The Opelousas courier., 1884-05-17
y. p. Benjamin.
TimeaD Democrat; Mays.

true, DeeD alt1nS l0f SeVefai mOAtns,
and his physicians had insisted on his
abruptly closing his brilliant profess
sional career. But he had retired to
his beautiful home in Paris. and was
surrounded with all that care and love
and wealth could give to alleviate
and improve his condition, and it was
hoped, that he would yet be spared
many years to enjoy the fruits OF a
! well spent life.
We doubt whether in the history of
any distinguished American can be
found such a wonderful career as that
of Mr.. BENJAMIN. Indeed, the whole
story ofhis life reads like a romance
of oriental creation. From the time
when his parents brought him, q hand
| some boy, to their new home in South
Carolina to the day when, honored by
all. he qaietly passed away in his pal
ace like home in the gay city OF Paris,
the scene was ever shifting, and the
| hero was rising, step by step, from
| one we'll earned station until, while
yet in the prime of life, great lawyers,
| orators and statesmen hailed him as
| their leader.
The tale of his life has been SO of
ten told that it has become almost trlte,
but never uninteresting or unin-
| structiye. How the obscure boy
grandly fought his way, without
family influence, without money, with
out other aid than his wnindomitable
spirit and the mighty genius with
which he was gifted, and how he mas
tered the science of law by untiring
labor how he became the brilliant
lawyer and the profound statesman,
has been told again and again.
His prototype evidently was the late
Prime Minister of Great Britain. Not
dissimilar were the lives of Beacons-
field and Benjamin. Both commenced
life without family influence, both
overcame narrow %prejudices against
their race both met and rose superior
to those obstacles which are INSOFAR
lsble from such careers both became
the greatest Orators of their respective
people-recognized statesmen without
superiors, and the chiefs of the Cabf-
nets of great nations.
The salient points in the life OF Mr..
BENJAMIN may be rapidly sketched.
He was born in the West Indies in 1912,
came to the United States in 1916;
studied at Yale College; was admitted
to the New Orleans bar in 1887 be
came at once the head of the young
bar and obtained a high position as a
lawyer and orator !; was early one oil
the leaders of the great Wing party OF
| Louisiana was elected to the Legls-
lature ; to the constitutional CONVEX
ton of 1916, and at the age OF forty
was sent to the United States Senate ;
was re- elected in 1860; resigned when
Louisiana seeded; was made Attor-
new General of the Confederacy ; then
Secretary of Wari; then Secretary OF
| State. When the war closed he made
his escape to Florida ; then to the
West Indies; then went to London.
There, fer awhile, he supported him
self by writing for the press, mean
while preparing himself by work, night
and day, for that wonderful career OF
the English bar which has amazed the
world. At the age of ifty-six he com
commenced the practice OF law 10
London, penniless, among foreigners
and under i. system of law to which he
had hitherto been almost q stranger
In an incredibly short time he not on
" mastered the technical principles OF
the common law, but wrote a work
on one of its branches that has become
q standard wherever the English
language is spoken. His treatise on
the sale of personal property has
passed through several editions in
England and four editions in the Uni
ted States.
His practice in England was phe-
nomenaI. Indeed it was only limited
by his ability to work. He was en-
gagged in almost every important case,
and, we are informed, appeared in q
majority of the great cases in the
House Of Lords. His practice before
that highest court of Great Britain
finally became SO enormous as to limit
his business to that forum.
Ofhis State writings diplomatic au-
thorities speak In almost extravagani
terms. While Secretary of State b
the Confederacy he was the author O.
many able papers, which elected
praise from all parts of Europe. He
always had the implicit confidence o.
President Davis, and to this day thai
distinguished gentleman speaks In the
highest terms of the ability of his late
Secretary.
Butin Mr.. B~enjamin's social quail
ties, perhaps, he appeared greatest Of
all. He was modest, genial, gene,
rous, loving, high-tonedand most hon
cradle. At the great dinner given tc
him on his retirement from that bal
BY the judges, LAWYERS and statesmen
of Great Britain, all the speakers
seemed to dwell lovingly on his SO
cial qualities. It was not merely thu
intellect, the genius, which command.
ed their admiration, but the nobl.
qualities of the true and warm heart
cd gentleman.
Among the many remarkable trait
iii the character of Mr.. Benjamin ont
Of the most striking was his wonder
full spirits. Nothing depressed him
In The gloomy closing hours of ths
Confederacy he was a lgh t tha1
cheered all around him. He never
lost courage, never ceased to hope
encouraged every man TO do bis duty
and when, finally, he was compelled tt
recognize the great cause as really
lost, he did it with a manly dignity
and lofty spirit. The writer was with
him when all hope was gone when hi
was d refugee, under an assumed name
travelling il the Wilds of Georgia anG
Florida; when his chief was a captive
and all was lost save only life anf
honor. and not once did he hear from