The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-07-04


extremely allie, while well knn mat h
speech Il Representatives, the Rsi Of the De
c ranked The best delivered al period
hqa Mr. frn in the various caeues and positon
Aich placed during his short asH brilliant career
viii readily admit the singular versatility # ~ powers
The author Of these liu nest eideafed friend wid
# 49, ~ ~ i; i,s II he disparity Of their aees r. 4
last twenty years Poor Pnis we shall never more enjoy
hase flashes Of nnent ssIe wont the table 4
nor Il startled ana sssad BY those corrascaons 81 fancy
nor BY pah A which he remarkable. Bud
sha long dspos Re side void RAJ ks Of te roless
caused y his prena ase and dwell upon memory Of
noble qualities csad such genius, with temperament
& gitksat irailtiss ttt us not allude to them.
'Tess i hsy alike n 81 IL ss trembling hope
DIED,
Az Longwood, near Natchez, on the evening
y the lst inst, SARGEANT S. PRENTIss, of New
'Orleans, aged about AZ years.
This announcement will be received with the
deepest sensibity through the valley Of the west
No man was more extensively known, or admired
or the brilliant qualities Of mind or beloved for the
generous traits Of character. There seemed to bel
singular fitness in the place Of his death. In|
Natchez he first found a home, when poor and
.inendless he sought 10 make his way in the
world There he found friends to appreciate and
foster his genius and when fortune and fame opened
70 him wider field ofexerton, this was his favorite
place Of relaxation. There he formed those holy and
FENDER ties which bind man to life-and there, sur
pounded by his family and the friends Of his early
gand obscure days, he terminated a life which had
been so brilliant in its career
Cut the branch, that bore the goodly fruit
4 And withefed is ApolO'slaurel Tree,
"A MIR. Prentiss was native Of Maine, and emgra-
tied to Mississippi about the year 1926 He passed
Ia year or two as tutor in private family in the
.lneighborhood Of Natchez, and pursued his legal
studes under the instruction Of Gen. Felix Huston
IA He was soon called to the Bar, and his first
speech before Jury is said to have been marked
'tby that wit and eloquence which never deserted
him. He soon moved to VicksDurg, then an insig.
'nihoant village, and became at once the leader oil
4the Bar in that section Of the State. He was
tengaged in a suit involving the most valuable por.
aton Of the city, which he gained. The result Of
3this suit gave him high reputation as lawyer
while the ground which he received as fee, made
him one Of the weaIthiest men in the State His
1pFactiee was for many years extremely lucrative
In 1887 he first became known to the people of the
United States, by his speech in the House Of Repre-
sentatives at Washington, where he and his col
league Word, claimed the seats held by Col. J. F.
9H Claiborne, (now editor Of the Lafayette States
4 man. and w H. Gholson, now District Judge of
the United States for Mississippi
Mr. Prenuss was heard BY tie House, and that
speech at once established his claim 10 be consid-
cred one of ablest Parliamentary debaers in the
'counry. Logical, legal sarcastic, pathetic, sub
lime, it made an impression such as no speech on al
subject so purely local and personal had ever pro.
ldueed. Though the democratic party had a large
majority, and though twas looked upon as a party
measure the claim of Mr. Prentiss was only reject.
led by the casting vote Of the Speaker, J. X Polk.
The candidates were sent back to the people, Mr.
Prentiss canvassed the State, and was elected by
san overwhelming vote. During his brief service in
he House, he distinguished himself by his brilliant
Isloquence warm partisan, and prominent du.
Wing high party lines, his speeches were received by
3hs political friends with admiration, and even his
opponents were forced to admit their briancy and
power.
The ease with which he acquired princely for
tnne, encouraged habits of prouse expenditure and
IBIS very generous nature led him to lend his means
and his credit to his friends, without measure OF
stint He built extensively on his Vicksburg prop.
terty entered into heavy speouations, loaned his
Ename without consideration The terrible storm
Gof 80 and 40 dssipated his fortune almost as
rapidly as it had been made-all but that mine Of
wealth which lay hid in his great intellect Though
IN the enjoyment of large practice in Mississippi
: he painted for a wider field of exertion, and he
determined to move to New Orleans Il was a
hazardous undertaking well-earned reputa-
tons had been wrecked in this great city. new
n system OF law had to be mastered-it was not like
kmovlng from one common law State to another
but it was passing into jurisdiction where the
n laws Of Rome held sway, and the imperial sceptre
Nstill had power-though verging on forty Mr..
Prentiss did not hesitate He care here to reside in
the fall OF lS45 and at once commanded lucrative
.7praotice, which was rapidly increasing. As well
I'm the Supreme Court of the State and in the Fed
&eral Court, he ranked with the first. Now that he
dead, will not be deemed invidious TO the living
Tor friend to say that as popular orator he had
no equal in the Southwest Gifted with a rich
Nvoice of great compass and power of moduation-
with face of eminent beauty and intellectualtv-
-" His gestures did obey
The oraoular mind, that made his features glow
And when his curved lips, half open lay,
a PASSIONS dlynest stream had made mpetuous way -
h His imagination was as wild aud free of wing
Vas Eden's garden bird which iuttered and toyed
with every beautiful flower, while his wit relieved
the tension of the heart strings drawn TO pain BY
\ ibis pathos. Never did we hear man who hat
4AAiuOA hpiu vi iidhsts. II tfleAu once SAID K
7him in our presence, "Prentiss you always mes
Smerize me when you speak." He answered, " ther
i IS an affair Of reciprocity, for multitude Away,
celebrities me p One secret OF his great power
undoubtedly was the sincerity OF his speeches--th,
sympathy which bound him to his audience, wa,
/ the tie which bound them to him. 1t was as I
lawyer, however, that his early and intimate friends
3most admired his talents. 1t is rarely that vivic
imagination pointed wit and strong reasoning power
are united. Where, however, there is this union
we have the character of the perfect orator. Such
was Q Connel-such was Prentiss
ofoar friend, as a man, we have not the heart Ic
speak. Where he was known he was loved al
such for the kindness and generosity of his nature
las he was admired for the brlliancy of his genius
and the power ofhs intellect
He leaves wife and children 10 mourn his
death, but to treasure his memory. Amid the
-. L. !. .