Litchfield enquirer., 1841-10-14
WILLIAM c. PRESTON.

Hon. VIM. c. Preston, is abridged from
communication by Washington cores
pondent, in the U. s. Gazette.
That tall, athletic, sandy completeness
Senator, with large expressive eyes, strong
Nv marked features, and commanding per-
son, who has lust risen to address the chair,
is Mr.. Preston, of South Carolina.
You observe Mr.. Preston commences his
remarks in a subdued tone, though his
enunciation 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 eye lights
up, his voice becomes louder, his counteA
nance begins to speak, his utterance is more
rapid, and his hands and arms " suit the &C
ton to the word" in a very energetic and
graceful manner. Presently you will hear
one of those bursts of eloquence which new
er fail to come from him, and electrify the
Senate and audience. Whenever he speaks
upon a subject of sufficient importance to
call forth his powers; one Of those bold,
brilliant, and appropriate metaphors which
spring from his prolific imagination and
dazzle the minds Of his hearers, as the cleo
trio fluid is sent from the surchargcd cloud,
and daZzles the admiring observer. Now
you are hurried forward by the rapid and
dashing current of his eloquence, without
the power of resistance even were you in-
clined to stop and think. Anon, you come
into calm and beautiful expanse, where
the current is scarcely perceptible, where
all around is placid and inviting, and you
are held as it were by a spell of delight, I'M
willing to move. Presently the scene be-
gins to darken, the clouds lower and wear
a threatening aspect, you look around and
hold your breath till burst of Indignation
and u torrent of sarcasm pours down, not
upon yours, hut the devoted heads of his
antagonists who feel its whitening effect and
rccoil from its force.
No man in either house of Congress, is
endowed with a greater versatility of talent,
or possesses SO brilliant an imagination,
combined with such fuency and eloquence
of language as Mr.. Preston. In the varied
expression of countenance, the meditation
ofthe voice, and graceful action, Mr.. P. does
not come up to Mr.. Clay but he has moro
brilliancy of thought, though he wields not
a kecner weapon of sarcasm. Mr.. Preston
is Murat, at the head of his dashing squad
rons, bearing down all before him, the ad-
miration even of his foes. Mr.. Clay is
! Napoleon, whose eye overlooks the whole
field, who sees every movement of his an
tagonists and makes corresponding ono
of his own forces, and who leads them into
battle, himself always in the front rank, and
where the fight is thickcst.
y
ably unassuming and accessible, and in
conversation free, lively, playful and inter-
esting; he is. in truth, the very beau ideal
of Southern gentleman; combining that
elegance and amenity of manners, with that
self-respect, nice sense of honor and pro-
priety, perfect acquaintance with the con-
ventional customs of refined society, which
can only be acquired by intercourse in ear.
ly life with the best circles. and which are
| r.
the oldest families in South Carolina, than
in any other section of the country.
Mr.. Preston is by birth son Of tho Old
Dominion" and descendant of the cele-
brated orator and patriot, Patrick Henry,
whom he is said to resemble as much in fea-
ture as in mental qualities. He emigrated
many years ago to South Carolina and en-
tered upon the practice of law, in which, az
every man must possessing his powers Of
eloquencc, he has been eminently success
full. He first entered the Senate as the sue
cessor, believe, of Col. Haync, in 1884, and
Immediately broke upon the vision of the
nation with the brilliancy of a star of tho
first magnitude, and this, seven years of pub
lie life have proved him to be. He came in
to the Senate an opponent of Jackson and
Van Buren,; South Carolina then being full
of the Modification Juror. Up to Septem.
Der, 1897, when Mr.. Calhoun made such a
sudden and extraordinary somerset, and
"sworc eternal friendship with his dcadl-
est enemy" Mr.. Preston stood by him shoul
der to shoulder. From that time, however,
they separated, and have occupied different
and opposite sides of the House, though |
presume they entertain high personal
! respect for each other.
! From his first entrance into the Senate in
1884, Mr.. p. has been one of the foremost
in the front rank of the Wings; in that posi-
ton he has become known throughout tho
Union and had not the term "thc chivalry
of the South" become somewhat stale and
ridiculous, should say he was the person.
ification of Southern chivalry he is the
Chevalier Bayard of America, and if his
own modesty will not permit him, his friends
will inscribe upon his helmet, sans puer, sans
reproche. AN AMERICAN.
TERRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
Springfield, Mass. Oct. Ga terrible acci.
dent occurred yesterday on our Western
Railroad, of which the following are the inn
portant particulars
The regular place Of meeting for the up-
trGin," hence to Hudson at noon. md III.
" doCn train" from Hudson hither in the NOR.
ming. is at Wesifeld, and the orders given
are, if the up train reaches Wesifield first. il
is to wait fifteen or twenty minutes, and then
to proceed cautiously TO Chester if tho
down train reaches Chester past it's regular
time, it is to wait there till the other comes
up. The up conductor, Moore, SAYS that he
waited past the time ut Westfeld, and then
proceeded, and as he was in hurry 10 reach
Hudson for the steamboat, probably was in.
cautious. Conductor Warren. of the down