The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-16

peated to us sentence by sentence n
told whence they came. 1t is so long
ago we have forgotten all but that
striking expression full high a
ed" which is from the peerless John
Milton. Hayn vas a greater and
more effective orator, and full of mag
netism and emotion. Webster was SOL
emn. sonorous, cold. General Cling
man told us Of a very able speech he
heard from Webster in the senate. A
distinguished, eloquent western man,
then in the house. but afterwards in
the senate, after hearing it, turned TO
our friend and said-"And that is the
great Webster. l be id If he were to
make that speech in any town in my
state if he did not empty the house."
General Clingman said that in fact 1T
was the most animated speech he ever
heard fall from Webster. General c.
was a prodigicus admirer Of Webster.
AS we mentioned recently several
northern publications n public men
gave the victory to Hayne at the time.
There were two speeches made by
| Webster. Hayne replied to the first
/ JIG. "A Z 40
the Charlotte Observer by Mr.. NJ. G..
Adams, a staunch believer in Web
ster's superiority, a this that shows
he finds points of admiration in the
mastery southron:
1T is conceded by the most partisan
historian of this significant combat
that when Hayne delivered his speech
the north was deeply downcast and
gravely doubted the ability of any
man to answer him successfully; that
when Webster had entered the lists and
laid about him with such e~lephantine
strokes the northerners paced Penn
sylvania avenue with a more beaming
countenance n a more manly stride
"Hayne was as superior to Webster
in copiOus, dazzling defamation as
Webster was superior to Hayne in in
tellect. 1t will be noticed hat Colonel
Thompson doesn't say that Hayne was
the victor in the debate; indeed, his
words intimate the opposite; he seems
to make oratory and defamation
'Hayne was by far the superior Of
Webster for genuine and superb ora
tory if he means genuine and superb
defamation, his proposition will be ad-
mitted even by Webster's warmest
admirers. OF those oratorical qualities
lndl ldSCIIdIe anu SUI oil duUlcnCe
Hayne was the greater master. Even
the printed speeches show this. A cas-
ual reader, u~ninfiuenced by any out
side circumstances, would be more like
ly to read Haynes speech through than
Websters. / personally know
northern boys who are as.ardent ad-
mirerS of Hayne, one of whom propos-
ed that he would memoriZe Haynes
speech if l would memorize Webster's.
We did so; and after a prolonged stud
and analysis of the two speeches; af-
ter rival declarations off the famous
passages, we were both more than ever
confirmed in our former preferences"
We have a great admiration for Web
ster's speeches. They read better than
those of any other American. Webster
was not the equal of Calhoun in logical
force and analysis, but more rhetorical.
The truth is there are a great many
passages in Webster of lofty n COM
manding ~eloquence. He was a close
student of the greatest of all philoso-
phical statesman, Edmund Burke, the
grand Irish orator. He some times
borrowed. A distinguished Presbyte-
rian clergyman told us of a letter his
father received from Webster. AS we
recall it, it was this He wrote that
in some speech he was to make he de-
sired to devote a paragraph or so to a
succinct statement of the Bible, it's
teachings, etc. His father prepared
it with much care Che too was of emf
hence among Presbyterian ministers,)
and forwarded it. Webster delivered it
with no hint of help and it so appears
in his speeches, as we We're informed.