按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
s' chamber。
After the court was opened； Otis rose； and moved that they should adjourn to Faneuil Hall。
With a significant expression of loathing and scorn； he observed； 〃that the stench occasioned by the troops in the hall of legislation might prove infectious； and that it was utterly derogatory to the court to administer justice at the points of bayonets and mouths of cannon。〃
JAMES OTIS AT THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL。
In the sketch of the life of James Otis； as presented in Appleton's 〃Cyclopedia of American Biography；〃 an interesting account is given of the part James Otis played in the noted battle of Bunker Hill； in June； 1775。
The minute men who； hastening to the front； passed by the house of the sister of James Otis； with whom he was living； at Watertown； Mass。
At this time he was harmlessly insane； and did not need special watching。
But； as he saw the patriotic farmers hurrying by and heard of the rumor of the impending conflict； he was suddenly seized with a martial spirit。 Without saying a word to a single soul； he slipped away unobserved and hurried on towards Boston。 On the roadside he stopped at a farmhouse and borrowed a musket； there being nothing seemingly in his manner to suggest mental derangement。 Throwing the musket upon his shoulder he hastened on； and was soon joined by the minute men coming from various directions。 〃Falling in〃 with them； he took an active part in that eventful contest until darkness closed in upon the combatants。 Then； wearied beyond description； though he was； he set out for home after midnight。 He afterwards pursued his sad and aimless life； as though nothing unusual had occurred。
INFLUENCE OF THE BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL
Two days before the battle of Bunker Hill Washington had been appointed by the Continental Congress Commander in Chief。
The news of the battle was brought。 Foreseeing the significance of the result he said； 〃The liberties of the country are safe。〃
Four days afterward Thomas Jefferson entered Congress and the next day news was brought of the Charlestown conflict。 〃This put fire into his ideal statesmanship。〃 Patrick Henry hearing of it said； 〃I am glad of it； a breach of our affections was needed to rouse the country to action。〃
Franklin wrote to his English friends： 〃England has lost her colonies forever。〃
THE ANCESTORS OF JAMES OTIS。
Carlyle says： 〃I never knew a clever man who came out of entirely stupid people。〃 James Otis's great qualities 〃were an inheritance； not an accident； and inheritance from the best blood of old England。〃 Many years ago； when George Ticknor of Boston was a guest of Lady Holland； at the famous Holland House； in London； her ladyship remarked to him； in her not very engaging way：
〃I understand； Mr。 Ticknor； that Massachusetts was settled by convicts。〃
〃Indeed；〃 said Mr。 Ticknor； 〃I thought I was somewhat familiar with the history of my State； but I was not aware that what you say was the case。〃
〃But；〃 he continued； 〃I do now remember that some of your ladyship's ancestors settled in Boston； for there is a monument to one of them in King's Chapel。〃
James Otis inherited that sturdy New England pride which puts manhood above dukedoms and coronets。
〃A king may make a belted knight； A marquis； duke and a' that； But an honest man's aboon his might。〃
From a race of the true kings of men he was descended； who conquered out of the jaws of the wilderness the priceless inheritance of American privilege and freedom。 And while kings at home were trying to crush out the liberties of their subjects； or were dallying with wantons in the palaces built out of the unrequited toil of the long…suffering and downtrodden people； these men of iron were the pioneers of American civilization； at a time； which Holmes so graphically describes：
〃When the crows came cawing through the air To pluck the Pilgrim's corn； And bears came snuffing round the door Wherever a babe was born； And rattlesnakes were bigger round Than the butt of the old ram's horn The deacon blew at meeting time； On every Sabbath morn。〃
COL。 BARRE ON JAMES OTIS。
In the debate on the Boston Port Bill in Parliament； April 15th； 1774； Colonel Barre referred to the ruffianly attack made on Mr。 Otis； and his treatment of the injury； in a manner that reflects honor on both of the orators。
〃Is this the return you make them？〃 inquired the British statesman。
〃When a commissioner of the customs； aided by a number of ruffians； assaulted the celebrated Mr。 Otis； in the midst of the town of Boston； and with the most barbarous violence almost murdered him； did the mob； which is said to rule that town； take vengeance on the perpetrators of this inhuman outrage against a person who is supposed to be their demagogue？
〃No； sir； the law tried them； the law gave heavy damages against them； which the irreparably injured Mr。 Otis most generously forgave； upon an acknowledgment of the offense。
〃Can you expect any more such instances of magnanimity under the principle of the Bill now proposed？〃
THE GENEROSITY OF OTIS。
He was distinguished for generosity to both friends and foes。 Governor Hutchinson said of him： 〃that he never knew fairer or more noble conduct in a speaker； than in Otis； that he always disdained to take advantage of any clerical error； or similar inadvertence； but passed over minor points； and defended his causes solely on their broad and substantial foundations。〃
JOHN ADAMS ON OTIS。
But in that contest over the 〃Writs of Assistance；〃 there was something nobler exhibited than superiority to mercenary consideration。
〃It was；〃 says the Venerable President； John Adams； 〃a moral spectacle more affecting to me than any I have since seen upon the stage； to observe a pupil treating his master with all the deference； respect； esteem； and affection of a son to a father； and that without the least affectation； while he baffled and confounded all his authorities； confuted all his arguments； and reduced him to silence！
〃The crown； by its agents； accumulated construction upon construction； and inference upon inference； as the giants heaped Pelion upon Ossa； but Otis； like Jupiter； dashed this whole building to pieces； and scattered the pulverized atoms to the four winds； and no judge； lawyer； or crown officer dared to say； why do ye so？
〃He raised such a storm of indignation； that even Hutchinson； who had been appointed on purpose to sanction this writ； dared not utter a word in its favor； and Mr。 Gridley himself seemed to me to exult inwardly at the glory and triumph of his pupil。〃
OTIS COMPARED WITH RANDOLPH。
〃The wit exemplified by Mr。 Otis in debate；〃 says Dr。 Magoon； 〃was often keen but never malignant； as in John Randolph。 The attacks of the latter were often fierce and virulent； not unfrequently in an inverse proportion to the necessity of the case。
〃He would yield himself up to a blind and passionate obstinacy； and lacerate his victims for no apparent reason but the mere pleasure of inflicting pangs。
〃In this respect； the orator of Roanoke resembled the Sicilian tyrant whose taste for cruelty led him to seek recreation in putting insects to the torture。 If such men cannot strike strong blows； they know how to fight with poisonous weapons； thus by their malignity； rather than by their honorable skill； they can bring the noblest antagonist to the ground。
〃But Mr。 Otis pursued more dignified game and with a loftier purpose。
〃He indeed possessed a Swiftian gift of sarcasm； but； unlike the Dean of St。 Patrick's； and the forensic gladiator alluded to above； he never employed it in a spirit of hatred and contempt towards the mass of mankind。
〃Such persons should remember the words of Colton； that； 'Strong and sharp as our wit may be； it is not so strong as the memory of fools； nor so keen as their resentment； he that has strength of mind to forgive； is by no means weak enough to forget； and it is much more easy to do a cruel thing than to say a severe one。'〃
ORATORICAL POWERS
Many of the most effective orators； of all ages； have not been most successful in long and formal efforts。 Nor have they always been close and ready debaters。 〃Sudden bursts which seemed to be the effect of inspirationshort sentences which came like lightning； dazzling； burning； striking down everything before themsentences which； spoken at critical moments； decided the fate of great questionssentences which at once became proverbs sentences which everybody still knows by heart〃in these chiefly lay the oratorical power of Mirabeau and Chatham； Patrick Henry and James Otis。E。 L。 Magoon。
THE ELOQUENCE OF OTIS。
Otis was naturally elevated in thought； and dwelt with greatest delight in the calm contemplation of the lofty principles which should govern political and moral conduct。
And yet he was keenly suspectible to excitement。 His intellect explored the wilderness of the universe only to increase the discontent of those noble aspirations of his soul which were never at rest。
In early manhood he was a close student； but as he advanced in age he became more and more absorbed in public action。
As ominous storms threatened the common weal； he found less delight in his library than in