Governor McDowell's Speech [pp. 255-259]

1549.] Gov. Mc Dowel'sa Speec' i.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~,o,
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 theequalcomnational orations, as the one on Bunker Hill and bination of high intellectual and nray 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
SpeakerWinthrop 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 magnaus add to this, the power of sympathy, the infec- nlimity 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
lying, 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.
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