The Opelousas courier., 1883-12-15
d. q. Rrentiss.

aeli sasaaed distasteful to him, after
salss srsnces had wrought their effect
" s.n is audiences hs would address,
aAsl irtIe ID left of his brilliant genius
sl rspr,ents remembered by those
ssas s,ade UP bis audience, who refer
Ans sin,a to time to the matchless
wv whose eloQuence enchanted the
e'as Ia If Webster and Everett with
aha saavic of its charm, as it held the
IN s,sanal multitude captive or swayed
.s' ~ reeds in the gale. We give a
attracts from the letter to the
". ur;ar. Journal, writtenby an intimate
WI A~o;atance Of Prentiss, signing him.
81 a0ld Fogy,n whose imagination,
.ssa he gazes down upon the nations
.ssss,ablage of mediocrities on the
sssg of the House, doubtless carries
I'M back to the past:
Y contested election case produced
.ssh excitement in Washington and
sssst interest throughout the country.
4 similar case had occurred since the
ssablisbment of the constitution. Mr..
p%,s,tiss. on behalf of himself and col
isagae. made an elaborate argument
ss}Srs tile House. An intelligent eye
s;sness thus describes his audience:
pThe galleries were crowded to suf-
hsation, chiefly by ladies; the lobbies
smd every vacant spot on the floor of
"a hall were throngsd by Senators, <
asnnberg of Congress, officers of the
army and navy, members Of the State
legislatures on a visit to the capital,
saninentiurists and ndg distinguished
fFiyste citizens and foreign ministers.
Fl oue time, as your eye glanced
aEpand and surveyed the scene, it was
slfested at every turn by the presence
4 some illustrious man. Directly in
koat of the chair sat John Quincy
Kaams, the Nestor of tho House; Just
eptside Of the bar Ton the opposite side
aftbe hall) his tall figure towering
shove It's fellows, stood Henry Clay,
ihe generalissimo of the Wig fnrces,
xatching with delight his young friends
aabful defense ; near him we're Judge
White of Tennessee, d white haired pa
Harch of his party /; Preston, the clio
aasnt Southern Senator, and Critten-
Bn. the 10 less eloquent kenfnckian !;
tlosh by rose the massive form of Dauiel
Webster, whose conntenance, grave,
znm0ved, and almost sombre in its as
pset, befok0ned the most profound at
fsntion. 1t was, indeed, a splendid as
ambly, illuminated by a galaxy of ge-
ni,ss, worth, craftsmanship, beauty and
sacb as meet together but rarely in d
eanepafion-such as Edmund Burke,
Charles Fox or George Canning might
AVE been honored in addressing. "A
byeathiess silence reigled from begiH.
ning Co end, except Is some line pas
saae, eyer and anon. occasioned sup
messed applause from the galleries.
The speaker himself was evidently sur
pgised to observe the magical power he
Vac welding"
al the close of this memorable
snsech more than o week was con-
saned by Democratic members in as
ssrting the claims of Messrs. Claiborne
and Gholson, and in answering the
aFguinent of Dir. Prentiss.
The frat vote was taken On q Tesolu-
lion declaring that Claiborn aud Ghol-
son weYs entitled to their seats for that
snffre Congress. This resolution waa
defeated, the v0te being liz in the
Affirmative and Il9 in the negative.
AssEezned To me at this late day, tlat II
hlsss gentlemen we're not legally elect
ia mealbers, PreHtiss and Word were
Ba6 Iii was not 80 declared. The next
vote vas Oh the following resolution
ssResclsed, That s. s. Prentiss and
Thomas Word are not entitled to seati
II the TWenty-fffh Congress- Breath.
hiss silence reigned throughout the hall
hat i voice, scarcely a whisper was
hsasd through the immense crowd, ill.
ing eVery nook and corner. At last the
fssuIs was announced--ll7 TO III
There was d moments pause, and chs
Speaker said ssThe chair votes III tht
a~6afnaEiFe. the resolution IS adopted.
Thas Wastll agony D three weeks end
I'd, md the parties returned to Missis'
sippi for another contest.
Millard Fillmore, afterwards Prssi
deht IL she united States, was q mem
hi sf the House at that time. | knew
bid well, and I can say he vas 9 gen
lleMAn not likely to be Haisled by an
2alss orator. III d letter dated Buffalo
November, 1853, speaking of MF. Prem
siAsa speech ID his contested slectiol
sasa III says:
ean never forget that speech. !
VA celtainly the most brilliant that
4Veg beard, and asa whole, 1 think
tafsy aquaiied, fit did not exceed, an.
historical stort to which it has besn n.