The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1853-11-09

his which, in mighty memories, always te,
md embarrass. The examination being er
ces as counsel for the plaintiff, he had rigl
-;tv the opening speech, as well as the close
md to the astonishincnt of every one, he de
ths the former, and allowed the defence to
, a Oft. Then shadow might have been
"a served to fit across the features of Pike,
nv to darken even the bright eyes of Prem
ife They saw that they had "caught Tart.
I. but who it was, or how it happened. was
81 possible to guess.
ed Col. Ahshley spoke first. He dealt
H. jury dish Of coarse, dry logic, which VI
be afterwards rendered him famous in the Sos,
); Of the Union. ,.,.t
" The poet, Albert Pike, followed with
IN vein Of wit, and hail-torrent of ridicule.
If which you may he sure neither the plain
s nor the plaintiffs ragged attorney were eth
4 forgotten or spared.
vi The great Prentice concluded for the 4
/ fendant, with glow of gorgeous wor.
brilliant as shower Of falling stars. and wi
J. . final burst Of oratory that brought down Il
fhouse in cheers, in which the sworn il,
themselves joined Notwithstanding the stsr
; order" OF the bench. Thus wonderfully 81
; ceptble,are the southwestern people to tn
charms impassioned eloquence.
1t wasthen the strangers turn. He ha,
remained tspparently distracted during al
the previous speeches. Still, and straight
and motionless in his seat, his pale, srsoctl
forehead shooting up high like a mountain
cone OF snow; but for that eternal twitch tha
came and went perpetually in his sallow
cheeks, you would have taken him for j
mere man Of marble, or human form carved
IN ice. Even his dim, dreamy ewes vera
brows. ~
3: But now, at last, he rises-before Tho bar
railing, not behind i:-and 80 near to tha
wondering jury that he might touch the fore
man with his long, bony finger. With ewes
stu half shut, and standing rigid as pillar
OF iron, his thin lips curl as if in measureless
scorn, slightly part, and the voice Comes
!orh: AT first 1t is low and sweet, insinuatine
Itself through the brain as an artless tune
slnd,ng glt-a j. magic iaeal.ucn;; vnr,.,sa 81 as
peaker proceeds without gesture or the
east sign Of excitement, to tear in pieces the
'rgument Of Ashley, that melts away at his
ouch as frost before the sunbeam. Everyl
me looked surprised. His logic was at once
o brief, and SO luminously clear, that the
udest peasant could comprehend it without
fort.
Anon he came to the dazzling wit Of the
'oet lawyer, Pike. Then the curl Of his lip
rev sharper; his shallow face kindled up |
md his eyes began to open, dim and dreamy
% longer, but vivid as lightning, red as fire.
'lobes, and glaring like twin meteors. The
1hole soul was in the eye-the full heart
treamed out on the face. In five minutes.
likes wit seemed the foam of fcllv, and his |
nest satire horrible profanity, when con-
rasted with the inilnitable sallies, and exter-
1inating sarcasms Of the stranger ,interspersed
nth jest and anecdote TINT filed the forum
nth rosss Of laughter.
Then, without 80 much as bestovinp an
llusion on Prentice, he turned short on the
e1ured witnesses Of Hopkins, tore their tes-
nnony into atoms, and hurled in their faces
lch terrible invective, that all trembled as
nth an ague, and two Of them actually fed
from the court-houso.
The excitement of the crowd was BECOMING
'emendous. Their united life and soul
ppeared to hang on the burning tongue Of
le stranger. He inspired them with the Il
overs Of his own passions. He saturated
lem with the poison of his own malicious
elings He seemed to have stolen Natures K
ng hidden secret Of attraction. He was
le sun to the sea Of all thought and emotion. 4
hich rose and fell, and boiled in billows as s
!: chose. But bis greatest triumph was 10
- j 81 ~ sssax n y "
His eyes began to glare filrtively 1t the &. ! /
nm. Hopkins, and his lean, taper fingers =
owly assulned the same direction. he Il
.anmsd the wretch with decentralization,
Fong evidence, and impregnable argument, q
ltting OF all hope Of escape. He piled up 4
lge bastions Of finsurmountable facts. h
de dug beneath the murderer and SANDER. &
. feet, bitches Of dilemnas, such a. no Is
phistry could overleap, and no stretch Of fISs
genuity evade; and having thus. as soma h
ight say, impounded his victim, and girt Il
m about like scorpion in circls 81 fire, Ic
} stripped himself to the work Of, massacre. Il;
Oh then, but twas vision both alori. "
= and dreadful to behold tie orator. His n
tons, before graceful a. the wave of 4 10
aden willow in the breeze, grew .impetuous ID
the motion Of an oak in the hurricane. In
. voice became ! trumpet filled with Wild n
rflpoohs deafening The ears with crashes lls
power, md yst intermingled all The wtilaitl
u asNeet under-song Of the softest cadence. n