Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 11.pdf/453

 420

argument, rapidly, but not confusedly, ex citing and filling the imagination of all. In his tempestuous eloquence he tore to pieces the arguments of his opponents, as the hur ricane rends the sails. Nothing withstood the ardor of his mind; no sophistry, how ever ingenious, puzzled him; no rhetorical ruse escaped his detection. He overthrew logic that seemed impregnable, and demol ished the most compact theory in a breath. No little portion of the speech was directed to the consideration of the philosophy of government and the history of free institu tions — subjects which the orator had studied to complete mastery, and was amply capable to illustrate." The German historian. Baron Von Raumer, visited the United States in 1844. In Wash ington he met our leading men. After alluding to some of them, he says : " Cal houn, on the other hand, is always logical and consistent with himself; a man of solid, well-grounded convictions, perfected both by theory and practice. Even those who do not share them, must allow that he is totus teres, atque rotundus : and this no man can ever be, in such an elevated station, without possessing a greatness of character that is worthy of all honor. In the nullification controversy he dared to stake even his popularity, in order, by pushing his selfdefense to an extreme, to restore things to their just medium. Concerning the question of slavery, he dared to assert unpalatable facts, in opposition to principles, which, though founded in philanthropy, could not so hastily be carried into effect; neither did he ever forget that practical skill, however great, cannot dispense with scientific knowl edge and principles." Says Judge Story: " I have great admir ation for Mr. Calhoun, and think few men have more enlarged and liberal views of the nation." William Pinkney, of Maryland, speaks of him as follows: "The strong power of genius, from a higher region than that of ar

gument, has thrown on the subject all the light with which it is the prerogative of genius to invest and illuminate everything." Hon. R. Barnwell Rhett says: "Thou sands of generous spirits, since the entrance of civilized man on this continent, have lived and died with the hope of a prolonged fame amongst future generations; but I can discover but two men who will probably obtain this fame — Washington and Cal houn — the former as the founder of a great Republic; the latter as the discoverer of the true principles of free government." The same writer also says: "Mr. Calhoun's mind, in its characteristics, was as striking as it was great. It stood forth like the Egyptian pyramids — vast, simple, and grand." Says his colleague, Mr. Butler, who an nounced his death in the Senate: "In my opinion, Mr. Calhoun deserves to occupy the first rank as a parliamentary speaker. He had always before him the dignity of purpose, and he spoke to an end. From a full mind, fired by genius, he expressed his ideas with clearness, simplicity and force; and in language that seemed to be the vehicle of his thoughts and emotions. His thoughts leaped from his mind, like arrows from a well-drawn bow. They had both the aim and force of a skillful archer. He seemed to have little regard for ornament; and when he used figures of speech, they were only for illustration. His manner and coun tenance were his best language; and in these there was an exemplification of what is meant by action, in that term of the great Athenian orator and statesman, whom, in so many re spects, he so closely resembled. They served to exhibit the moral elevation of the man." Said Mr. Clemens: "Living, sir, in an age distinguished above all others for its in telligence, surrounded throughout his whole career by men, any one of whom would have marked an era in the world's history, and stamped the time in which he lived with