New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-29
PIERRE sOUI.E.

PIERRE S0ULE,
It has become the duty Of the press to
chronicle the decease of a remarkable
man. Pierre Soule. the once graceful,
eloquent and imprisoned orator, Is no
more. He departed this life on the morn
ing of the twenty-sixth instant, at bis res
idence in this city, and was followed to the
grave on the following Sunday evening by
a very large number of relatives. friends
and admirers. His character and eventtul
life, both private and public, demand more
than ordinary notice, for he had filled
exalted positions at the bar and in the
councils Of State-in law, politics and
diplomacy. 1t is the duty of the press to
speak Justly of all who have become
conspicuous either in the service OF
the state, or aay service that has
benefited mankind {; but when 1t
is speaking Of the dead it should
be careful 10 throw the mantle of charity
over the defects of those who have been
CSlltu utuCtr pdiIiSeAi"his WAN"
be done without injury to the living.
Mr.. Soule was gifted by nature with
genius of a certain kinda peculiar
structure of mind that rendered him
| smart in a certain line: and that line was
oratory. Linked with this in him was an
| unbounded ambition 10 rule and sway
| those who came under his influence.
| These qualities were early developed in
| him in his native country-France 1t
| was there he first sought to make himself
| felt by fierce, impassioned style OF a.
lacking all he thought wrong IN govern
nent. He would arouse the populace, by
passionate appeals, TO revolutionary acts;
he would teach them to overturn govern
ment by violence; not to change 1t by the
force of reasoning. For this he was COM
pelled'to leave France. He came to Re-
publican America, and after mastering the
English language sufficiently commenced
the practice of law in New Orleans. Here
he found his knowledge Of the French Ian
guage very useful. and soon became a
great favorite as a practitioner at the bar,
particularly as criminal lawyer, for he
undoubtedly possessed great power OF
elouuence. He after ward entered into
politics, and gradually grew to be lead
ing man in this State From violent
red Republican in France, be became in
this country pro-slavery Democrat, and
in 1850 took sides with the fire-eaters and
secessionists of the South. He was then
a Senator from this State in Congress,
and opposed the Wise and cool action OF
such men as Clay, Webster and Critten-
den.
When Franklin Pierce was made Presi-
dent, the Democracy rewarded MIR. Soule
for the services be had rendered slavery
BY appointing him minister to Spain. 1t
was expected that in this capacity he would
be able to effect the purchase OF Cuba, and
thus add that island, as slave State, to
the Union. He failed, however, in this
and IN ais whole diplomatic career there
was nothing to add to his notoriety but
duel he fought With the French minister to
the court of Spain. After this be was re-
called, and returned to his profession
N this city. This virtually ended
the public career Of Mr. Soule, al
though ne continued to take part in poll
tics as popular orator. The stand that
he had taken in 1850 had given his politi.
| cal rival, John Slidell, also a Democrat
the advantage over him, for Slidell Their
| pretended to be Union man, and was
elected to the United States Senate as such
to succeed Mr.. Soule. But in 1861 blr
| Slidell turned up a secessionist. and
strange to say, Dlr. Soule a quasi UDior
| man.
Yesterday we attended the funeral obse
| ul,ies OF this celebrated man. His re
mains were placed in a magnificent caske
of rosewood, embossed with silver, cover
ed with thick plate glass, through which
his form was plainly visible. Above hi
coffin, on the wall, hung portrait, take1
when he was Ambassador to Spain. IheI
he was in his prime-of an elegan
commanding figure, robust and strong
his eyes of jet black. flashing be
meath heavy brows. evinclng thu
the genius which dwelt within his soul
AS we turned from that and gazed upol
his classic features now pale in death
above which clustered locks, once of ravel
hue, now snowy white, his brilliant eye
closed forever and his hands meek.
folded, around which twined sacret
rosary, showing that in life prayer wa
habitual with him, we were forcibly re
minded of that fearful change which i
inevitable to all; of the solemn truu
that death makes no distinction, that hi
remorseless hand lays, side by side
the gifted and the strong, the imbecile ant
weak alike, low in the grave. We hearth
svmpathize with the numerous friend
who. robed il the habiliam ents of woe
were weeping around his coffin.
| PIERRE RONAPARTE ACQUITTED