Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 November 1872 — A Good Talker. [ARTICLE]

A Good Talker.

THK "Monthly Gossip” in the October number of Lippincott's Magazine contains this capital story; Perhaps the most brilliant conversationist that Virginia or the United States ever produced was the late Lyttleton Waller Tazewell. Unfortunately for his reputation as to consistency and firmness of opinidn, his mind was so capacious and well stored that it was impossible for him not to see all sides of any subject on which he conversed, and hence it was not always easy—indeed, it was often difficult —for his hearers to ascertain what his real opinion was. In illustration of this peculiarity of Governor Tazewell, the following anecdote is told: _ When the nullification trouble was at its height, Mr. Calhoun sent William C. Preston to Richmond to sound the first Governor Floyd, father of John B. Floyd, Secretary of War under Jiuchanan, as to what might be exnectecTof Virginia, in case South Carolina became involved in a conflict with the Federal Government. The question bring ons of great importance, and Governor Floyd having the utmost con fldence in Governor Tazewell’s judgment, the latter was summoned to the Statecapital, and the conference took place in the Executive Mansion at night, soon after supper. ... Mr. Tazewell, being called upon for his opinion, began. A stream of brilliant and forcible words poured from his fluent lips, enchaining and delighting his two auditors. At the expiration of an hour Governor Floyd ventured to interrupt him. “Your opinion, then, is—- " Wait a moment,” said Tazewell, inverging from the line of his previous remarks, he corruscated for another hour, as forcibly as before. • It was then Preston’s turn to intercept —and if possible arrest— the flow ot “We may-eonclude, then Mr. Tazewell, that you hold—’’ “No, not at all. You quite misapprehend me.” Taking another point of de-parture;-he went on from hour to hour,, zigzagging and worm-fencing at each interruption, until ak last broad daylight flooded the room. , ~ “Bless my soul!” said he, looking up surprised, “it is morning. Floyd, if you will give me a bowl of water to wash my face, and a julep, I will lie down, for an hour or two to rest myself, and to-night, if you choose, we will resume our conversation, lam afraid I have not made myself quite clear to either of you gentlemen.” The water and the julep were duly brought, and the fluent talker went up to his chamber. - , Floyd and Preston remained staring at each other for a long time in profound silence. At length Mr. Preston said, “Have you any idea what Mr. Tazewell s real opinion is?” “None whatever. Have you?” “Not the remotest conception. Do you think he has any opinion?” “Most certainly. He has every opinion that any man ever had or could have on this subject, and a great many more besides. But what .his final opinion will be, no living man, not even Tazewell himself, will ever discern.” The “conversation," as Mr. Tazewell was pleased to-'call it, was never resumed. .