Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 14.djvu/172

As a son of Georgia he eminently merits this enduring memorial and all the honors conferred by this vast concourse of his grateful and admiring countrymen. Born upon her soil, reared among her people, educated at her schools, permeated by the influences of her society and civilization, he plead with an eloquence unsurpassed by any of her sons for whatever would promote her weal, and warned against every danger his sagacious eye detected threatening her prosperity. Called into public service at an early age, he at once gave assurance of the high distinction he afterwards attained. For years his public career was a struggle against prevailing principles and policies he believed to be dangerous, and he stood conspicuous against as powerful a combination of ability and craft as ever ruled in the politics of any State. Upon every field where her proudest gladiators met, he stood the peer of the knightliness. He did not always achieve popular success, but that has been true of the greatest and best. His apparent failures to achieve victory only called for a renewal of the struggle with unbroken spirit and purpose. Failure he did not suffer, for his very defeats were victories. To say, as may be justly said, that he was conspicuous among those who have made our history for thirty years is high encomium. During that period the most memorable events of our past have transpired. It recalls besides his own the names and careers of Stephens, Toombs, the Cobbs, Johnson and Jenkins. In what sky has brighter galaxy ever shone? The statesmanship, the oratory, the public and private virtue it exhibits should swell every breast with patriotic pride. In some of the highest qualifications of leadership none of his day surpassed him. He did not seek success by the schemes of hidden caucus or crafty manipulation. He won his triumphs on the arena of open, fair debate before the people. An earnest student of public questions, he boldly proclaimed his conclusions. The power of opposing majorities did not deter him. As a leader of minorities he was unequalled. As an orator at the forum, before a popular assembly or Convention, in the House of Representatives, or the Senate Chamber in Congress, he was the acknowledged equal of the greatest men who have illustrated our State and national history for a quarter of a century. He was thoroughly equipped with a masterly logic, a captivating eloquence, a burning invective, a power of denunciation—with every weapon in the armory of spoken and written language, and used all with a force and skill that entitled him as a debater to the highest distinction, While the most unfriendly criticism cannot deny him the highest gifts of oratory, some have withheld from him `