The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-05-21
THREE GREAT ORATORS.

New Orleans Times
When Col. Lamar was recently IN the Sen
ate OF the United States defending Jefferson
Davis against an uucalied for assault, he
paused in the midst of magnificent sentence
10 ask. "Who was he that was chained TO
rock" . Proaqeth,,ls" whispered Mr.. Thurman,
and the Missis.ippian proceeded with electric
effect: "Prometheus was more fortunate than
Davis His eutrails were torn by an eagle +;
Davis i tortured by a raifure."
This little erisode-the sudden failure OF
memorv-thc stage whisper OF Mr.. Thurman
and the epigrammatic turn given 10 it by the
orator, contributed greatly TO the rhetorical
effect Aud il Mr. Lamar had meditated the
matter. he could not have hit upon anything
more dramatic,
This reminds ne of an incident that occur
red many years ago IN the capital ut kich-
,pond When Virginia consented 10 part with
her domain. now the State Of Kentucky, she
reserved certain lands to indemnify her cru
zens who had fought in the war Tor ndepeh-
denee. Much of this land was squatted on 10y
Immigrants. who built houses and opened
farms. and then suddenly some odd soldier, or
his assignee, or some speculator VITO had
bought the claim, would turn up, and there
was general litigation and distress, and 2 con-
fiet OF laws in the two States At length 10
harmonic matters, Virginia determined 10
send A commissioner to argue the case before
the Legislature OF Kentucky.
4, no period of her history was the removed
commonN ealth richer in great men Jefferson
and Madison. Giles, and other lllustrlo"S
leaders under the Washington administration
survived. and another generation, OF equii
character and ability had come into the arena.
Tazewell and TAYLOR. of Norfolk; Pbllp ana
James Barbour. of Orange; John 5. Barbour,
of CuIpepper; VIM c. Rives, OF Albermarie
Richard Standard, of Richmond city Gen
Alexander Smyth, OF Wythe; Gen BLACKBURN
OF Bath; George c. Dromgoole and james n.
Gholson, OF Brunswick; A. p Upshur' oi
Northampton; Christopher Clarke, OF beo-
ford Gen Broadnax, OF Dinwiddie George
w. Summers, of Kenhawa; Gen. Gordon Q.
Albermarle; Yancey OF Buckingham; DAVID
3 Garland, of Amherst; Henry L. Watkins
of Prince Edward; John Tyler, of Charles
City; VIM. o. Goode, OF Mecklenburg: James
Mason, of Frederick; John Y. Mason, OF
Southampton. and many others, equal to
these, were then in public life.
The county of Augusta was, at one time, rep
rese4, ted by three of the greatest lawyers that
Virgins, or any other country ever produced
Chapman johnson in the senate, Daniel
Sheffey and Briscoe &. Baldwin.
From these distinguished men Virginia Sc
Iected her great lawyer Benjamin Watkins
Leigh to represent her in kentucky. he was,
perhaps the most learned blaok-letter lawyer
in the United States; an interchangeable stnden.
a clear, forcible, logical, demoDstratiye SPEAK
er, impressive and persuasive in manner never
at a loss for a word and with all hls resources
at command Add to this his unsullled purity
of character his isolation from parties ana
politics and ii viii be conceded that more
appropriate representative could not have 1een
selected Mr. Leigh, however, did not LOOK
like great man. He was under size, ana
there was nothing in his face or eye to 1ndieate
his wonderful intellectual force. lie, never
theless, made powerful argument before tne
legislature of Kentucky, and boldly attacked
the positions taken by Bibb, Wicklitie, Hardin;
Pope, and other great lawyers Who had draIteo
the Kentucky laws.
In return, Kentucky dispatched Henry Gi6I
TO present her side of the case to the general
sembly of Virginia--his native State.
The ilIustrious orator was then at the zenith
OF his fame, popularity and intellectual pow
.ers. He was Of commanding stature and pres