The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-07-08
ORATORS OF OTHER DAYS.
THE MEN WHOSE ELO0UENCE WAS
HEARD IN CONGRESS-.


Den Perley Poorc, in the Chautauqunn.)
Patrick Henry, the great Virginia ora
tor, called i'll his day "tho Dcmosthcncs
of America" is dccribcd as having been
nearly seven feet high, with slight
stoop of tho shoulders, his complexion
dark, sunburncd and sallow, his fore
head high, his blucish- gray eyes over
hung by heavy eyebrows, and his mouth
and chin indicative of tirmness. His
delivery was natural and well timed, and
his manners were digniiicd He spoke
with great dclibcration, mover recalling
or rccasting sentences as he went along,
nor substituting q word for n better one.
His voice was not remarkable for it's
sweetness, but it was firm, and no never
indulgcd in continuous and dcafcning
Vocjfcrntion. Every schoolboy is familiar
with his wonderful appeal to Congress to
offer armed resistance to Great Britain,
ending, 'Givc INC liberty, or give me
DEATH"
Richard Henry Lee, measured by the
classic standard of orntory, was the
Cicero Of the Continental Congress- The
cultivated graccs of his rhetoric, wo arc
told, received and reflected beauty by
their contrast with his colleagues grand
er cffusions, his polished periods rolling
along without effort and filling the ear
with the most exquisite harmony.
Samuel Adams, of Massachusetts,, who
had been known as ''thc great inccn-
diary' i'll New England politics, became
the guiding intellect Of the Congress.
Yet it docs not appear that either he or
his colleagues took a prominent part in
the debatcs-wise counscls, perhaps, ac-
complishing as much as eloqucnce. He
was at that time fifty years of age, and
his form was slightly bowed, while his
long locks were gray, but his clear blue
eyes flashed with the fire of youth, and
courage was stamped on every feature.
Alexander Hamilton, of New York,
small i'll stature, possessed mind Of I'M
mense grasp and unlimited original re-
sources, Of such rapid thought that he
by n species of intuition. He would
catch the principle involved in discus
sion rs if by instinct, and adhere rigidlv
to that, quito sure that thereby the de-
tails were certain to be right. Rufus
King, one Of his colleagues, was the pos
SCISSOR of an uncommonly vigorous mind,
highly cultivated by study, and he
spoke with dignity, conciscness and
force. His arguments wcrc SO logically
arranged that as they had convinced him
they carried conviction to others.
John Rutlcdge, of South Carolina,
was probably the most cultivated orator
i'll the Continental Congress. His ideas,
Ramsey tells us, wore clear and strong,
his uttcrancc rapid but distinct; his
voice, action and energetic manner Of
speaking forcibly impressed his senti-
mcnts on the minds and hearts of all
who heard him. At reply he was quick,
instantly comprchcnding the force of IN
objection and seeing at once the best
mode OF weakening or rCpClling it.
During the first fifty years Of the OK
lStcncc of the 'iScnatc and House of
| Representatives in Congress Assembled, "
under the Constitution, there were no
verbatim reporters, and the Congrcssion-
al orators poured forth their breathing
thoughts and burning words III polished
| and eloquent language. Business was
transacted Ill conversational manner,
and when set speeches were occasionally
made they were listened to with attcn-
tion. The first written speech read in
the United States Senate was by the
Hon. Isaac Hill, of Now Hampshire, a
firm supporter Of Gen. jackson. When
about half through he suddenly lost the
thread OF his discourse and stopped, evil
IDENTIFY embarrassed. His wife, who sat
i'll the gallery almost directly over him,
cOmprchcndcd the situation, and said in
II voice heard all over the Senate Cham
Der, "Nlr. Hill, you've turned over two
leaves at once" He immediately cor
rectcd his mistake and proceeded with
his remarks amid roar of laughter.
Daniel Webster was not an cxtcmpo-
rancOus speaker, aud he always prepared
himself with great care for his speeches
in the Senate and his arguments before
the Supreme Court Always careful
about his personal appearance when he
was to address an audience, he used,
after he had reached the zenith of his
fame, to wear the costume Of the British
Whigs-a blue dress-coat with bright
buttons, n buff waistcoat, black trousers,
and high, white cravat, with q stand
ing shirt collar. A man of commanding
presence, with q well knit, sturdy frame,
swarthy features, broad, thoughtful
forehead, courageous eyes cleaning from
beneath shaggy eyebrows, q Quandpng-
ular breadth of jaw-bonc, and mouth
which bespoke strong will, he stood like
a sturdy RoundhcNd sentinel on guard
before the gates of the Constitution
Holding in profound contempt what is
termed spreNd-cagle orr tory, his only
gcsticulations were up-and- down motions
Of his right arm, as if he was beating out
with sledge hammers his forcible ideas.
Henry Clay was formed by nature for
n popular orator. He was tall and thin,
with rather small head and gray eyes.
His nose was straight, his upper lip long
and his under jaw light. His mouth; Of
generous width, straight when he was
silent, and curving up at the corners as
he spoke or smiled, was singularly win
ming. Whom he enchanted large audi
cnccs his features were lighted up by a
pleasing smile, the gestures of his long
arms were graceful, and the gentle
accents Of his mellow voice were pcrsua-
sivo and winning. or terrible in anger.
His friends were legion, and they clung
to him with undying affection, while his
antagonists never made peace with him.
John Quincy Adams wrote in his diary
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