Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-05-23
0be Dailp birsiniau.
From the Mobile Tribune.
William e.. Preston.


Standing before one of tho FIRE. places you
see tall man apparently about fifty years Of
age. His person is envelopcd in an old plaid
cloak. but you see at glance from the ANNA
ton of bis face, and the graceful motion oil his
arms that he is man of mark, and he is sur
rounded by several gentlemen. who are listen
ing to his remarks with profound attention.
Suddenly no throws his cloak aside, and ad-
vances. The first tones of his voice fall upon
your ear like the "sweet south" III rise to
advocate the motion ofmy friend, General
Hayne The giant Of the west woos the bride
of the south-glve him the bride y Who Is
he that opens his discourse like an emperor p
1t is William c. Preston. and he is advocating
the incorporation of the Charleston and Gin
cinnatI railroad company. This was subse.
qucnt to the meeting OF the celebrat ,d nulify
ing convention of which he was not mem
ber-but his speech was one Of the most su-
perb specimes of oraiory that ever fell from
mortal lips When he described the prosper
ity of England under the influence of her in.
corporations, and compared thorn TO tho sails
of ship rising tier above tier, as she marched
along the "mountain wave" he rose TO his
full height, and throwing his hands above his
head, advanced step, as tito perfect the pic
ture. The effect was electrical; you saw The
image, and recognised the power of the Orator.
This gentleman vas one Of tho most gifted
of the heroic band of nulilcrs and subsequently
became one of the most dlsting gushed statesmen
Of the country eectrifyng the Senate. and all
ranks and classes Of men, with that machless
oratory which in lis effects was like oil those
tremendous tropical storms. which sweep
way everything before them. He spoke like
a man inspiredl towering above the conflict of
debate, and bathing in the sun bright excel
lence Of his own glorious intellect. His speech-
es during the notification controversy, eclps.
cd everything since the time Of Patrick Hen
ry, "he forest born Demosthcncs, who shook
tho Philip of the seas" HIS first speech in
the Senate of the United States was highly
complimented his opponents, particularly
by Forsyth, who said that he could well be
lievc the blood of Henry flowed in the veins
Of the eloquent Caronan. And such is IN
deed, is the fact, for Preston's mother was q
near relative of the great Virginian. But 1t
was not to his oratory alone that Preston was
indebted for reputation, for he was a dstin'
guished lawyer a brilliant wit and superb con-
versationalist indeed we once heard Senator
Butler say that the most brilliant things he CIV
er heard from any man In conversation were
uttered by Preston. Thisis great praise, when
we reflect that Butler has long mingled fnmi-
liary with the most celebrated men of the
country, and is himself inferior to no man in
the Union, as an eloquent speaker, and fascina-
ting conversationalist.
In fact, William Claiborne Preston was the
most eloquent man that America has produc-
ed since tha revolution. No orator in the coun
try could stand before him for single instant
He lowered above the argument, and the au
dence, in those splendid harangues that stir
red up your blood until you were ready. like
the Athenians Of old,to take up arms and march
against the Macedonianl-O how great how
noble how sublime were the oratons of Pres
toni Jefferson said, that Patrick Henry,spake
as Homer wrote, but Preston was the god q
Homer-The Jupiter who,
"Shook his anbrosial curs, and gave the nod
The stamp of Fate, and sanction ofthe God;'
and as he carried yon away in perfect storm
of oratory, enchanting your very soul by tho
fascinating fervor and picturesque elegance
of his eloqnence, you exclaimed with Hamlet
-"What piece of work is mani How no.
Bile in reasonl how infinite in faculriesl in form
and moving, how express and admiraGlel in
action, how like an ANGEL In apprehension how
like god! the beauty OF the worldl the para
gon of anmasl'
Tup CyupY Tv op Du uspor,suA Couurr q