It is a matter of very little consequence to me, personally, whether I speak here tonight or not. [Laughter and cheers.] But one thing is very certain, if you do permit me to speak here tonight, you will hear very plain talking. [Applause and hisses.] You will not find me to be a man that dared to speak about Great Britain three thousand miles off, and then is afraid to speak to Great Britain when he stands on her shores. [Immense applause and hisses.] And if I do not mistake the tone and temper of Englishmen they had rather have a man who opposes them in a manly way [applause from all parts of the hall] than a sneak that agrees with them in an unmanly way. [Applause and “Bravo!"] Now, if I can carry you with me by sound convictions, I shall be immensely glad [applause]; but if I cannot carry you with me by facts and sound arguments, I do not wish you to go with me at all; and all that I ask is simply fair play. [Applause, and a voice:  “You shall have it too.".]

Those of you who are kind enough to wish to favor my speaking—­and you will observe that my voice is slightly husky, from having spoken almost every night in succession for some time past—­those who wish to hear me will do me the kindness simply to sit still and to keep still; and I and my friends the Secessionists will make the noise. [Laughter.]

    HENRY WARD BEECHER, in speech at Liverpool, 1863

The beginning of one of Daniel Webster’s famous speeches was a triumph of the deliverer’s recognition of the mood of an audience.  In the Senate in 1830 feeling had been running high over a resolution concerning public lands.  Innocent enough in its appearance, this resolution really covered an attempt at the extension of the slavery territory.  Both North and South watched the progress of the debate upon this topic with almost held breath.  Hayne of South Carolina had spoken upon it during two days when Webster rose to reply to him.  The Senate galleries were packed, the members themselves were stirred up to the highest pitch of keen intensity.  Nearly the entire effect of Webster’s statement and argument for the North depended upon the effect he could make upon the Senators at the very opening of his speech.

Webster began in a low voice, with a calm manner, to speak very slowly.  In a second he had soothed the emotional tension, set all the hearers quite at ease, and by the time the Secretary had read the resolution asked by Webster, he had them in complete control.  His task was to make them attentive, but more especially, ready to be instructed.

Mr. President:  When the mariner has been tossed for many days in thick weather and on an unknown sea, he naturally avails himself of the first pause in the storm, the earliest glance of the sun, to take his latitude and ascertain how far the elements have driven him from his true course.  Let us imitate this prudence; and, before we float farther on the waves of this debate, refer to the point from which we departed, that we may, at least, be able to conjecture where we now are.  I ask for the reading of the resolution before the Senate.

    DANIEL WEBSTER:  Reply to Hayne, 1830