The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-23
THOMAS #. MARS HALL.

Anecdotes of the Most Brilliant Orator Ken
tucBy has Produced-rhe Crushing Defeat
He Administered to Rival Many Years
have alluded to John Quincy Adams
writes o correspondent to the Louisville
Courier Journal. His name recalls that of
Thomas f. Marshall, the most brilliant man
that even Kentucky has produced. In an
evil hour Marshall had discussion with the
''old man eloquent" upon matter of fact,
and as result was badly worsted, as Henry
Clay himself was worsted, by an appeal to
Adams inevitable diary, which the ex
President invoked ON all such occasions.
Marshall was the most eloquent man of his
day. His speech had the dulcet sweetness of
the harp of Orpbeus, and was as persuasive
as the plea of Pbryne before the historic
court. 1t would have softened the marble
bosom of Rhadamanthus AID planted the
germ of onercy in bis flinty heart. Marshall
was a singular genius, as erratic as Peters.
boTo and as gifted as Admiral Crichton,
though slave to his passions and without
individuality of character sufficient to resist
temptation or reform broken life. Like Sir
William Yonge, nothing but such a char
acter could drag down such parts, and moth
ing but such parts could sustain such q char.
acter."
Until he was elected to Congress Marshall's
convivial habits had not obtained the
mastery over him.
He once went to Philadelphia to deliver
lecture, the subject of which was the Life
and Character of Napoleon the Great" There
was much curiosity to hear him. for his fame
as an orator was National, and the lecture
bad remarkable excellencies in o literary,
historical, and critical point of view. The
ball was filled with the beauty, grace aud
culture Of the Quaker City. When the
lecturer appeared before his audience he was
''pretty far south,'' that il,
BE was no. iu' but just had plenty.
and he began to repeat his lecture after first
in terpolatiDg the following:
Ladies and gentlemen, have not doubt
that Napoleon Bonaparte was q direct linesl
descendant and heir -at-law of q woods colt
of Julius Cesar begotten while that hero was
sowing his crop of wild oats on the banks OF
the Adriatic or in one OF the isles of the
Mediterranean"
Tbe thought was well received, and he de-
livered his lecture with his accustomed elo-
quence. He was q great lover of Shaks.
peare, and knew the best plays from stem to
stern. He possessed brilliant, luxurant,
gorgeous Imagination, which gave hue to
everything that eminsted from him, while
there was happy originality exempliied in
all his utterances. He illustrated Cables
sentence: "You may dwarf man till be be
the mere stump of what he should be and he
will yet put forth green leaves"
He defended Matt Ward for the murder OF
Professor Butler, in Louisville, about thirty
years ago. 1t was indeed celebrated case.
Communities all over the State were divided.
His guilt or innocence became q political
issue. The interest was great beyond the
limits of the State. George d. Prentice, the
lifelong friend of the father of the accused,
championed the cause of the son of his friend
in the columns of the Louisville Journal,
and narrowly escaped mob vengeance. His
Office was sacked and Quilted. A change of
venue was had, and an array of counsel such
as has rarely been equaled appeared for the
defense. Besides Marshall there were Crit
tenden, Helm, Wolfe, Wood and others, but
1t was universally conceded that Marshalps
speech surpassed all the others. An eye
witness says that one sentence in his speech
cleared the accused. With an attitude
Garrick would have studied and q tone
climax, he exclaimed will you
tear him from his girl wife?" There was
not q dry eye in the room, and the
judge upon the bench sobbed like child.
He was once one of party Of huntersi in the
mountains of Kentucky. They had been en-
csmped for more than week, and were
composed of the flower of Lexington, cul.
tured gentlemen, young and old. When
night overlook them, and the evening meal
prepared and eaten, the party gathered
around the camp fire and discussed every
subject that offered food for the contempls.
tive mind. At that hour Marshall was the
leader. No other member of the party was
so daring in speculation or illustrated his
theories with such splendor and copiousness
of imagery. Till long past midnight he held
his audience of more than score of Gull
tured and learned gentlemen entranced. He
was more eloquent than when on the stump,
and often his listeners were still en-
chained when dawn appeared in the
East. One night it was proposed that
he preach q sermon from any text that he
might select. He chose the passage: "Ths
foxes have holes and the birds of the air
have nests, bat the Son of Man has not where
to lay his head" For long time he COM
mented on the life and character of the 6a-
vior. He presented the theology of the
NszareDe In q novel and attractive light. He
discoursed OF love and preached oil OF hu.
manity. all of human longing for peace and
security. He brought tear to eVerv eve,