Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-03-02
SARGENT SMITH PRENTIss.
's The Grandest Orator this Country
Has Ever Produced "a brilliant
sketch Of Most brilliant Career.

n
burn delivered in Louisville lecture on
the life of S. s. Prentiss. From the
Courier-Journal we copy the annexed
account Of it:
Mr.. Milburn began by drawing vivid
picture of the flush times of Mississippi,
the most remarkable epoch in the annals
of this country. To that wild, rude, yet
chivalrous land, from the seahoard of
New England and the Middle States,
drifted the most enterprising, bold and
gifted young spirits, in search of wealth
and fame; each hoping by his own un-
aided genius, to represent the young
State some day in the councils of the
nation. The reckless spirit begotten Of
the Union Bank bonds, the Mississippi
bubble; the prevailing ethics Of the
code, and the peculiar characteristics Of
the people, at once the cause and the eff
feet of this state Of things, were splen7
didly portrayed. Into the midst Of such
life, with his warm, impulsive, conyivial
nature, was thrown Sargent Smith Prem
tiss, in the autumn of 1928, He settled
at Natchez, and, teaching school by day
and applying himself to the science OF
the law by night, he soon procured
leisure to practice, and secured a part
nership with Felix Huston, prominent
lawyers of that section of the State
The young genius leaped at once, full
armed into the public arena, and his
fame at once swept through the State
and the nation. He devoted himself for
several years exclusively to his profes-
sion, and mingled but little in politics,
although his trumpet gave forth no un-
certain sound, He was ardently attached
to the principles of the Wing party, and
worshiped Henry Clay with an enthusi-
asm bordering on idolatry. The State
was strongly Democratic, and the little
minority of the opposite party struggled
against great odds. Mr.. Prentiss was
not long permitted to follow. When
twenty-nine years of age, he was nomin-
ated for Congress, and by the magic OF
his unequaled eloquence was triumph
antly elected. Gholson and Claiborne
had been previously elected by the Dem
ocrats to fill an unexpired term; Prem
tiss and Wood we're elected to the subse-
quent regular session, and, with the
certificate of election of Governor Lynch,
went to Washington. The fame of the
Young orator had long preceded
him to the capitol, and on reaching there
his seat was contested by his predecessor.
Then began the great struggle, in which
Mr.. Prentiss was the chief actor, over
what was known as the Mississippi
contested election" For the first time
in the halls of Congress the young De
mosthenes hurled his thunderbolts. Mr..
Webster Clay, Everett, every. one in
fact with whom Mr.. Milburn had ever
conversed, pronounced it the grandest
Grafton they had ever heard. He occu-
pied three days in its delivery. He stood
there, young Hercules, with the fate Of
the constitutional rights of State lean
ing on him alone for the support of its
imperilled honor and liberties, at stake.
When he began speaking it was soon
noised outside that the most wonderful
speech men ever listened to was being
delivered The Senators from the other
end of the capitol left their seats and
came pouring into the House. The
news reached the ears of the Supreme
Court, then in session, and the Judges
quit their benches to listen throughout,
entranced, and the different departments
of State left their duties and focked
around the speaker. Mr.. Legare, of
South Carolina, replied, Prentiss re-
ioinder sent him to bed for a week, of
modification and chagrin. The House,
by one vote, referred the matter to the
electors of Mississippi. Then did Mr..
Prentiss make the most remarkable can
vass thatwas ever known in this country.
How he thrilled the people-how his
trumpetvoice rallied the hosts from coun-
ty to county as he went, demolishing the
Goliahs of Democracy, fighting duels at
the drop of the hat, and, in a perfect
whirlpool Of the very widest political ex-
citement, sent back in triumph to Wash
ington-all was told by Mr.. Milburn in
manner we cannot hope to represent
But the great orator fell a victim to
his own boundless generosity, philan-
thropy and eminently social nature. He
lost at the card-table, during his term in
Congress, over ninety thousand dollars,
and by indorsing for friends, tens and
hundreds of thousands. Nolawyer ever
received such princely fees, or threw for
tunes away so lavishly. of his inner
life, his tenderness and devotion as
father, husband, friend, and the scene
around the death-bed of the brilliant or
ator and statesman, the lecturer spoke
feelingly-thrillingly. The verdict of
all who ever heard him is, that Sargent
Smith Prentiss was the greatest orator
this continent has ever produced.
His deep, rich voice could reach, dis
tinetiy, the very outskirts of an audience
of twenty thousand persons. He took
the judgments, the reason, the passions
of men by storm. Different persons have
gone into ecstacies bordering on mad
ness. beneath his words, and have been
carried away by their friends in swoon.
How dangerous was such magic power,
lodged in the hands of mortal man-and
vet in this case it was controlled by the
kindest, warmest heart that ever beat
His mouth was perfect Apollos bow
his outstretched arm welded soepter
that made kings, and princes, and nations
tremble.
T.he Mysterious Swifeh-An Explain