Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-04-26
JOHN HAMPDEN PLRAsANTs.
sketch of Noted Virginia JOurn-
aItat of the 0lden Time-His Duel
and Death.

lnio mOrnluR WHne passing Iuc w ny
Office dropped in to get copy of thai
! journal of a previous date. Glancing
up at the wall there saw the portrait o.
one of the mournfulest faces | ever look
ed upon. | knew almost instinctively
that it was the portrait of John Hamp
den Peasants, the founder of the Whie
and one Of the most brilliant Journalists
of the age in which he lived. There was
classic mould about the features that
enchained and charmed me. The severe
and pensiYe aspect, the gentle and ami
able lines Of the mouth, the soft light OF
the eye and the exquisite expression Of
Intelligence that seemed rather to repose
upon the sorrowful, beardless face, told
that it was the face of no ordinary man.
The brows, slightly contracted, indicated
pain of spirit. There appeared to be
some inward torture which the sufferer
would conceal from the world; there
seemed to be secret shaft ranking in
his breast which would receive new
barb and sting, if exposed to the cold
and pitiless glance of the vulgar crowd
there was a shrinking reserve and yet
an openness and frankness which could
only belong to nature singularly proud
and sensitive. 1t was face which a
mother might well worship--so mild and
benignant and refined and intellectual.
Making myself known to Colonel j.
G. Shields, the present proprietor Of the
Wing and former associate and friend of
Mr.. Peasants, begged that he would
give me some incidents connected with
his lite He cheerfully acceded to my
request, and / learn from a mutual
friend that to talk about Mr.. Pleasants
is to him labor of love. | could read.
lily have detected this; for, as he would
revive the incidents of his life and APP
proach the sad conclusion of it, his voice
betrayed decided emotion, and his eye
at one time seemed to fill with tear of
tender memory. Having been intimately
acquainted with Mr.. Peasants through
the stormiest and most eventful years of
his life, and having had fair opportuni-
ties for observing the excellence Of his
character, he could not dwell upon the
subject without manifesting the deepest
feeling.
l learn from document furnished
me by Colonel Shields, that in 1918; Mr..
Il
one, married lady of Lynchburg, and
located in that city for the purpose Of
practicing his profession, the law. He
failed in the law, whether from want of
application, from distaste for its dull
and dry details, or from any of the many
causes that always have led to failure in
a profession so exacting in its require
ments and jealous of its claim, does not
appear. 1t was while waiting for real
clients, and becoming weary of imagin-
ary ones, that he devoted some of his
unoccupied time to writing paragraphs
for the Lynchburg press. His articles
we're so sprightly and attractive that he
was soon induced to enter the field OF
journalism as the editor of the journal
to which he had been contributing.
After remaining in Lynchburg until
1924, he, with Mr.. Butler, started the
Constitutional Whig in Richmond. The
location of the office was in cellar on
Main street. The first edition was
printed on hand press which required
two pulls to work off the paper. This
press was very old, the stone having
been brought from Williamsburg during
the Revolutionary war, and was the old
est printers stone in the United States
1t had been imported from England,
and upon it had been printed the first
paper ever published in Virginia. 1t
was afterwards placed on the topb of
Mr.. Augustine Davis, who died in 1926,
and was the oldest editor in the Union.
ITO supply the types with ink" the
same ohronicler tells, "a negro man
stood, with two immense balls made of
buckskin, stuffed with cotton or some
such soft material, and fastened around
wooden handles about foot in length,
which he dipped into vessel of that
fluid while the form was passing under
the press and returning When these
balls had been sufficiently supplied, he
took one in each hand by the handle
and beat the form over in the manner
of man beating cider.
Such was the rude mechanical process
adopted in getting of" the first issue
of the Whig. The intellectual part of
the work was performed with more grace
and elegance; for few writer's have ever |
eaualled Mr. Pleasants for polish, bril- |
lisncy and force. He possessed rare |
powers of observation, sparkling wit,
fruitful invention, humor of the most
austere flavor. yet exquisitely delicious
"a style remarkably pure, manly and
perspicuous. Colonel Shields directed |
ae TO the old files of the paper, and
read with q mournful interest some Of
his best editorials. They are massive
without being clumsy, and possess grace
without weakness. lis pen seemed TO
flow with siaeulsT freshness and ease.
There was not ripple upon the smooth
and brilliant tide; yet there was an
elastic vigor and power about his pro
ductions that charmed the profound,
while they pleased the superficial
Mr.. Pleasants Eas what was known as
a States Rights Whig, entertaining,
believe, about the same political yiegs
that Mr.. Benjamin Watkins Lee main
tanned. These opinions be maintained
with all the zeal ana ability ~ his ear
nest nature. His habits we're pFodigal,
but remarkably free, / think, from gross
His intercourse with his
associates and friends was amiable and
gentle. His hand was "open as the
day to melting charity" and his heart
overioFed Yith friendship and kind
ness. The kereest political eomhsts
never robbed him Of these excellent
qualities. HIS generosity in repairing
a wrong, his readiness to afford redress,
biz great courage in facing enemies and
his unshrinking Gdelity in eliuging to
friends we're conspicuous features 10 his
character Rendered poor BY the gen
erous impulses Of his nature, he was
forced 70 sali his interest in the Wing,
aud soon after Withdrew from ITS edith
rial control.
The Enquirer was at that time con-