Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/50

 THE WORLD'S FAMOUS ORATIONS renown is of the treasures of the whole country. Him whose honored name the gentleman him- self bears, — does he esteem me less capable of gratitude for his patriotism, or sympathy for his sufferings, than if his eyes had first opened upon the light of Massachusetts instead of South Carolina? Sir, does he suppose it in his power to exhibit a Carolina name so bright as to pro- duce envy in my bosom ? No, sir, increased grati- fication and delight, rather. I thank God that, if I am gifted with little of the spirit which is able to raise mortals to the skies, I have yet none, as I trust, of thatt)ther spirit which would drag angels down.) When I shall be found, sir, in my place here in the Senate, or elsewhere, to sneer at public meiit, because it happens to spring up beyond the little limits of my own State or neigh- borhood; when I refuse, for any such cause or for any cause, the homage due to American tal- ent, to elevated patriotism, to sincere devotion to liberty and the country ; or, if I see an uncommon endowment of heaven, if I see extraordinary capacity and virtue, in any son of the South, and if, moved by local prejudice or gangrened by State jealousy, I get up here to abate the tithe of a hair from his just character and just fame, may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ! Sir, let me recur to pleasing recollections ; let me indulge in refreshing remembrance of the past; let me remind you that, in early times, no States cherished greater harmony, both of 40