Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-04-20
5elrtteo 4flisfeIlanp.
s. s. Prentiss, of Mississippi.

and law student at Matches, and next a
lawyer at Vicksburg, his earliest forensic
display was an authentic announcement
of the success and fame which awaited
him. From that moment his rise was as
rapid as it was cleaning The blaze of
his genius was hardly visible on the ho-
rizon's verge, before it flashed up gor-
geously to the zenith. Competitors were
at once eclipscd; all who beheld were
dazzled /; the times were entranced.
j. f. II. Claiborne, in his Life and
Times of General Samuel Dale, thus
sketches-giving in his own language
the impressions of General Dale--the
most distinguished traits of Prentiss as
lawyer, an orator, and a public man.
The occasion referred to in the beginning
of the sketch, was the session Of the
Mississippi Legislature in 1886:
The opposition was led by Mr..
Prentiss, whom / then saw for the first
time. He was the Tecumseh of the
Legislature, and very much like that
great orator in the control of his voice,
the play Of his countenance, and pecu-
liar way he had Of hurting out his words
a sort of Kissing thunder. Tn speaking
he was always energetic, often violent,
and at such times the frown of Red
Gauntlet was stamped on his brow, and
his expression not only sardonic, but sa-
tanic. He could be pathetic and per-
suasive, and then his voice became plain
tive as flute, his eye grew humid, his
face sad, and he seemed to cast himsel f
like child into ones arms When he
was in good humor, his manner became
playful, his eyes sparkled, his check
dimpled, and there was no resisting him.
The prevailing tone of his voice was a
spirit stirring, clarion note, only harsh
and gutteral when dealing IN denuncia-
ton. He had read much, particularly
the Bible, Shakespeare, Milioo, Byron
and Scott. He had many traits of char
acter in common with Byron, and many
points ofphysical Resemblance There
was much that was sensual in his face,
but in moments of excitement il was tho
roughly Illuminated AMI pals inte,lec-
tual lie had tie fan and imasiua-
ion Of q poet, All extra 1inary memory,
a faculty for sarcasm and wit never sur
passed, wit and humor in inuxhaustibie
stores, and rare power of analysis and
investigation add to this his indomita-
BILE courage and irmness of purpose,
and we have a combination of mental
and moral attributes such as the world
rarely sees. lie selected the law for his
profession, but in any other, demanding
great ability and resolution, he would
have become eminent. He had the ge-
MUS that would have made him great
poet, great scholar, great general, or
a great mathematician. At the bar he
never had a superior. He had not much
turn for public life not much ambition
for office, and made no great figure in
mere party discussion; in fact, his politi-
cal information was not extensive, and in
the controversies of the hustings, George
Poindexter, Robert j. Walker, Henry S.
Foote, John d. Freeman, and others,
we're his superiors. He seldom read
newspapers, and had no exaggerated
respect for the wisdom of the sovereign
people. In the days Of Hamilton he
would have been his devoted friend. He
respected Madison, but abhored Jcffer-
son. He was compelled, against bis
will, to admire the heroic character of
Jackson, but he strongly expressed his
contempt for John Tyler. lie admired
and loved Mr.. Clay, his great soul, his
big brain, and his lofty patriotism. But
Mr.. Webster, with his antique head, his
Homeric imagination, and grand ideas
of nationality, was the real Interpreter Of
his political opinions. On all constitu-
tional questions, Mr.. Prentiss concurred
with that great jurist. In their tastes,
as we'll as in their humor and conviyial
propensities, there was some resemblance
between them. The exclusion Of these
illustrious men for Gen. Taylor, literally
mere chieftaiD, without the command
ing faculties Of jackson, or the scholar
ship and experience Of Harrison-a vet
eran warrior, but wholly ignorant of
public affairs and the structure Of our
government deeply Disguised Mr.. Prem
tiss."
If Prentiss had "many traits of char
acter in common with Byron, and many
points of physical resemblance" the in
Auenco of bis genius and example of that
English poet--Prentiss was so uDfortu-
nate as to have shrunkcn leg, which
caused him to walk with difficulty, aided
by stick. Wherefore certain class Of
his admirers considered it fortunate IL
they could resemble him, however re-
motely or uncouthly, in that particular.
LimpiDg become almost epidemic among
them. Those who already limped, ex-
lggerated their lamencss. Those who
lid not limp, longed for an occasion to
10 so. So il was with regard to his pc
as speaker. Hardly young
limb Of the law was to be found that did
not blossom forth into fierce exaggera-
ions Of all Prentiss' ininitable peculiar
ties, and into feeble efforts to reproduce
his inimitable excellencies. His little
nannerisms at the bar did not escape
heir indiscriminate mania for imitation.
sort Of Prentissophobia ragged with
Dreadful yirulence, and nearly ruined,
morally, intellectually, and professionally
! whole generation Of young lawyers
ior, as always happens IN such clses, it