Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-08-31

lug ubdthtu features, and command. /
Ing person, who has Just RISEN TO address
the chair, IS Mr.. Preston. of South Caro-. |
Ina; name endeored TO the Wings Of the
whole Union, and only second in their
hearts to that of Henry Clay.
You observe Mr.. Preston commences
his remarks in subdued tone, through
his enunclatlon is so distinct and slow that
we have no difficulty in hearing every
word. As he proceeds and warns with |
his subject he becomes, more animated
his eyes lights up, lis voice becomes, load. |
er, his couoternance begins to speak, his |
uuerance is more rapid, and his hand and
arms 'sult the action to the word" in a
very energeticat aud graceful manner. |
Presently you will hear one OF those
bursts OF eloquence which never fail to
come from hun, and electrify the Senate
and audience, whenever he speaks upon
sulhcIent importance to call forth his pow
ers; one of those bod. brilliant, and ap
| proprlate metaphors which spring from his
prolific imagination and dazzle the minds
OF ms hearers, as the electric fluid is sent
from the sur-charged cloud, and dazZ,es
the admrlng observer. Now You a,e
nurred forward by the rapid and dashing
current OF his eloquence, without the pow
er ofresiitance even were you inc iued 10
| sto) and think. Anon, you come into a
calm aud beautiful expanse, where the
current is scarcely preceptIbIe, where all
around is placid and inviting, and youare
1eid as IL were by a spell OF delight, un-
willing to move, Presently the scene be.
gins 10 darken, the clouds lower and wear
q threatning aspect, you look around and
aoId your breath till burst of indgna-
non aud torrent Of sarcasm pours
down, not upon yours, but the devoted
heads OF his antagonists VINO feel lis
whitening effect and recoil from It's force.
20 man in either house Of Congress, is
endowed with a greater versatility of tai
enl, or possesses 50 brilliant any magma
ton, combined with such luence, aud c.
oqucnce of language, as Mr.. p leston. In
the varied expression Of the countcnance,
the uIdu,a;lon ofthe voice, and graceful
action, Mr.. p. doe, not come UP TO Mr..
Clay: but he has more briiiancy ofthought
though he Yields not a keeuer weapon OF
sarcasm. Mr.. Preston is Il Murai, at the
head of his dashlng squadrons, bearing
down all before him, the admiration even
OF his foes. Mr.. Clay is a Napoleon
whose eye overlooks the whole field who
sees every movement Of his antagonists
aad makes a corresponding one of his
forces and who leads Them into battle, him.
} self always in the front rank, and where
the fight is thickest.
In ivate aud social life Mr.. p. is re-
markedly unassuming and accessible. and
in conversation free, lively, playful and in.
teresiing: He is, in truth, the very beau
idet OF "a Southern gentleman; comb.n.
us that elegance and amenIty ofmauners
: with that self respect, nice sense Of bonol
and propriety, perfect acquaintance viii
. the conventional customs freinod socie-
tv, which can only be acquired by inter
course IN early life with the best circles,
2 aud which are found, perhaps. 10 grea
,. ter extent among the Oldest families II
5 South Carolina, than in any other section
= Of the country.
. Mr.. Preston is By birth a son Of the COL
Dominion and descendant Of the cele
bra,ed orator and patriot, Patrick Henry
> whom he is said to resemble as much !
feature as 10 mental qualities. He EN-
3 granted many years ago to South CAROLYN
st and entered upon the practice OF law, /
u which, as every man must possessing II
$ mowers of eoquence, he has been emineu
N ~ successful.-ae first entered the Sci
i, ale as the successor. l believe, OF 20
d Havne, in 1884. aud Immediately brok
a upon the vision of the nation with the BIZ
j. Iiancy of a star of the first magnitude al
u this, seven years ofpubiic life have prove
~ him to be. lie came into the Sen ate
Or onno1ent Of the Jackson and Van burt
Ia d, nasty. South Carolina, following NJ
Of Calboun's lead, then being foremc
y among the States opposed SO Execuu
Gu usurpation and msruie. UP to SePlel
d. her. 1857. when Mr.. Calhoun made su
a sudden and extraordinary somerset' a
l." uswore eternal frirndship with his dead
= est enemv." Mr.. Preston stood by III
IA shoulder to shoulder doing battle sgal'
tho enen1ies of the constitution and resl'
put inp the sweeping torrent OF eYecu'iye
croachment. From that time, howeV
er' they separated. 1t was not IN Mr.: fr
/. IONS nature thus 10 abandon the prnclP
MS he had sustained and take TO his core
embrace the very men he and his o''
a d colleague had denounced as usurP'
and favorers prescription, extrayaSal
and fraud. 1t. was piniul, doubtless
MI p. TO be thus separated from hrs
Ieagne. whom he had on several oc
ar. SONS calamity sustained and defended;
rs' was more painful to see malorityoI
as neonle ofSouth Carolina abandoning
n.y. PRINCIPLES upon which they had sent
mt = tbe Senate: but more painful than
"a, "n ther would have been an ABANDON"
lne on his own part ofthese prluclP'es,
er' the humiliation of being charged, VIII
heinz able to reply, with yielding up
md that he had before commended tor'ano
He 90 over to those who were tramPlIng
FIX, -, "9 The constitution aud supporting eve
AXE ,iye supremacy. Mr.. Preston chose
? sr',o. separate from his colleague
iii [fron, his principles, and from 'na nat, !,
ich hey have occupied different and oPpc