And Mr. Jefferson regarded the appeal of Logan
to the white men, after the extirpation of his family,
as without a parallel in the history of eloquence.
These were men who have been revered by the civilized
world, as worthy of a place with the distinguished
and great among mankind.
“Oratory was not alone a natural gift, but an
art among the Iroquois. It enjoined painful study,
unremitting practice, and sedulous observation of
the style, and methods of the best masters. Red
Jacket did not rely upon his native powers alone,
but cultivated the art with the same assiduity that
characterized the great Athenian orator. The Iroquois,
as their earliest English historian observed, cultivated
an Attic or classic elegance of speech, which entranced
every ear, among their red auditory.” [Footnote:
Mr. Bryant’s speech.]
Those public games, entertainments, religious ceremonies
and dances, common among the Indian tribes, added
interest to their council gatherings, and made them
a scene of attraction for the entire nation.
Thither the young and old of both sexes were accustomed
to resort, and, assembled at their national forum,
listened with profound attention and silence to each
word spoken by their orators. “The unvarying
courtesy, sobriety and dignity of their convocations
led one of their learned Jesuit historians to liken
them to the Roman Senate.” [Footnote: W.
C. Bryant’s speech before the Buffalo Historical
Society on the occasion of the re-interment of Red
Jacket’s remains.]
“Their language was flexible and sonorous, the
sense largely depending upon inflection, copious in
vowel sounds, abounding in metaphor; affording constant
opportunity for the ingenious combination and construction
of words to image delicate, and varying shades of
thought, and to express vehement manifestations of
passion; admitting of greater and more sudden variations
in pitch, than is permissable in English oratory, and
encouraging pantomimic gesture, for greater force and
effect. In other words it was not a cold, artificial,
mechanical medium for the expression of thought or
emotion, or the concealment of either, but was constructed,
as we may fancy, much as was the tuneful tongue spoken
by our first parents, who stood in even closer relations
to nature.” [Footnote: Ib.]
Hence, though the Iroquois were a warlike people,
and delighted in deeds of bravery, there was an inviting
field opened to one, who could chain their attention
by his eloquence, and sway their emotions at will.
Such advantages being presented for the exercise of
the powers of oratory, it can hardly be supposed that
a mind endowed as richly, as was Red Jacket’s,
by the gifts of nature, would fail to perceive the
path in which lay the true road to eminence among
his people. And his subsequent career indicates
but too clearly, the choice he made of the field in
which to exercise his noble powers.
