The Indianapolis journal., 1883-01-31
Z ,55ERlR3GEANT III S. PRENTISS.
The Most Remarkably Eloquent Of
American Public Men.
His Speeches In Congress and on the Hust-
ings-A A Soul Fairly Ablaze with
the PrOmethean Fire.


proclamation convening Congress in extra
session on a specified day in the following
month of September. The proclamation, or
writ, of the Governor of Mississippi, after
7eciting that a vacancy had happened by the
expiration of the previous term of con-
gressional service, commanded the different
sheriffs to hold an election for representa-
tives to fill such vacancy, until superseded
by the members to be elected at the regular
election, on the first Monday and day follow
ing, in November next" 1t will he perceived
that the Governor did not order an cleo
ton for the whole of the Twenty-fifth
Congress, but only for that portion of it an
terror to the general election in November,
and on it's face certainly did not authorize an
election for a longer period. The Democratic
candidates at this special election were John
f. II. Claiborne and S. J. Gholson, and the
Whig candidates Sergeant s. Prentiss and
Thomas J. Ward. Mr. Prentiss was AT Port
land, Me-. when he learned that he had been
nominated by his party, and did not return
TO Mississippi in time to make more than
few speeches The result was the election of
Claiborne and Gholson by majority of some
$500 votes In the November election, after
q thorough canvass of the whole State,
Prentiss and Ward reversed this majority,
and received the Governors certificate OF
their election. Party spirit at that time was
very high and the House of Representatives.
at the September session. declared by resolu-
ton that Claiborne and Gholson were entitled
10 their seats until the end of that
Congress, by virtue of their election in
July. The Governors words were treated
Rs a nullity. Then followed a contested
election case, which produced much excite
ment in Washington and great interest
throughout the country. No similar case
had occurred since the establishment of the
constitution. Mr.. Prentiss on behalf of him
self and colleague, made an elaborate argu-
ment before the House. An intelligent eye
witness thus describes his audience:
1.-THE galleries were crowded to sQffoca-
ton, chiefly by ladies; the lobbies and every
vacant spot on the floor of the hall were
thronged by senator's ex-members of Con-
gress, officers of the army and navy, men,
bers of State Legislatures on a visit to the
capital, eminent jurists and judges distin-
guished private citizens and foreign minis
ters. At one time, as your eye glanced
around and surveyed the scene, it was ar
rested at every turn by the presence of some
ilustrious man. Directly in front OF the
chair sat John Quincy Adams, the Nestor of
the House; Just outside of the bar ION the
opposite side of the hall his tall figure tow
ering above It's fellows, stood Henry Clay. the
generalssimo of the Wing forces watching
with delight his young friends manful de-
tense; near him were Judge White, of Ten
nessee, a whitehaired patriarch of his party;
Preston, the eloquent Southern senator. and
Crittenden the no less eloquent Kentuckian.
Close by rose the massive form of Daniel
Webster, whose countenance, grave, unmoved
and almost somber in its aspect, betokened
fho 1rafOuuA offapt:On in
deed, splendid assembly, illuminated by q
sa.sEy Of genius, worth, statesmanship,
beauty and station, such as meet together
but rarely in gencration-such as Edmund
Burke, Charles Fox or George Canning might
have been honored in addressing. A breath
less silence reigned from beginning to end,
except as some fine Ssage. ever and anOn
occasioned suppressed ap lause from the gal
!eries. The speaker himself was evidently
surprised to observe the magical power he
was welding"
At the close of this memorable speech, more
than a week was consumed by Democratic
members in asserting the claims of Messrs.
Claiborne and Gholson, and in answering the
argument of Mr. Prentiss.
Tho first vote was taken on a resolution
declaring that Claiborne and Gholson were
entitled to their seats for that entire Con-
gress This resolution was defeated. the vote
being l12 in the affirmative and 119 in the
that if these gentlemen were not the legally
elected members, Prentiss and Ward were.
But it was not so declared. The next vote
was on the following resolution: Resolved,
That s. s. Prentiss and Thomas J. Ward are
not entitled to seats in the Twenty-tifth Con-
gress." Breathless silence reigned through
the hall. Not voice, scarcely a whisper,
was heard through the immense crowd, fill
ing every nook and corner. AT last the re-
suit was announced-117 to III. There was
a moments pause, and the Speaker said:
THE chair votes in the affirmative; the reso-
tuition is adopted" Thus was the long
agony of three weeks ended and the parties
returned to Mississippi for another contest.
I will come to that presently.
Millard Fillmore, afterward President of
the United States, was member of the
House at that time. knew him we'll, and
can say he was a gentleman not likely to be
misled by any false oratorv. In a letter
dated Buffalo, November 1858, speaking OF
Mr. Prentiss's speech in his contested election
case, he says
81 can never forget that speech. 1t was
certainly the most brilliant that ever heard
and, as whole I think it fully equalled, if
it did not exceed, any rhetorical effort to
which it has been my good fortune to listen
in either house of Congress- 1t elevated him
at once to the first rank of congressional
orators and stamped his short and brilliant
parliamentary career with the impression of
undoubted genius and the highest oratorical
powers. | have never read the published
speech, but apnrehend that it is not possi-
' BILE that it should convey to the reader any
adequate idea of the effect produced by its
delivery"
Mr.. Prentss was then but twenty-nine years
of age. --
have said that the contestants were sent
back to the people of Mississippi. The cleo
ton took place ON the fourth Monday of
April, 1888. am forced for the want of
space to make short work of this canvas. 1t
is sufficient to say that Prentiss and Ward
were triumphantly elected and returned to
Washington conquering heroes. will here
add that Mr.. Gholson declined running and
General James Davis took his place.
In July. 1888. dinner as given to Daniel
Webster in Faneuil Hall. Mr.. Prentiss was
one of the guests, and was called on for a
speech. 1t is thus described by Edward Ev-