Semi-weekly Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1851-1852, 1851-02-07


jwarls against giants.
'Tle SANDER sui: was set for the Glh, and the
throng of spectators grew in numbers as well
as excitement; and what may seem strange, the
current of Public sentiment now ran decidedly
for Hopkins. His money had procured point
ed witnesses, who served most efficiently his
powerful advocates. Indeed, so triumphant
had been the success of the previous day, t!iat
when the slnnler case was called, Mary Ellis
ton was LEFT without an attorney-they had all
withdrawn. The igmy reti.ogge,s dared not
brave again the sharp wit OF Pike, and the
scathing thunder Of Prentiss.
"fiave you no counsel9' inquired Judge
Mills, looking kindly at the plaintiff.
No. they have all deserted ne, and am
too poor to employ any more replied tine
beautiful Mary, bursting into tears
.!n such case, will not some chlv"lrous
member OF the profession volunteer" asked tue
Judge, glancng around the bar.
The thirty lawyers were silent as death.
Il will, yorr honor" said voice from the
thickesl pat of the crowd, situated behind the
bar.
At the torres Of that voice, many started
halfway from their seats and perhaps there was
not heart in the immense throng which did
not beat something quicker-itwas so unearth-
ly sweet, clear, ringing, and muurntul.
The first sensation, however, was changed
into general laughter, when tall gauut, spec.
tral figure that nobody present remembered
ever to have seen, tlbowed his way through
the crowd, and placed himself within the bar
His appearance was problem to puzzle the
sphinx herself. His high, pale brow, and small,
nervously twitching face, seemed alive with
the concentrated essence and cream OF genius.
hut then his nfantine blue eyes; hardly visible
beneath their massive arches, looked dim,
dreamy, almost unconscious; aud bis clothing
was so cxceediuglysshabby, that the court hesi-
tated to LIT the case proceed under lis man.
:igcmcnt.
"IIas your name hcen entered OIL the roll Of
tie Stale:' demanded tht Judge suspiciously.
-. i; nmatcrial about my name being en-
tered Oh your rus.' answered the stranger,
his thin, Dooicss lips curling upinto fend-
i>h sAccr. .! may be allowed to appear once,
10y the courtesy OF the Court and Bar. Here
is my license from the highest tribunal in
America and he handed Judge Mills IL broad
parchment.
1'i,e ;Iia Immediately went on.
In the examination OF witnesses, the stranger
e'iictd hGi little ingenuity, As WAS COMMONLY
thought. lie suffered each one t" TIL IN; own
story without Interruption, tr"u5i hr c"ntrited
To maze r,ci one Of tarm TIL it over two or
tnrc. ti.nts. iirput few {. c.o5s-Gncst'"nS, wIr:i,
VITA hern witnesses, only serve to co rect mis-
taxes; tld he nlld, no notes, w,lic.' in mighty
IA moi, always trnd u rM3a:riss iht rN.
ti,, ,,luiu-
ill he had Il rlsht TO tue opening sp 'eth. II
We'll Us lnc clos but to the a>toIi .hnrmt oi
every ole he d,clincd the former, and lowe
tie d:i,nce to lead of: Inca Il snaiow might
have b..n observed to tit acruss the fin. a'u'cs
OF Pix, :ud to da:ken ercn the b il 1t eyes of
preatis$. 'rhey saw they had canghta IartH;
bat WAC il WAS, or how it happened, 1t WAS IN.
possible to guess.
CoIon.l Ashley, spoke fist. H. dealt the
jury dis, Of that close, dty logic, With years
afterwards, rendered him famous in the Seuat"
oftic United statrr.
The poet, Albert PIKE, followed, with rich
We Of wit, and hail.to rent OF eau Ill riiIenl' |
in wiic!l yoI nIy BE- sate neither the plaintiff |
nor the pilialif 5 'aygsd attorney WAS either !
forgotten or spared
The great Prcutss conrlnleI for t.lc defen.
liant, with g!oy Of gorgeous words, brilliant
AS showers OF falling stars and with final
bust o! o.atorysthat brought the house dpw'
in cheers, il which tae swo.n jury themselves
ioiued Notwithstanding the stern "order." Or
ie:" Of the beach. Thus onderlully suscep-
!i1le are the Southwestern people to the charms
Vi i:npassioneI rloquence.
1t was then the strangers turn. He had re-
l,ai:,cd apparently abstracted during all ht
previous speeches. Still, and staiyht and NO
ioul.ss ia his seat, his pale, smooth forehead,
shooting up high like a mountaln-cone OF
,now bat for that eternal twitch, that ca lie and
vent prrpelually in hi, shallow Oh 'eks,S you
would have taken him for a me e man OF
marble, or huinln form carved in ice. Even
,is dn dreamy eyes were Invisible beneath !
hose gray, shaggy eyebrows. I
But now at last he rises-be!o'e the bar
aiIins, not behind it and SO near to the won
IerinS Jury that he might touch the foreman
With his lon, bony finger. WITH eyes still half
hut, and standing rigid as a pillar of iron, his
hin lips curl as if in measu; eess scorn, slight !
y part and the voice comes forth. At first, q
was low and sweet, imsiauating itself through /
he brain. as an artless tune, winding its way d