The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-09-17
ORATORS OF OTHER DAYS.
THE MEN WHOSE ELOQUENCE WAS HEARD
IN CONGRESS-.
Personal characteristics Of Patrick Henry
Hamilton -Webster-Cl.y-
-, and Sergeant S. Prentiss. -,

n, anu sergeant Sc PrenClSSs ~
Patrick Henry, the great Virginia ora
Tor, called ill his day "the Demosthenes
of America" is described as having been
nearly six feet high, with slight stoop
of the shoulders, his complexion dark,
sunburned and sallow, his forehead high,
his blueish gray eyes overhung by heavy
eyebrows, and his mouth and chin indie.
alive of tfrmness. His delivery was
natural and well-timed, and his manners
were dignifed. He spoke with great
deliberation, never recalling or recasting
sentences as he went along, nor subsi-
tuting q word for o better one. His voice
was not remarkable for its sweetness,
but it was firm, and he never INDUCED
in continuous and defeaning vociferation.
Every schoolboy is familiar with his
wonderful appeal to Congress to offer
armed resistance to Great Britain, end
ing, "Give me liberty, or give me DEATH"
Richard Henry Lee, measured by the
classic standard of oratory, was the
The cultivated graces of his rhetoric, we
are told, received and reflected beauty
by their contrast with his colleagues
grarder etfusions, 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 1.-THE great incen-
diary" in New England politics, became
the guiding intellect of the Congress.
Yet it does not appear that either he or
his colleagues took a prominent part in
the debates-wise counsels, perhaps,
accomplishing as much as eloquence.
He was at that time so 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 In stature, possessed a mind of
immense grasp and unlimited original
resources, of such rapid thought that he
seemed at times to reach his conclusions
by 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
details were certain to be right Rufus
King, one OF his colleagues, was the pos
SCISSOR of an nncommonly vigorous mind,
highly cultivated by study, and he spoke
with dignity, conciseness, and force.
His arguments were so logically arranged
that as they had convinced him they
carried conviction to others.
John Rutledge, of South Carolina, was
probably the most cultivated orator in
the Continental Congress. His ideas,
Ramsey tells us, were clear and strong,
his utterance rapid but distinct; his
voice. action, and energetic manner of
speaking forcibly impressed his senti-
ments on the minds and hearts of all who
heard him. At reply he WAS quick, in
stantly comprehending the force of an
objection and seeing at once the best
mode OF weakening or repelllng it.
During the first so years of the exist
ence OF the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives in Congress Assembled"
under the Constitution, there were no
verbatim reporters, and the Congress
slonal orators poured forth their breath.
ing thoughts and burning words in
polished and eloquent language. Bust
ness was transacted i'll conversational
manner and when set speeches were
occasional y made they were listened to
with attention. The first written speech
read In the United States Senate was bv
the Hon. Isaac HILL of New Hampshire,
q firm supporter of Gen. Jackson. When
about half through he suddenly lost the
thread of his discourse and stopped.
evidently embarrassed. His wife, who
sat in the gallery almost directly over
him, comprehended the situation and
said in voice heard all over the Senate
Chamber. "Mr. HILL you've turned over
two leaves at once" He Immediately
corrected his mistake and proceeded with
his remarks amid roar of laughter.
Daniel Webster was not an extempora-
neous speaker, and 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
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