Chapter 18

THE DEBATING SOCIETY.

Plans carried out--its object--how it must be conducted--the organization--rule to make it respectable--his desire to make all things respectable--the fire company reformed--the first discussion--the question--an evening without a question--how they got over it--Nat's speech--curiosity to hear--tremendous compliments--Nat wards them off--contends that a man may become what he wants to be--this the view of Buxton and others--influence of the debating society on Nat--a similar society influenced Curran, the Irish orator--and a living American statesman--Canning, the English statesman--and Henry Clay--interesting account of a similar society in Boston 183-195