The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-11-02
Senatorial Orators.

David Davis, perhaps, more tnan
any other Senator, INDUCES in man
uscript, preparing even five min
ute speech with great care. This is
his inhexible rule, and has been
since he entered public life. After
he delivers his speeches, or rather
after he reads them, he hands his
manuscript to Mr. Murphy, the SEN
ate stenographer, who sends it to
the Government Printing Office.
The compositors never have any
anathemas for the Judges writing.
which is large, distinct and full of
character.
Edmunds never uses notes, and
once speech is out OF his mouth
he dosen't bother his head about it.
During all the years he has been in
the Senate he has not revised a sin
gle speech. He turns everything in
his mind beforehand, and never ris-
es to address the Senate without
having weighed in the scales of his
great mind what he intends to say.
Ben Hill will speak for three
hours without a scrap Of paper. The
only preparation he makes is mark
ing references or passages in this
book or that. | have seen him time
and again thunder away for two
hours without stopping even for a
glass of water. He revises his
lspeeches however makes additions
and corrections in clear hand,
much like that of college boy, and
gives the printers little trouble with
| his proof. Hill has an astounding
memory, and no man in public life,
except Edmunds, has such imper-
4 durability. The only man who
could well worry Hill or excite his
wrath in debate was the late Matt
Carpenter. How it tickled Carpen-
ter to put some adroit question at
the Georgian and get him confused i;
la hard thing to do at any time,
but Carpenter otter succeeded. And
it was more the result of an irresist-
able propensity for fun than any,
thing else, for never was man who
had less malice than Matt Carpenter.
Another Senator who. like Ed
munds, never revised a speech, was
Thurman. Occasionally he spoke
from manuscript, but the stencgra-
pher took down every word he said,
as the old gentleman would forget
his manuscript and drift into extern
porary eloquenee. Thurman though
never a graceful speaker, was always
forcible. He was beyond all doubt
the ablest Of the Democrats and their
leader from the time he entered the
Senate.
Bayard works hard at his speech
es and though he writes them out
and follows his manuscript closely
he reyises after proof is taken. He
makes few changes, however, but
holds the proof often until ? o'clock
in the morning, as he spends his
evening generally in social circles.
He is good penman, writing 4 me-
dium sized running hand.
! Lamar is q great reviser, cuts
proof into tatters, writes a horrible
hand, and tries the soul OF a print
er. Occasionally he goes down to
the Government Printing Office to
look after his speeches, which, when
published, are vastly different from
the stenographer's report OF them.
Senator Conkling seldom made a
correction of his utterances in the
Senate Chamber. He is perhaps the
best extemperaneous speaker in the
United States, and even his remarks
in running debates are splendid in
dices of his great ability. During
the extra session of the Fortv-sixth
Congress he delivered q speech on
the Army Appropriation Bill with
out note, papers, book. or reference
OF any kind. When the Vice Pres
ident announced ''the Senator from
New York, up rose the stately form
of Roscoe Conlsling. Never before
or since had Senator such an audi
ence. He spoke for four hours. Be-
/ fore the adjournment OF the Senate
10000 copies Of his speech. had
been Subscribed for. Every print
ing establishment in Washington
sent to the Senate its lowest estimate
In q very short time Oyster, one of
the best living typos and foreman of
the Congressional Record, had a
proof of the great speech ready. He
took it up to Wormley's about 9
o'clock in the morning and asked
for Senator Conkling. "He is not
up vet,p said the private secretary
''the Senator breakfasts about II !;
however, as you are in hurry and
want to see after the speech, shall
call him." ''Tell Mr. Oyster to come
in-ah how do you do, Mr. Oys-
ter ?'' and Lord Chesterfield never
was more polite than was Senator
Conkling in his night shirt. After
rubbing his eyes he looked at the
proof. made few changes and
struck out the Hon. before Roscoe
Conkling. You will never find it
prefixed to his name in any speech
intended for general distribution
After he received the speech he wrote
his thanks, very kindly, to Foreman
Oyster, as follows
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER.
May, 7, 1869.
My DEAR SIR II beg you to re-
ceive my thanks for the bound
speech and for your kindness
throuhout. l am glad to have
made your acquaintance and trust
| may know you better in future.
Cordially yours,
RoscoE CoyKLrNG.
Z. W. OYSTER. ESQ.
The present Secretary of State,
when a member of the Senate, used
to look carefully after his speeches,
which for the most part, were made
from ''headlongs." Probably there
never was in the United States Sen
ate man who needed less prepara-
ration than James G.. Blaine. He
is infalliable in history and impreg-
nable in debate. His memory of
facts and faces is absolutely wonder
ful. He can begin with William the
lConqueror and give you the name