiding officer threatened to clear
the galleries.
The last notable example is the
of the Hon. Luke Pryor, from
the state Of Alabama. Ills speech.
yesterday. was listened to with marked
attention by the leaders of the senate.
Bayard, in making some additional
historical statements TO the speech,
characterized the effort as exceedingly
able. This example of Mr.. Pryor is
the most noted one of all the Others,
but shows, in connection with them,
what a glorious school the practice of
All of these men were trained be-
fore the juries and courts of the south.
that no sooner did they appear in the
senate than they We're found to be
matches for the veterans of that body.
But my reason for saying that Mr..
Pryors example is the most noted of
any Of these illustriOus ones, is simply
lie never occupied any political
position whatever before he came to
the senate. Perhaps in his growing
up like unto all the great men of the
country, he participated in the DELHI
erations of a debating society, after
the adjournment of the "Old field"
school. If he had no experience in
that line, he is absolutely barren
of any parliamentary history up TO
his advent in the senate of the United
State as the successor of George Smith
Houston.
Death Of the Editor or fhe To-
rOnfO Globe.
TORONTO. ONT, May Sat 9
oiclock thig morn;no II o.