The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-06-02
NATCHEz. Nav 10. 1881.

| GENTLEMEN: Your highly appreciated
| letter of the I'd ult., would have beer
promptly, and gratefully acknowledged, bu
for a severe attack of pneumonia which still
| confines me to my bed.
| When you express Il desire to have an
| impartial biography of the renowned ). )
| Prentiss, and call on me to write it, YOU
pay me the highest compliment [ have ever
| received. 1t demands qualifications of a
high order, to write memoir of the most
| extraordinary man of his times and | am
proud to find you think me equal to the
| occasion.
| was his constant adversary in politics.
| State and national; sometimes his COMPETE
tor; often in collision with his personal and
pecuniary interests Yet you take the
higher, purer, more intellectual view of the
matter, and consider me capable of pre-
senting an impartial history of his canvass
This is high praise, from high source,
but you do me, hope, no more than JUS
tice.
Intellectually Mr.. Prentiss was 50
superior to those whom he encountered, he
was not at any time an object of envy
People opposed him, from various motives
but no man considered himself his rival
His genius was phenomenal and it com
manded the admiration of foes as we'll as
friends, without provoking either envy or
animosity. Many of his earliest, truest and
latest friends were Democrats, who would
resent his philippics for the moment, but
could never resist the destinations of the
man his generous sympathes; his mimi
table humor; his matchless eloquence.
His life has yet to be written. The
memoir by his brother is a collection of
papers for the family circle, but bearing no
resemblance to Prentiss, of Mississippi
The Prentiss that we knew could never have
fourished in New England. No man of his
type has ever appeared there. He came to
Mississippi when society, from peculiar
causes, was in state of transition and
dlsorganization. And ne represents an era
and people, such as have never been seen
before or since. The peculiarities of those
times; their impression on morals and
character; his own singular idiosyncracy,
and the influence of intimate associates
after he went to the Bar, must all be con
sidered, and have, strictly, ne parallel.
1t is no holiday undertaking to write the
life of such man, blended as it was with
the lives of men inferior to himself all -four
ishing, all debating their own terms to the
community, at a period when society had
been overturned, and its reorganization was
a subject of doubt
OF the men of that peculiar circle, who
then welded most of the wealth and power
of the State, and were the idolators of Mr..
Prentiss, and of the brilliant array of law
yers who witnessed his wonderful displays
of learning and oratory, very few survive
There are many able and accomplished
writers at the Bar and on the Press of Missis-
sippi, capable of writing a valuable memoir
of Mr.. Prentiss' professional and public
career. This however, is familiar to US all,
and blaze of glory Eliminates the nara
tive. What we wish to know is the true
inwardness of the man; his early dreams
and propensities; how he spent his first two
years in Mississippi; his habits while teach
ing school his debating society experiences,
etc. We wish to see him in dishabille, and
then decide for ourselves what influences so
changed him in twelve months
after he went to the Bar.
| only know one man who can thus trace
him up. He is ripe scholar, an able
lawyer, a brilliant writer-the favorite
pupil of Mr.. Prentiss-always his devoted
friend. 1t was at his pa:ernal hearth Mr..
Prentiss found his first home in Mississippi,
and where to the last hour of his life, he con
centrated his affections l refer to the Hon.
Joseph ID. Shields, of the Natchez bar, well
known in Northern and Southern lltera-
ny circles He has much biographical
material on hand, and has the memories
and memoranda of many relatives and
friends who knew Mr.. Prentiss intimately,
to draw upon. He would bring to the en-
terprise advantages such as no other writer
can command, and an enthusiasm worthy OF
the subject, and of your support.
On nav showing him that every moment
of my life-if God pleases to spare Unjust
be devoted to the III. and closing volume
of the History of Mississippi, he has con
sented, with your approval, to write the lie
and times of the illustrious Prentiss.
Respectfully and truly yours,
z TT CTAIRoP~F