Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses Graduate School 1974 Henry Watterson--A Study of Selected Speeches on Reconciliation in the Post-Bellum Period. George Christopher Wharton Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses Recommended Citation Wharton, George Christopher, "Henry Watterson--A Study of Selected Speeches on Reconciliation in the Post-Bellum Period." (1974). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 2770. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/2770 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses by an authorized administrator of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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Xerox University Microfilms 300 North Zesb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 75-14,293 WHARTON, George Christopher, 1944- HENRY WATTERSON--A STUDY OF SELECTED SPEECHES ON RECONCILIATION IN THE POST-BELLUM PERIOD. The Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, Ph.D., 1974 Speech Xerox University Microfilms,Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 ——— —- - - - • -• - * 0 1975 GEORGE CHRISTOPHER WHARTON ALL RIGHTS RESERVED HENRY WATTERSON--A STUDY OP SELECTED SPEECHES ON RECONCILIATION IN THE POST-BELLUM PERIOD A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The Department of Speech George Christopher Wharton B.A., William Penn College, 1967 M.A., University of South Dakota, ,1969 December, 197^ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to express his warm appreciation to Dr. Harold D. Mixon and the other members of his commit­ tee, Dr s. Waldo W. Braden, Clinton W. Bradford, J. Donald Ragsdale, Wesley Wiksell, and Burl Noggle. The typed manu­ script reflects the love of Elizabeth Burnett and Gage Bledsoe. Finally, the author gratefully acknowledges the unwavering confidence and support of his mother and father. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......... ii ABSTRACT........................... vi Chapter I. INTRODUCTION...................... 1 CONTRIBUTING STUDIES......................... k THE P R O B L E M . 6 SUMMARY .............. 7 II. A SETTING FOR RECONCILIATION ................. 8 HENRY WATTERSON IN CINCINNATI ............. 8 WATTERSON ARRIVES IN NASHVILLE ......... 12 WATTERSON GOES TO KENTUCKY............. '."'".‘"T " . ’. 16 WATTERSON IN LOUISVILLE ....................... 22 WATTERSON THE POLITICIAN........... .. 26 WATTERSON AND THE ELECTION OF 1876 ......... 32 SUMMARY ......... 1*8. III. WATTERSON'S SPEECH PERSONALITY . ......... 50 WATTERSON'S CHILDHOOD ............. 52 LATER DETERMINANTS OF WATTERSON'S SPEECH EDUCATION . .... ... ... ..... 63 WATTERSON'S READING HABITS . ............ 65 WATTERSON'S THEORY OF RHETORIC . ..... 67 111 Chapter Page WATTERSON'S METHODS OP IMMEDIATE SPEECH PREPARATION........... : . .......... 75 SUMMARY . ................ 81 IV. WATTERSON'S AUDIENCES AND OCCASIONS . .......... 83 HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES - "The Hayes-Tilden Controversy" .......... 83 The Immediate Speech Occasion................. 95 "Electoral Commission Decision"............. 101* NATIONAL CEMETERY IN NASHVILLE - "Memorial Day Address"................ Ill THE AMERICAN BANKERS' ASSOCIATION CONVENTION - LOUISVILLE - "The New S o u t h " ........... 115 NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY - NEW YORK - "The Puritan and the Cavalier" .......... 122 LOUISVILLE - 1895 - "A Welcome to the Grand A r m y " ................. 131 CARNEGIE MUSIC HALL - NEW YORK "Abraham Lincoln" ................... lUl NASHVILLE - 190U "The Confederate Dead".................. lU8 SUMMARY ............... 156 V. THE INTEGRITY OF WATTERSON'S IDEAS........... 159 WATTERSON'S RECONCILIATION CREED .......... 159 THE PURITAN AND CAVALIER MYTH ........... 160 THE CHRIST MYTH ............... I67 THE RECONCILIATION CREED IN ACTION . .. 182 Chapter Page HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - "The Hayes-Tilden Controversy" ........ 182 "Electoral Commission Decision" . 187 NATIONAL CEMETERY IN NASHVILLE - "Memorial Day Address" ................... 189 THE AMERICAN BANKERS* ASSOCIATION CONVENTION - LOUISVILLE - "The New South1 1 . ...................... 199 NEW ENGLAND SOCIETY - NEW YORK - "The Puritan and the Cavalier"................. 205 LOUISVILLE - 1895 "A Welcome to the Grand A r m y " ................. 211 CARNEGIE MUSIC HALL - NEW YORK - "Abraham Lincoln" . ............. 218 NASHVILLE - 190U - "The Confederate Dead" . 228 SUMMARY ............................... 23U VI. SUMMARY— ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS........ 237 LONG-RANGE EFFECT OF WATTERSON's SPEAKING .......... 2fc7 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..... .................................. 2^9 VITA ................................... ............... 262 v ABSTRACT The purpose of this investigation is to analyze rhetori­ cally selected speeches delivered "by Watterson during the period following the American Civil War. Analysis is made of eight speeches which represent eight types of audiences and occasions and eight stages in the chronological development of Watterson’s campaign for reconciliation. ♦ The study discusses, first, the period from 1865 to 1877, when the themes of North-South reconciliation and Henry Watterson became inseparable; the unique position of Kentucky as a mediator between the North and South, and the events precedent to the elec­ tion of President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1877- Second, the study examines Watterson's speech personality. Finally, the study gives in-depth treatment to the constituents of Watterson's speaking: (l) his audiences and occasions; (2 ) the immediate response to his speeches; (3 ) his logical, emotional, and ethical appeals; (U) his methods of organization; (5 ) his special stylistic devices. ,Since six of the eight speeches are adaptations to ceremonial situations , the study concentrates on the means Watterson used to intensify emotions and increase identification and unity among his listeners. The study reveals that the three most important factors shaping Watterson's speech personality were (1) his childhood in Washington, D. C., (2) his father's passion for the oratory of com- vi promise, and (3) Watterson * s theory of rhetorical criticism. Wat- terson's editorships in Cincinnati and Nashville brought him na­ tional recognition for his conciliatory journalism. His editor­ ship of the Louisville'COurier-JOUrnal placed him in Kentucky, a state with a unique history as a mediator of sectional controversy. Hy dealing effectively with post-bellum problems in Kentucky, Wat­ terson solidified the local support he needed to expand his recon­ ciliation efforts into national politics. As a Congressional spokesman for the Tilden forces in 1877» he spoke in favor of a compromise plan to settle the disputed Presidential election.* Watterson's two short Congressional speeches relied chiefly on appeals to safety and security for persuasive effect. His six remaining speeches used the things he had in common with his audi­ ences to increase identification and to intensify the feelings of his listeners. His four most visible points of identification were (l) his presence, (2) the flag, (3) the audience, and (U) the phys­ ical setting. The chief virtue which Watterson magnified was a concilia­ tory and magnanimous spirit. He also aroused feelings and senti­ ments of attachment, veneration, patriotism, pride, loyalty, cour­ age, and magnificence. He