The Greenville enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1870-1873, 1872-12-25
started t6 Florida 10 s,,en,d ,


trict, Sonth Carolina, on his way
TO Florida, no stopped at old Judge
Edwards, in the upper part of Tie
District, to stay all night. Ed.
wards had been a county court
Judge, and was then q member of
the Legislature. He was starting
to Columbia to attend the session
of the Legislature, and persuaded
Colonel Preston to 60 ON with him
and 60 from there to Florida
When they arrived in Columbia,
Colonel Preston concluded to re.
main there and enter college,
Whilst in college he became nc.
quainted with Ms, Coulter. whom
he afterwards married. In this
way he became a citizen of South
Carolina. How accidental is eve.
rything in life. Colonel Preston,
a Virginian, and ever proud Of the
old Commonwealth, was acciden.
tally born in Pennsylvania, and,
as it were, robbed Of his birthriyht.
He became citizen OF South Gar.
olina by accidentally meeting an
old man, and the further accident
OF falling in love whilst in college.
His reputation for talents and elo.
quence in college was unequalled.
L have heard his classmates saw
that he was regarded as the most
brilliant young man who had ever
entered that institution. But the
highest honors of his class were
awarded to Henry l.. Pinckney, Of
Charleston. Soon after graduating
he made the tour Of Europe with
Hugh S. Legare. Whilst abroad
he became acquainted with Wash.
ington Irving, and they were ever
life.
Colonel Preston was. for sever al
years after he resigned the Presi.
dency of the South Carolina Col.
lege, a member of tho Board of
Trustees of the college. lie intro,
duced resolutions in that body to
convert the c"llege into universi.
ty. seconded hIs resolutions, and
we tried in vain to pass them AT.
terwards, at the suggestion of Col.
onel Preston, | introduced a bill
into the Legislature to accomplish
the same purpose. and Colonel
Preston exerted his influence i'm fa.
vor of il. But the change was not
made till years afterwards, when
it was adopted on my recommend.
alton as Provisional Governor of
the State. The Colonel submitted
his views in writing whilst resid.
ing near the Virginia University,
and wrote me several letters on
the subject. .....
On another very important sub
ject, | received from Colonel Pres
ton most essential aid, which failed
OF success till accomplished under
the Provisional Government Of the
State. This was the election of
President and Vice President by
the people. 1t was a question in
which he took a deep interest. I
remember his coming frequently
to my seat in the Senate of South
Caroliuafwhilst the question was
under Aiscussion in that body, and
posting me with documents and
argu1hents for the debate. The
election BARbeen given to the pco.
pie hf presidential electors in eve
ry Stase but South Carolina. The
conseEs atism of South Carolina
was t@ strong to make the change
till after the war, when everything
was changed in the State.
10 the latter part of his life Col
onel Preston was paralyzed, and
had to. nse crutclles in walking
over the house. In this sad con.
dition his young aud beautiful wife
watched over him with a care, af.
feetisn and devotion which love
alone can prompt. lie survived
her, however, several years, a no.
BILE wreck of himself. He lett no
descendant. His only daughter
died before him, and before her
marriage which was in contempla.
tion. The Atben@um in CoInm.
bia was founded by him, aud he
gave to the institution his entire
library. lilo spcnt the greater
part of his time for several years
before his death in Virginia. /
met him a short timc before his
death returning on the railroad
from Virginia. He spoke of the
pleasure It had given him to re
visit the people amongst whom he
had been brought ur, and once
more to share their bountiful hos
pitality. The Colonel was a very
religious man, and O devoted mem.
Der of the Episcopal Church for
many years previous to his death.
When Webster visited Colnm. |
bia he was the guest OF Colonel