The Yazoo Democrat., 1859-05-14
[For the Dennocrat.1
PEN SKETCHES OF SOME ACTORS IN THE
SOUTHERN CONVEN FION


Chas. Clark, of Bolivar county, too we'll
known to the people of Mississippi, to
require an extended notice at the hands of
your correspondent. Having been member
of the Legislature, he is we'll qualified to
discharge his duties, and seems to have
consciousness of the importance of his posi-
ton. Though not a man of great or eleva>
ted abilities, he is known for his fine common
sense and gallant and gentlemanly bearing.
That thin visaged man just in front of
the speakers stand,. upon whose forehead
could be seen the lines Of deep and profound
thought, is Mr.. L. w. Of Spratt, South Car
olina-tbe acknowledged hon of the
assembly; for, upon coming into the Hall,
the first question is, have you seen Spratt2"
He delivered speech on Tuesday morning,
lin advocacy of The re opening of the African
slave-trade 1t has been highly compli-
mented by all parties for its rhetorical beauty,
os we'll as for its powerful logic. His mind
is analytic aud searching, exhausting all the
arguments in favor of any proposition-or
arraying even objections against it. He is
about thirty,fve years of age, and from his
care-worn countenance, seems to have under
gone much physical and mental suffering.
He is six feet high, straight and slender,
Heavy wbiskers conceal the most of his
face, which is none the loser by being in
the background, for he is not handsome.
His hair is very dark, though it is not jet
black His thoughtful look gives him a
cold, repulSive appearance. A man of fine
powers of mind, and of unimpeachable integ.
rity, be may rise to eminence, if not wre ,ked
by an impracticable adherence to- useless
subjects. He is lawyer of Charleston, S.
c., where he occupies . prominent position
at the bar.
The celebrated reviewer of New Orleans,
j. D. B. DeBow, is here. He is remarkably
ugly, and, we believe, widower Abste-
mious in his habits, from his appearance he
would be taken for e hard student His
thick lips aud cadaverous features would
render him an observable man in any crowd.
Wise, of Virginia, resembles him consider
ably: both possessing mouths capacious
almost to deformity. He is quiet and un-
obtrusive in his manners, though with but
little of the metropolitan elegance about
him. Some think he has greater amount
of statistical information stored away 10 his
brain than any man in the Union, which is
doubtless true. In his political views he is
considered as States Rights man, and has
published some able articles in defence OF
that policy, A constant attendant upon the
deliberations of assemblies of this kind, he
has for years occupied conspicuous place in
them. He made speech in reply to gen.
tleman from Port Gibson, by the name Of
Moody, who attacked the States Right:
party for some errors that he imagined them
to have committed He was wthered by
the remarks of Prof. DeBow, and doubtless
felt hiso own small significance His speect
in behalf of the apprentice system was ;
proudly stupid effort, aud provoked muct
merriment among the audience. DeBow il
a pleasant speaker and with practice woul(
succeed in that branch.
Upon the stand, you see some one cutting
up" queer capers, and he seems to be tryin,
to turn a summerset for the qualification o
the audience, who are convulsed with laugh
ter at his unique performances, but his pant
being too tight 10 the instep, he is prevsnte
therefrom. See how eagerly all watch hi
movements; with uplifted hands, horror
!, stricken countenance, and legs in the postur
Of one attempting TO throw a QUOT, he
prepared to promulgate solemn sentence
with the PREDATORY remark Of $50 help m
God !" How elastic is his tread, how prou
and defiant bis bearing He has tried t
be the leader of all parties and all men tina
have fourished or lived in Mississippi, unit
within the last few years lie has been
member of the State Legislature, Senate
in Congress, political exiIe-nay, nation
al outcast, and after several years Of war
deriDg, he has finally returned to the city
which thirty years ago witnessed his bri
liant debut upon the stage of action. H
! has now sunk below the level of politics
respectabilily, and appears to be frantic an
) furious when he coutemplates the elevatio
Of men Of meaner abilities than he posses
ses, but whose devotion to democratic doc
trines and patient toll have arrived at til
high positions of the nation. Though
t man of great abilities, he can rise no NOR
r His last attempt at political promotion wa
upon the shores Of the far off Pacific. TIL
man is the renowned H. Stuart Foote. !
!, sly insinuations and accusations by implic,
tion, he has had no equal since the days
the immortal Randolph of Roanoke, and
torture, torment and tautalize an oppouer
i the happiest thing of his life, though thcl
IS no kinder hearted man on earth than b.
His unquiet and restless spirit keeps him b.
fore the public, much to the regret of b
most sincere friends. Two important screu
we're left out in the construction of his mel
tai machinery, which have kept his inte
lectual faculties in such rickety condition
, as to produce the impression of bis insanit
upon the public mind. The first is wal
of devotion to principles, and too much an
bition, and not enough patience to bide b
time.
The youthful appearance of the veDerabl
aud aged ex Governor has been commente
} upon so much recently that tho subject
now hreadbare. But to get q correct pic
turs of him now, see the last number of th
Vlcksburg Sun, in which, with great arts