GOV. MCDOWELL'S SPEECH.

Another writer speaks of the House as dissolved in tears.

General attention from the lower House of the American Congress, to its speakers, is, we are sorry to say, an unusual compliment, and an eloquent speaker who addressed the house some days before Mr. McDowell, thought it incumbent on him to pause in his remarks, and return his thanks for it; to suspend the hour rule, was to shew that they were in a transport-but to be dissolvtears! The lower House dissolved in

The greatest speech of these latter days, is that just delivered in Congress by Gov. McDowell. Governor McDowell we style him, after the fond and somewhat proud fashion we have in Virginia of continuing this designation to all who have once presided over the State, even after they have acquired for themselves national ranked in thus claiming for ourselves the lustre of their ce- tears! lebrity, and perhaps intimating that there is no that!" dignity superior to that of the chief magistracy of the Old Dominion.

Think of that, Master Brook, think of We have seen men shed tears in church, and sometimes in the jury box, but in a legislative body, never. We confess that we would The transcendent character of this effort has have been hardly as much surprised to hear that been established beyond the reach of criticism. the American Union had been dissolved into its Never have we read such unmitigated plaudits integers, as we were to hear that the American as have filled all our papers. The Washington Congress was dissolved in tears. The cool New correspondents seem to be almost insane. "It Englander-the haughty South Carolinian-the is the greatest speech of the season-it is the Texan Ranger from his ranche-the atra-bilious greatest ever delivered in either house of Con- Mississippian-the rough roarer from Arkansas, gress or any where else!—it is the greatest in blistering with their pearly drops the Congresthe English language-it has the power of Chat- sional documents on the desks before them! ham, the point of Sheridan, the polish of Addi-Well, it proves that our people have hearts, and son, the patriotism of Henry!!" &c., &c.

Now what does all this mean? Why, that the speech must be all this and more too if possible, to account for its having produced in the Hall of Representatives, a sensation, an excitement, a bouleversement, without a parallel in the history of American deliberative eloquence, and not surpassed by any thing which we have an account of, as happening elsewhere in ancient or modern times. An eye-witness, (a member of Congress,) thus describes the scene:

hearts in the right place; of which we never had any doubt,-and it proves another thing too, which many had begun to doubt, viz: that true eloquence is a reality, even in modern times. The face of society has changed so completely, that some are beginning to imagine that the heart of man has changed too. Chivalry has certainly gone, and Royalty seems to be going, and some talk as if Poetry was a humbug, and Eloquence a tradition—that because Macaulay writes such splendid prose, there is no room for Poetry-and "To-day the House went into Committee of because our most successful stump speakers minthe Whole on the State of the Union on the Post gle in equal parts conversational argument, pointOffice Appropriation Bill, and Mr. Turner hav-ed anecdote, and florid declamation, that there is ing made a speech against the Southern Address, no height above for the orator-that Demosthethe floor was taken by Gov. McDowell, for a nes, and Chatham, and Henry, if they could speech upon the question of a State government speak to an audience in the 19th century, would for California. At the conclusion of his hour, be obliged to curve in the swoop of their wings. the House, with one accord, called on him to But not so-man is in body, mind and moral naproceed, and he continued to occupy the atten- ture, the same being that God made him at first, tion of the Committee for three-fourths of an and ever will be. It is true, that men have not hour longer, in delivering perhaps the most elo- of late been much stirred by true eloquence, but quent and effective speech ever delivered in the it is because we have not had the orators to do it. Representatives' Hall. Many members were in The harp is silent as well when no master hand tears, and among them the Speaker of the House, sweeps the chords, as when the chords are bro(Mr. Winthrop,) more than once during the de- ken. But ever and anon, we have something to livery of his speech. For a quarter of an hour keep us from yielding to the melancholy convicafter he had concluded, so great was the sensation that the divine art of eloquence is gone. tion in the Hall, that no business was done..... This speech is an unimpeachable witness upon ........ “I never in my life heard such a speech as the point just now. that of Gov. McDowell. I will not attempt to describe it,' Mr. ——, a whig member, remarkd to me at its conclusion, when his face was still et with tears," &c. &c.

Nor is the notion which we are combatting merely a false speculation. It is hurtful in practice. Let men have low, creeping ideas of eloquence as an art, and our public speakers will

rapidly deteriorate. What the present style of of men their cherished idols, even a silversmith's popular speaking is, we have briefly indicated al- harangue is enough to make them cry out for the ready; and if this is to be held up as the best space of two hours, "Great is Diana of the and most effective style, our young men will Ephesians." But Gov. McDowell's speech was presently come to look upon any thing beyond as not made to a party, nor is it extolled by the one unreal, fantastic and unbecoming-ill suited to party more than by the other. Neither does it present affairs as the subtleties of Thomas Aqui- possess any thing of that ambiguousness which nas. Colleges will yield to the pressure, and the sometimes causes both sides to exclaim “a seestudies which have for their object the cultiva- ond Daniel come to judgment." It is a southern tion of some of the highest powers of the mind, speech, so far as it is allowable to designate truth together with the taste, and the power of ex-as sectional, and its doctrines can be acceptapression, will be set aside as not sufficiently prac-ble to the abolitionists only when they confess tical. But let it be understood that while clever, their sins, and what is harder their egregious effective popular speaking has its place, its merit folly. and its reward, there is a something above this, We are not then to look to any thing tempothat there is a mens divinior atque os magna so- rary or accidental connected with the delivery of naturum, and we shall see our men of real power, this speech for the secret of its unparalleled sucstriving for this real eloquence, and not as now, cess. We are shut up to the conclusion that its purposely under speaking themselves, from a sup-vis insita accomplished the wonder.

posed necessity of meeting the requirements of So much for the speech as spoken. Of its

character as such, one who had not the fortune to hear it can only speculate as we have done, taking as our basis the impression which by general consent it is agreed that it made. But as to the written speech, the case is different. We have it in our hands, we can read and read again— we can criticise, we can judge. As soon as the speech was delivered, and the mighty explosion of praise reverberated through the country, every one exclaimed almost simultaneously, "No speech in the world can sustain this weight of commendation ;-when it is published, every one must of necessity be disappointed." But the fact that such an opinion was universal, proved that it was erroneous; for it showed that all were prepared to make the proper allowance for the difference between a spoken and a published speech.

Nor let it be supposed that there was any thing special or accidental connected with this speech, which will go any distance in accounting for its marvellous effects. The subject was certainly a momentous one. There never was a great speech delivered upon any other than a great subject, as from the nature of the case there never could be. Hercules himself could put forth no more strength than another man in lifting up a pin. The subject was surely great, but other distinguished Indeed almost every one has so often verified speakers had spoken upon it, and by their efforts this difference for himself, that nothing is more had gained great praise in the papers and else- familiar. We read the thunders of Demosthewhere; but we observe of them all, that when nes against Philip, and the invectives of Cicero the Speaker's hammer fell, they were allowed to against Cataline with admiration certainly, but take their seats. By-the-bye, the greatest speech without emotion. Such fragments as have been before Mr. McDowell's in point of time, and the preserved of Lord Chatham's speeches are grand. next after it in celebrity, was delivered by Mr. but there must have been in them something Preston of Montgomery. Mr. Preston is a near more than meets our eye. to have subdued as kinsman, (first cousin we believe,) of Mr. Mc- they did the English Parliament. Our own Dowell. The Senator from Missouri, who speaks Henry stands secure and eminent among the as Achilles fought, is his brother-in-law; and great masters we have named; but he stands William C. Preston, the champion of South upon tradition rather than upon what has been Carolina in her time of need, and still her pride, reported from his lips. And so of the speeches though borne down by affliction, is by a complex of Burke and Pitt and Fox-the Warren Hastrelationship, his brother-in-law and cousin. The ings speech of Sheridan and McIntosh's defence family relationship between these distinguished of Peltier; and so of the sermons of Chalmers speakers is a curious coincidence worth noting. Nor is the applause which has rung through our land the outcry of a party cheering a successful partisan effort. No reliance can ever be put upon a party estimate. If you will exhibit to the gaze

and Hall-read them and you feel their power. and see the light of genius flashing from every page, but if they were not something more to others when spoken, than they are to you when read, then those who were so moved by them

were enthusiasts, or you are deficient in sensi-ing person, over which he has a graceful conbility if not in sense. Of all modern speeches trol-a handsome face, with that unmistakeable with which we are acquainted, Mr. Webster's blended expression, which denotes the equal comnational orations, as the one on Bunker Hill and bination of high intellectual and moral characthe one on Jefferson and Adams, seem to come teristics; and a voice clear and true, but not reup when read nearest to their high-water mark. markable for tone or power, though of varied Mr. Clay's give no just idea of his power over modulation within a certain compass. In his an audience. In accounting for this great and utterance and in his pronunciation he is nice to well known difference between the effect of the fastidiousness, and his gesticulation is natural, same speech when spoken, and when read, it is but limited. Where all these qualities are found, usual to dismiss it with the summary remark, it secures a manner that no one will find fault that the charm of delivery is absent in the lat- with, but at the same time this manner may lack ter case. Good delivery is a great thing we what in our college days we used to call vim. know, but it must be much greater than we are We despise a ranting manner-contortions of willing to allow, if it covers the actual differ- the countenance-falsettos in the voice up and ence between a House of Representatives melted down-starting backwards and forwards and into silently gushing tears, and breaking up in a sideways-the supplosio pedis et percussio femoris. kind of oblivious disorder, and the solitary reader, But there are tones which curdle the heart's blood; absorbed it is true with swelling breast, a moist there are gestures which open the way for a eye, and a choking sensation about his throat. mighty thought, and there is about some orators but still master of himself, and ready as soon as a Niagara rush that carries all with it. Gov. he finishes reading, to eat his dinner with an ap- McDowell, gifted as he is, does not possess this petite unimpaired. We say that to account for power. Not therefore, we repeat, to the subject the diminished effect there must be the absence of this speech, not to anything accidental, not to of something more than delivery merely. What the powers of elocution are we to look to find this something wanted is, it would lead us too wherein its great strength lies-but to the speech far to attempt to explain fully; but we may be itself. Let us then look at it a little as a work allowed a single word. Mainly then, we would of art. It is of course unnecessary to give any say the circumstances are widely different in the synopsis of a production by this time so well two cases. The Greek dreaded Philip as his known; and for the same reason we will spare foe-the Roman saw Cataline with his dagger ourselves the trouble of making any extracts from drawn against the heart of the city that was his it. Any reference that we may make, will be home. Those who heard the sublime apostro-sufficiently intelligible to every reader. phe, "Give me Liberty, or give me Death," felt What strikes us most in this speech, is the simthat the alternative was presented to them too-plicity of the materials of which it is constructed. and when the son of West Augusta, in thrilling The centre proposition about which it revolves words, half entreaty, half demand, all steeped in is that our country is in eminent peril, and that it love, and winged with truth, called upon Massa- is in the power of Congress to avert that peril; chusetts for a sister's charity and a sister's duty, the feelings to which he addresses himself are those Speaker Winthrop and every Massachusetts Rep- of patriotism and sacred brotherhood; the example resentative there felt that appeal knocking at the he proposes for imitation is that of our forefadoor of their hearts. The reader cannot feel thers, exhibited in the compromise character of this, and therefore cannot feel as they did. Let the constitution, and illustrated by the magnaas add to this, the power of sympathy, the infec- nimity of the South, then and since; and the tion of feeling, the circulation of sentiment, and main argumentative proposition is that the North if we have not fully accounted for the difference is entirely mistaken in supposing that the extenbetween hearing and reading, we have at least sion, so called, of slavery will tend to its increase, indicated what has five times as much to do with or the contrary policy to its final extinction. it, as what is usually meant by delivery. Nor is it Now all these ideas are, we say, simple and not true we believe that all the great orators were new. They are simple, but they are grand; and noted for their powers of delivery. However that is just the characteristic of sublimity. Look this may be, we are sure that Gov. McDowell at the greatest works from the Iliad, with its does not possess a delivery of that magic, irre- speciosa miracula, down to the present times, and sistible power which certainly does wonders some- you will find that where they are most simple, times. His manner is good-positively good; we they are greatest. Look to all who, as speakers, are not certain that it is much more. It is satis- have swayed the sentiments of men, and you will fying, but not compelling-it sustains his high find that they have done it upon obvious proposiefforts, but cannot be said to add essentially to tions and simple principles, and it cannot be oththem. Gov. McDowell possesses a command-erwise. Truth is natural and straightforward.

VOL. XV-33

In nine cases out of ten, the strongest reason is lover of his country. The cool movement of the most obvious one; and when as the excep- the introduction heightens moreover the effect of tion it is otherwise, all men, except judges on the what follows. This value of contrast, great orabench, entertain with distrust an opinion founded tors understand, as well as great painters, and upon a wire-drawn argument. Is every one then conscious of power, sometimes tantalize the heara great speaker who takes up obvious topics?ers with less than a full measure. Not that we By no means; as any one may convince himself suppose that Governor McDowell thought for a who will take the trouble to look over the re- moment of the artistic effect of contrast; he proported speeches of the last, or of any previous ceeded, according to the most natural mode, to session of Congress. What is wanted is the develop his ideas, but it happens here, as it often power of the reasoner to connect admitted prem- does, that the dictates of nature are coincident ises with disputed conclusions, and the genius of with the highest rules of art. Speaking of happy the orator to give to a deduction of reason the coincidences, we cannot forbear noticing the reality, the vitality, and the solemn sanction of luck, if we may so call it, that made the allota rule of conduct. To do this in its full mea-ted hour run out just where it did. Governor sure, that old requirement of the books, and older McDowell had just announced the proposition of one of nature, must be met. The orator must a close resemblance between the American Cayhimself believe the truth of what he is uttering, alier and the American Roundhead. To hear that and be under the impulse which he would com- resemblance traced by such a speaker, the House, municate. This unaffected sincerity is the next in the transport that it then was in, was ready to general characteristic of this speech, and it col-suspend not the hour rule merely, but we verily ors every page. We see the man before us-not believe a small fraction of the Constitution itself. the partisan-not the demagogue-not the Bun-It was just the breaking off in the Arabian Nights combeite, but the patriot, the statesman, the of Scheherazade, at a point where the Sultan ! scholar, the God-fearing man, pouring out of his cared more for the story than he did for his fatal heart feelings which have their constant home law. there.

Where Governor McDowell speaks of the efAnother thing to be noted, is the moderation fect of the non-extension policy, we see the mawhich reigns throughout the whole. He does tured opinions of a mind long accustomed to not claim perfection for the measure he supports, view the subject of slavery in all its lights. His but freely admits that it is liable to objections, position in relation to some late movements has which under other circumstances might be fatal. not failed to be the subject of remark, and most He does not deny that there is evil connected men would have deemed the occasion one which with slavery, and he does not pour unmitigated would have justified some personal expladenunciation on his opponents. Only upon two nation; not so, Mr. McDowell. He felt that topics has he sublimely spurned limitation; and the themes he was handling were too high and upon these two, faint words are falsehoods-the holy to allow that any one man should thrust his value of our union and the solemn duty of de- individuality among them. And he was right. fending it. To leave this general survey and Let the Representative explain his course if nenotice some particulars, we would say that the cessary to his constituents in their 'primary asintroduction seems to us to be a master-piece.semblies, or through the papers if he will; but It is not like some of Cicero's, artificial and or- he who attempts something national must forget namented, but like many of Demosthenes', plain himself or he will soon be forgotten by others. almost to poverty. We confess that we were We think that all readers, North and South, will at first disappointed. We expected something be struck with the grouping which he gives of solemn and grand, about the circumstances of the series of legal acts proceeding more or less the occasion, whereas we met with what looked like the commencement of a dry constitutional argument. But we presently saw the intent. The orator meant to treat this subject upon high grounds, and it was necessary to lift the discussion to the level which he had chosen. In order to do this, he gives a lucid argument, positive without dogmatism, and brief without obscurity, and fortified moreover with the authority of Mr. Madison, to show that there are no constitutional impediments in the course proposed, and thus the field is open for him to press his appeal to the high motives which ought to actuate every matter of the Boston Port Bill. It is the sub

directly from the hands of Southern men and Southern States, all of which have gone to restrict the institution of slavery, both in its limits and its political strength; and we know not how any one can resist his conclusion, that all parties ought to be thankful for what has been done, and ought to leave all else to the controlling and natural course of events.

Were we, however, called on to name what seems to us the most effective passage in the speech, we would select that in which Massachusetts is reminded of what Virginia did in the

lime pointing of Manlius when charged with se- | allow it to be perfect, and we would be much dition to the capitol he had saved. How the better critic than we aspire to be, could we point spirit of the past rebukes the chafings of the out wherein it could be amended. It is pure, present! When we think of the mighty surge of elegant and classic, but with a slight tendency to danger which, with brave brother breasts, our expletiveness-it is exact without pedantry, and forefathers confronted then, how next to nothing picturesque without mannerism-nevertheless, seem the interposed rivulets that would make us had it a trifle more about it of the rough Angloenemies now! Saxon jar, it would please our ear better-but, nevertheless again, we would not advise Gov. McDowell to attempt anychange in the language, unless he can get better authority than ours, that it would be an improvement.

But we must hasten to the orator's conclusion, as we find that it is the only way to get to a conclusion of our own. Every one knows that the winding up of a speech is a perilous thingfacilis descensus, is not true, in one sense at least, We have confined our notice of this speech to in oratory. Mr. McDowell escapes the danger its character as a specimen of eloquence. What of a fall, by not coming down at all. According may be its political influence, we pretend not to to those fanciful stanzas by Longfellow, after estimate. The bill it advocated did not pass, (we height upon height has been gained, and at last wish the vote had been taken as soon as it was all is over, a sound falls down from somewhere finished.) But what then? Men may vote one supernal, bodying the world "Excelsior." This way and think another, and the secret conviction is the aptest allusion which occurs to us to illus- of this year may turn into the vote of the next. trate the Governor's finale. What is a little sin- An old writer has said of affliction, as connected gular, he selects for this hour of need, a steed with the reception of religious truth, "when the that he had ridden before-a gallant one it is ground is soft the plough will enter." So let true, and able to do double work, if ever there us think of the truth conveyed in this speech. was one. He re-delivers verbatim the conclu- There were many hearts softened in the Hall of sion of his celebrated Princeton Address. Of our National Legislature. May we not hope course it was familiar to every one in the House, that, in that sacred hour, impressions were made for it had gone through the length and breadth of whose hallowed tendencies will be to remove the land, and we have seen it besides fitted into suspicion, to lessen jealousies, to restrain strife, other settings, and it was not a thing to be for- and to heal the hurt of our country by melting gotten. We can hardly say whether we like it the hearts of her sons into a blessed brotherhood? or not. It was just the thing that was needed S. L. C. here, and perhaps no other man in the Union could furnish any thing else as good. Perhaps Mr. McDowell himself could not, and therefore he has used it, as he had a perfect right to do, seeing it is no felony to steal from one's self. Still

it looks like literary adultery, to have the same THE ISTHMUS LINE TO THE PACIFIC. peroration married to two living speeches. At all events, to change the figure, we are sure that as the conclusion to the Princeton Address it Before presenting to our readers the following letter of Lieut. Maury on the subject of a line of improvement across will ever hereafter have to us the rather unplea- the Isthmus to the Pacific, we have a word to say with resant look of something born out of due time. gard to the Convention proposed to be held at Memphis One word as to the mere style. We have on the fourth day of July next. The objects which this heard some persons say that they were very Convention has in view, are briefly set forth in a circular much struck with the brilliancy of the illustra-letter of invitation, addressed to us by a committee of gentions and the allusions; we cannot say that we tlemen at Memphis. We transfer it to our pages. were particularly. It has been our good fortune often to hear the Governor in easy conversation, for hours together, throw off extemporaneously, Sir: The attention of the people of the Union has rebright, apposite things of this sort, fully as good cently been directed to the consideration of the expedias the best in the speech, and a good deal better the Mississippi to California, for the double object of renency of constructing a RAIL ROAD from the valley of than the "open sesame" one and some others. dering still more valuable our vast possessions on the PaLet us be understood to put in a saving clause in cific, and placing within our grasp the commerce with favor of the West Augusta conclusion. We take Asia;-a dazzling prize with maritime nations for more off our cap to this and hold it to be among illus-than twenty centuries. trations what the Ode on St. Cecilia's Day is among lyrics. As to the language, who does not praise it? Still we would be no true critic did we

Memphis, Tenn., March 1st, 1849.

have been designated as most suitable for the commencement of the proposed work. The citizens of Arkansas, at a recent public meeting, at their Capital, in which the leading men of

St. Louis, in Missouri, and other points still further north,