New-York tribune., 1874-08-14

IT.
his aims and purposes, that was Wiling 10 come c
him I'm official capacity that thus nlgne nav n -
in power TO teep watch over all us az, w.
aid as far as might he possible IN dlsappolhtnen ns
projects of personal ambition ccralnN hSn9ou -,
give faithful and true support TO the Confederate
cause after had become enlisted in H. ~ lndsputahy
did but | did not intend to let MI DAVIS uI
como nm emperor II | could prevent II, nor al
low his servitOTs In Congress 10 organize mlharA
dcspoism Richmond upon the false pretext tha hey
were extreme devOees 10 States rights ana To southern
indepeudence. In point OF fact WAS never AZ he fr
idental mansion once during my four years stay III
Richmond and not a day passed while occupied seat
i'm the Confederate Congress that vas not more or less
sgnazed by my vehement opposition to Mr DAVIS ara
20 most OF the members of his Infamous cabinet whom
well knew 10 Oe absolute slaves to his w-mercenary
to ounscrupuousness corrupt and contemptibe Almost
every dan felt that my life was In danger; but every
day was more and more Jealous IN my opposition 10
Mr.. DAVIS and his favore measures OF pohey, ana 10
corrupt and prOfgate schemes of his special lends
ana supporters.
Mr. FOotc formed the acquaintance of the cele-
braed forensic orator s. 5. Prentss, in 1881, before
his brilliant powers had become fully known to the
public, but who even then had given promise OF
future renown. He had arrived in Natchez about
two years before that time with but single dime in
his pocket, and without friends or even acquaint-
ance After studying his profession in Natchez, he
had been admitted to the bar, and had already begun
to awaken high expectations.
There was much that remarkable IN the appear
ance and bearing OF Mr. Prentss at this time lie was
nor more think than five feet six and half ncnes IN
hight; was very stoutly built, and well proporoned.
body il was one that Grecan artist might wen desire
to copy. HIS forehead was wide high, and almost semi
imnSrtnG chronological organs developed. His eye
brows were tu but not bushy, ani were gently arche
wh Se ahsolnts feariessness Of bspature very
happily blended with the rarest genahtX OF sPrit P
a moderate beard, aud always kept MS lace ocauY
shaven. His chest was one OF ertatese pan, pan,
siveuess and, though perfectly straight between
the shoulders, stranger approaching nun from tho
rear could not avoid b5ing struck VITA the singular
nose was Grecan and was both beautiful ~ It's shape
aud highly expressive. His upper p was little shorter
than Is customary, and OF hcNioiy have never seen
vquaed often he seen TO curl 1t NJ, both III nlIlh
ana anger, displaying to view set OF strong, well SET
and beautifully white teeth H. had all his life suffered
from aneness in OF his feet anu was SAID 10 nave
good deal OF sensyeness in regard to its mallolma-
hobbled, or course, very pereepuoy ln ms gait' aH
would suppose have found 1t dihcu!t TO wax AT al
without the aud OF the large stick which was ms pei
petual attendant When was introduced To- lin ioiti
two years ago, Natchez was already iuli O ms l1mt iS
had delivered several speeches at the bar winch All hu
mlttcd had never been eqlMci thcle elmer III tiso Ol
argument brillancy of expression or rlch ana loWhg
facctiousness. Though modest 10y Eduro' YET Lc
had already hasuch proof, of liz own mental superior
he had naturally acquired noble conf lence III ms own
movers which could but be more or less apparent
both ~ his aspect and demeanor and alike u the discus
| sions OF the forum and ordinary converse.
a. times lie indeed most electrical IN his utter
anccs, reminding one forcOy OF the southnling strains
OF an Isaiah an Ezekiel, OF majestic thundGrinss
Perccs or Patrick Henry, or oi the uder heart
melting pathOs OF Someriet or Maht. was not al
all surprised to it published III The newspapers OF
Boston many years ago the occasion o. r Prcutss
visit that for the rt tlme that even il the midst
OF the memorable dinner speech "hcl nc tntrc u9!N
cred MI Webster MI Everett, with eyes overflow
ing under his wOndrOus cnuncldtOnS, were hearH gchcr
ously whispering to each other: We nave never heard
| such clOqdenee ds this heiOle.'
The author has not confined his work to the mere
recital of personal anecdotes and "reminiscences but
occasionally use of the opportunity to indulge
in political speculatlonS, and to favor the reader
with his views on the condition and prospects of the
| country. Notwithstanding the active part which
he took in the cOunsels Of secession he expresses
| his conviction that the Constitution of the United
States is by far the best compact of government that
| the human intellect has ever framed. III his opn-
| ion the recent amendments have added greatly to
/ its value. They are such as the original founders
would have incorporated with it, could they have
forcsecn the grave peIils through which their de
scendauts have been compelled ito pass. Mr. Foote
concsscs that his faith in the Union has been con-
firmed by the experiment of secession. That eX-
pcumcnt, he remarks has proved a signal and even
a ridiculous failure. The heroic blood which was
so freely poured out in its support Is found by the
event to have been shed in behalf of romantic iilu
sion. The utterly untenabc dogma of secession has
become at last "a sounding brass and tlnkliug
cymba" Such fcrvcnt expressions Of loyalty are of
course grateful to every patriotic reader. They
indicate a love of wisdom, even at the eleventh
hour and il is only to be wished that the author had
not deemed it necessary to utter them IN such i'll
natcd language