The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-10-26
SENATORIAL ORATORS.
a Description ofthe Methodist Of Some Of
our Distinguished Senators.

David Davis, perhaps, more than any
other senator. INDUCES in manuscript, pre-
pairing even Q five minute speech with great
care. This is his infezible rule, and has
been since he entered public life. After he
delivers his speeches, or rather reads them,
he hands his manuscript to Mr. Murphy, the
senate stenographer, who sends it to the
government printing Office. The compost
tors never have any anathemas for the
Judges writing, which is large, distinct,
and full Of character.
Edmuuds never uses notes, and once q
speech is out Of his mouth, he doesn't bother
his head about it. During all the years he
has been ID the senate, he has not revised a
single speech. He turns everything in his
mind before hand, and never rises to address
the senate without having weighed in the
scales of his great mind what he intends say
ing.
Ben Hill will speak for three hours with
out a scrap of paper. The only preparation
he makes is marking references and passa-
ges 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 reyises his speeches, however; makes ad-
ditions and corrections ina clear hand,
much like that of q college boy, and gives
the printers little trouble with bis proof. Hill
has an astounding memory, and no man in
public life, except Edmunds, has such i'm
perturbability. The only man who could
well worry Hill or excite his wrath in debate
was the late Matt Carpenter. How it tickled
Carpenter to put some adroit question at the
Georgian and get him confused Ia hard
thing to do st any time, but Carpenter often
succeeded. And it was more the result Of
an irresistible propensity for fun than any
thing else, for never was man who had less
m lice than Matt Carpenter.
He had a heart as big as a mountain. He
was exceedingly particular about his speech
es when they were upon legal questions. AT
ter he got the proof from the foreman Of the
Record he would hack it to pieces, send the
corrected proof back, get the second, and
treat it in a like manner. His writing was
characteristic, hard to read-a rollicking,
harum-scarum sort Of a fst-and q study to
the printers. He used to say: s.The short
est road is the best road when you're in a
hurry; and though. he could write a fine, full
round hand, he dashed off everything at
lightning speed.
Another senator who, like Edmunds, never
revised his speech was Thurman. Occasion
ally he spoke from manuscript, but the stem
.ographer took down every word he said, as
the old gentleman would forget his manu-
script and drift into extemporary %eloquence.
Thurman, though never q 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 speeches, and
though he writes them out and follows his
manuscript closely, he Teyises after proof is
taken. lie makes few changes, however,
holds the proof very often until 2 o'clock
in the morning, as he spends his evenings
generally in social circles. He is a good pen
man, writing q mediam sized running hand.
Lamar is a great reviser, cuts proof into
.tatters, writes a horrible hand, and tries the
soul OF s printer. Occasionally he goes
down to the government printing Office to
look after his speeches, which, when pub
ished, are vastly different from the steno-
grapher's report of them.
Senator ConkllDg seldom made a correction
ot his utterances ia the senate chamber. He
perhaps the best eXtempOraneOus speaker
u the United States, and even his remarks in
debate are splendid indices Of great
ability. During the extra session OF the
FortY-slxth .congrsss So he delivered q speech
9 the army appropriation bill without
hhote, papers, or book, or reference OF any
Kind. When the Vice-President announced
ssthe senator from New York" up rose the
form OF Roscoe Conkling. Never pc
fore or since had senator such al audience.
smoke for four hours. Before the adj
of the senate 10000 copies OF
She speech had been subscribed for.
Of all the senators, Conkling writes the
b An hand--large, easy, graceful, and leglble.
u il signat, Re, however, would be 9 study 20
aray one not acquainted with it..
Voorhees, prepares his speeches carefully
i revises moderately. He is one OF the
fa VI. very few, men who use manuscript u
s1ch q way that not q single oratorlcal grace
il diminished thereby. Whether this ls pc
canse he commits his speech well 70 memory
a. not we never could tell. We rather THINK
he does. But, with or without manuscript,
Voorhees, is an orator Of the first scnool. AS
q rnle. the very sight of manuscript III the
hands Of q speaker is enough g nerve one
Far 4 bore. Demosthenes was right Wnenzn &
eaid: AOratory is delivery--dellvery-dellYe
ry:' and delivery is kindled BY manuscript.
Jones, Of Florida, always Q mart s.uusn.'
labors diligently at q set speech. HE'S pas.
sionately fond of Edmund Burke, and knows
his7works as we never knew any o.ner s