But beyond serving to consume time and amuse the convention, Mr.Butler's speech made no impression.

The real tournament of debate followed, between William L.
Yancey, of Alabama, and Senator George E.Pugh, of Ohio.
[Sidenote] Halstead, "Conventions of 1860," pp.

5, 48.
It turned out in the end that Mr.Yancey was the master-spirit of the Charleston Convention, though that body was far from entertaining any such suspicion at the beginning.

In exterior appearance he did not fill the portrait of the traditional fire-eater.

He is described as "a compact middle-sized man, straight-limbed, with a square-built head and face, and an eye full of expression"; "a very mild and gentlemanly man, always wearing a genuinely good-humored smile, and looking as if nothing in the world could disturb the equanimity of his spirits." He had, besides, a marvelous gift of persuasive oratory.