Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-03
From the Nec Orleans Deitd.
S S. PRENTISS-0RAT0RS AND 0RAT0RICAL
MODELS

It was about thirty years ago that PrentSs commenc
ed in Mississippi, his brilliant legal advocate
and popular First school teacher and law
dent at hatcher, and next lawyer at Ycksburg his
earliest forensic display authentic announcement
of the success and fame which awaited him. From that
moment his rise rapid as it was cleaning. The
blaze of his genius hardly visible on the horizons
verge before it flashed up Sorgeousy TO the zenith
Competitors at eclpsed all who beheld were
! daZzed: the times were entranced.
JF II Claiborne, in his Life and Times of General
Samuel Dale thus sketches-gying in his own language
the impressions of General Dae-the most distinguishing
traits of Prentss as a lawyer orator, and public
man. The occasion referred to in the beginning of the
sketch the session OF the Mississippi Legislature in
| 1886.
THE opposition was led by Mr. Prentiss, whom then
saw for tue first time He the Tecumseh of the Leg
sature and very much like that great in the
troll of his voice the play of his cOunenance, and Pc
cuar way he had of hurting out his words sort Of
Kissing thunder In speaking be was always energetic
often violent and at such times the frOwn Of RedguInt
let was stamped his brow and his expression only
sardonc but satanic de could be pathetic and persu4-
sive and then his voice became paiutye flute, his
eve grew humid his face sad and he seemed cast him
self like a child into ones When he in good
humor his manner became playful his eyes spIrkled his
cheek dimpled and there resisting him The pre-
vang tone of his voice was a spirit stirring clarion note
only harsh aud cultural when dealing in deuuncaton-
He had read much particularly the BiOle Shakespeare
Milton Byron and Scott He had many traits of charac-
ter in common with Byron and many points Of physical
/ resemblance. There was much that was sensual
! in his face but in moments of excitement it
was thoroughly illuminated aud purely intellectual He
had the fancy and imagination Of poet, eXtraordna
nv memory faculty for sarcasm aud wit surpass
ed wit and humor in inexhaustibe stores and a rare
power for analysis and investigations add to this his in
domtable courage and rmness of purpose and have
combination OF mental aud moral attributes such the
world rarely sees lie selected the law for his profession
but in any other demanding great ability aud resolution
he would have become eminent He had the genius that
would have made him a great poet, great scholar,
great general, great mathematician. At he bar he
never had a superior He had not much turn for public
life not much ambition for Office and made great fig
ure in party discussion in fact his political infOT
nation was not extensive and in the OF the
hastings George Poindexter Robert D. Walker, Henry
5 Foote John d. Freeman and others his superb
He seldom read newspapers, and had 40 eXaggera
ted respect for the wisdom of the sovereign people In
the DAYS Of Hamilton he would have been his devoted
friend He respected Madison, buta5hOrred Jeer. D.
lie compelled against his WILL to admire the heroic
character of Jackson, but he strongly expressed his
tempt for john Tyler He 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 constitution
al questions Mr. Pentiss cOucurred with that great
/ urist In their tastes well in their humor and
conyiyal propeuses, there was some resemblance be-
tween them. The exclusion OF these ilusous for
]
handing faculties OF Jackson the scholarship and
pericnce of HarrisOn-a warrior but wholly ig-
norant of public affairs and the OF govern
mont-decply Disguised Mr.. Prentiss.'
If Prcnts- had many trait, of character in common
with Byron, aud many points OF physical resemblance, 80
' '-., bio soi'us cod oH.rlfi P"sIsaI e'r~-ta
very analogous TO those produced by The genius and
ample OF that English poet. Prcntss 30 unfortunate
as to have a shruuken leg, which caused him to walk
with difficulty aided by stick. Wherefore certain
class of his admirers considered fortunate If they could
resemble him, however remotely uucOuthly in that
particular. Limping became almost epidemic among
! them. Those who already limped exaggerated their
lameness Those who did limp lon ed for an occa.
sion to DO So 1t with regard 10 his pecuiartes
a speaker Hardly young limb of the Law was to be
found thpt did blossom forth INFO fierce cxaggera-
tons of all Prentss nimabe pcculiartcs and into fee
BILE efforts reproduce his inimitlble excclences His
little maunersms at the bar did escape their ndis-
crimiuAte mania for imitation. sort of Pren'issopho-
bia ragged with dreadful yiruencc and nearly ruined
morally, intellectually and Professionally whole gene
ration Of young lawyers for always happens in such
cases il his faults and his vices that east
! ly and most generally copied.
Now, the fact Is there much about Prentss that
was anything but exemplary. None but fools and syc0-
plants could coufouud the erocious bullysm in which
he occasionally INDUCED rs advocate, a a public
speaker with he exubeaut expression of high chiy-
arc spirit Chiyarc feelings and refined and elevated
sentiments Prentiss doubt possessed in abundance
but that is no reason that, when impeed by morbid
eagerness for immediate effect exhibit very different
qualities from those, his example should not only be
stunned, but reprobated.
Nor does it always avail to study celebrated orators
like Prentiss models when viewed aside from
qualities that ought especially to be stunned. Pgentss
| apparently ofhand brilhncy and dqM as a speaker,
were above all calculated to msead indscreet and ambi
tious imators. We say apparently olfhand' ETC. for
in reality all his splendid display the results
way Of preparation Of reading of reflection. 1t is idle
to think Of great achievements either with speech peu
without previous culture of some sort II may not be
according to SchoOcrat may be professional; it
may not be artistic; it may not be obvious
cause. But assureiy culture Of some description must
prccede the production Of whatever is great beautiful and
memorable It not calling on Minerva only that
built the Parthenon it not praying 70 Hercules
alone that won the prize for the victor in the Nemean
games. Labor is the complement of etfectual prayer
it is the complement OF productive genius. lie who is
too weak to help himself need pray aspire; he is
beyond hope. The Swiss philosopher right regards
the fundamental requisites Of intellectual and moral cu
tue, when he observed that the wide earth there
not man who could help any other