The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-07-07
ORATORS OF OTHER DAYS.
THE MEN WHOSE ELOQUENCE WAS
HEARD IN CONGRESS-.

| -. brentlss.
(Den. Perley Poorc, in the Chautauquan.)
Patrick Henry, tho great Virginia ora,
tor, called in his day "the Demosthenes
of America" is decribed as having been
nearly seven feet high, with u slight
stoop of the 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 firmncss. His
delivery was natural and we'll timed, and
his manners were dignifcd. He spoke
with great dcliberation, never recalling
or recasting sentences as he went along,
nor substituting word for better one
His voice was not remarkable for its
sweetness, but it was firm, and he never
lndulgcd in continuous and dCafening
vocfcration. Every schoolboy is familiar
with his wonderful appeal to Congress to
offer armed resistance to Great Britain,
ending, "Give me liberty, or give me
death"
Richard Henry Lee, measured by the
classic standard of oratory, was the
Cicero of the Continental Congress. The
cultivated graces of his rhetoric, VIC are
told, received and reflected beauty by
their contrast with his colleagues grand
or illusions, his polished periods rolling
along without effort and filling the car
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 tho Congress.
Yet it docs not appear that either he or
his colleagues took II prominent part in
the dcbatcs-wiso counscls, perhaps, nc
complishing as much as cloqucncc. 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 tho fire Of youth, and
courage was stamped on every feature
Alexander Hamilton, of New York,
small i'll stature, possessed mind Of i'm
mcnsc grasp and unlimited original re-
sources, of such rapid thought that he
seemed at times to reach his conclusions
by n species of intuition. He would
catch the principle involved in discus
sion as if by instinct, and adhere rigidly
to that, quite sure that thereby the de-
tails were certain to be right Rufus
SCISSOR of IN uncommonly vigorous mind,
highly cultivated by study, and he
spoke with dignity, conciscncss and
force. His arguments were 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
in the Continental Congress. His ideas,
Ramsey tells us, were clear and strong,
his uttcranco rapid but distinct; his
voice, action and energetic manner of
speaking forcibly impressed his scnti-
ments on the minds and hearts of all
who heard him. At reply he was quick,
instantly comprehending tho force Of an
objection and seeing at once the best
mode OF weakening or repelling it,
During the first fifty years of the OK
istcncc of the "Scnatc and House of
Representatives in Congress Assembled, "
under the Constitution, there were no
verbatim reporters, and the Congrcssion-
nj orators poured forth their breathing
thoughts and burning words in polished
and eloquent language. Business was
transacted III conversational manner,
and when set speeches were occasionally
made they were listened to with atten-
tlon. The first written speech read in
tho United States Senate was by the
Hon. Isaac Hill, of New Hampshire, n
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
in the gallery almost directly over him,
| cOmprehcnded tho situation, and said in
voice heard all over the Senate Cham
Der, "Nlr. Hill, you've turned over two
leaves Mt once" He immediately cor
rccted his mistake and proceeded with
his remarks amid roar of laughter.
Daniel Webster was not an cXtompo-
raneous speaker, aud he always prepared
himself with great care for his speeches
i'll 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-coa with bright
buttons, n buff waistcoat, black trousers,
and high, white cravat, with stand
ing shirt collar. a man of commanding
presence, with a well knit, sturdy frame,
swarthy features, q broad, thoughtful
forehead, courageous eyes cleaning from
beneath shaggy eyebrows, quandrang-
ular breadth of jaw-bone, and a mouth
which bespoke strong will, he stood like
n sturdy Roundhcad sentinel on guard
before tho gates of the Constitution.
Holding in profound contempt what is
termed sproad-eagle orr tory, his only
gcsticulations were up-and- down motions
o. his right arm, as il he was beating out
With slcdge hammers his forcible ideas.
Henry Clay was formed by nature for
a popular orator. He was tall and thin,
with q, rather small head and gray eyes.
His nose was straight, his upper lip long
and his under jaw light. His mouth, OF
generous width, streight when he was
silent, and curying mp at the corners as
he spoke or smiled, was singlllarly win
ming. When he enchanted large audi
encos his features were lighted up by a
pleasing smile, the gestures of his long
arms were graceful, and tho gentle
fccents of his mellow voice were porsua-
siye and winning, or terrible In anger.
His friends were legion, aud they clnng
to him with undying affection, while his