The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-09-20
ANECDOTES OF SARGENT s. PREM
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lished by Derby 4 Jackson, after speaking of
some of the frequenters of the St. Charles Hotel,
New Orleans, and drawing a rough but telling
sketch of "lively men, he goes on as follows:
Sargent S. Prentiss renowned lawyer and
orator He was compound of contradictions.
With noble bust and superb head, he was yet
short statue, and deformed by shrivelled leg
The master of nearly all manly accomplishments
a fearless rider and bold hunter, he yet halted
painfully in his gait with exuberant animal spirits
and matchess powers of conversation, (Which
made him the delight and soul of every social
circle,) he would sometimes, in solitude, locking
himself in for whole days, shed scading tears,
coaded almost to madness by morbid sef-torture
Gifted with every power to win the admiration,
confidence, and love of woman, he shrank from
their society, drcading lest his drawback
should excite unsympathetic remark, and his
genius had already dazzed the first minds of the
country. Born and bred Puritan, he was the
representative man of southwestern life. Pacific
in disposition, and remarkable for sweetness OF
temper he was famous as dueiist. With virtues
of character which won for him the lasting regard
of all good men who ever knew him, it is never
theless computed that he lost hundreds Of thous-
ands of dollars by gambling. The most effective
man on the stump in the country, he, at the
same time, shone conspiciousy in its highest
courts. Cogent in argument, copous in magma
while ne charmed. With memory whose wax
like retentiveness held not only the thoughts and
images but even words, of ancient and modern
poetry there was coupled wit fertile as it was
brilliant, and understanding robust it was
comprehensive and original. He was master of all
the passions Of the human soul, and moved them
as the expert musician draws from his instrument
a concord of sweet sounds. He would stand be-
fore a crowd of repudiating Mississippi voters,
n lofnn
until their faces grew pale and their lips livid with
rage. And then when the pestilence walked the
streets Of the city, and in almost every house there
was found one dead, without thought of personal
danger, he would devote weeks to the bed-sides of
the poor and the stranger, with all the watchful
tenderness and untired patience of a lie
the idol of children and no less of Indian
warriors. He is said to have delivered the greatest
speech ever made in Congress. Before the pistol
of an antagonist at ten PAGES, his mien was calm,
his nerves firm as steel; but if introduced to lady
have been iuG.:crous had it not been so painful.
Take him for all in ALL he seems to have been The
most wonderful man that our country has ever pro-
duced
Leaving Maine his native State, when 10 years
of age, he made his way to Cincinnati, and thence
to Na:chez. His object was, by teaching, to pro-
vide the means for preparing himself for the bar.
Il left Cincinnat,' he said, because everything
was SO tame, everything cheap | couldn't
spend nnepence. | was haunted too, by the
ghosts of slaughtered swine l arrived at Natchez
with one five dollar bill in my pocket. J. knew it
not a capital to trade upon and [ spent it in
the purchase of confidence. So reached
the threshold Of mine host, the Bonface of the
hotel, l ordered bottle of wine with cigars, and
invited the landlord, the only guest, to join
He drank and told him who [ was, what want
ed and what he had to expect in the way of pay for
my fare, beyond what was before us. He locked
at my face, said he would trust it, gave me his
hand, and without a word more did trust me for
board and lodging till got school. | cleared
ground enough Of birchen rods with which |
taught the young idea how to Shoot to entitle ME
to presumption right of public land" He brought
letters of introduction to a wealthy merchant of
Natchez, from whom he borrowed fifteen dollars
with the promise to return 1t as soon as he
able at the close Of his first quarters tuition, he
came in to town with proud heart to fulfill his
pledge, but was shocked by a reproof which
the strict of debt and credit administered for
his delay, and trouble he had given linn. Some
years aftcrward Prentiss gained suit for his OLD
and the generous friend of the old time counted
out five dollar bill as the fee, which the lawyer
had left to his honor.
Removing to Vicksburg, notwithstanding his
youth, and that he was Yankee, he at once took
the foremost position at the bar and was ere long
drawn into the maelstrom of politics. as every man
of decided character at the South soon will be. AL
though he defended many a man charged with
MURDER and no doubt robbed the gallows of it's
due, he never, except in two instances prosecuted
men charged with capital offences One of these
was desperate named Phelps, who, after a series
of high crimes and msdemeanors, setting the off
of the law at defiance, had killed an unoffcnd
ing citizen in cold blood. He had borne himself
throughout the trial with the insoence of bravo,
treating all persons in the court with dsdan
When MIR Prentiss rose as the assistant of the
prosecuting attorney, to deliver his Speech the ruff
fan glared fercely at him, like wild beast ready
to spring upon victim; but as the lawyar pro-
ceedcd to rehcarse his crimes and portrayed them
in the dark coors of their guilt the cuprit quailed
his head sank upon his breast, and he sat abashed
and overwhelmed, not daring to lift his eyes again
until after sentence of death had been pronounced
While in Jail waiting his execution, he sent for
the man who had sealed his fate, and the heart
that had long been chilled and deled in the breast
of guilt softened and barred itself to the prosecutor
He told the story of his life to Mr. Prcntiss and
then mentioned that he had formed the purpose of
escaping during the trial. His plan was two-frd;
first to leap upon his prosecutor who, aside from
his lameness, had the look of mere boy; to kill
him, and then in the midst of the confusion secure
his own flight lie was deferred from attempting
to execute this scheme, by reading in the eve and
bearing of the youthful orator unmstakeable signs
that such an attempt would prove an ignominious