The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-05-27
THOMAS f. MAPS SAIL.

Anecdotes of the Most Brilliant Orator Ken
lucky has Produced-Ehe Crashing Defeat
he Administered TO y Rival MANY Years
ago.
L have alluded to John Quincy Adams,
writes a correspondent to the Louisville
Courier.J0unal. His name recalls that OF
Thomas T. Marshall, the most brilliant msn
that even Kentucky has produced In an
evil hour Marshall had discussion with the
''old man eloquent" upon O matter of fact,
and as a result was badly worsted, Henry
Clay himself was worsted, by an appeal TO
Adams inevitable diary, which the ex-
President invoked on all such occasions.
Marshall wes the moot eloquent man of bis
day. His speech had the d1lcet sweetness of
the harp of Orpheus and was as persuasive
court. 1t woold have softened the marble
bosom OF RhadamaDthus aud planted the
germ OF Dercy in his finty heart. Marehall
was a singular genius eTrstic as Peters
boro and ss gifted es Admiral Cricht0n,
Though slave to his passions and without
individuality of character sufficient to resist
temptation or reform 8 broken life. Like Sir
William Yonge, nothing but such q char
scter could drag down such parts, and moth
ing but such parts could sustain such char
acier
Until be was elected to Congress Marshsll's
convivisl habits had rot obtained the
mastery over him.
He once went 10 Philadelphia TO deliver
lecture the SUBJECT of which was the Life
and Character of Napoleon tbs Great" There
was much curiO.ity TO hear him, for his fame
rs sn orator was National, and the lecture
had remarkable exceliencies in q literary,
rhetorical, and critical point of view. Toe
ball was filed with the beauty, grace and
culture OF the Quaker City. When the
lecturer appeared bsfore his audience he WAS
pretty far south" that is,
He was mo- fu' but Just had plenty.
and he began to repeat his lecture after first
interpolstipg the following:
Ladies and gentlemen, nave not doubt
that Napoleon BoDaparte Sas diTect linesl
defendant and heir .Ri-lav of woods colt
Cf julius Cesar begotten while that hero Was
sowing his crop Of wild cats on the banks Of
the Adriatic or in one of the isles of the
Mediterranean"
1he thought was well received, and he de-
hveTe6 his lecture with his accustomed elo-
queDce. He was great lover Of Shaks.
peaIe. and knew the beat plays from stem to
stern. He possessed brilliant, luxuriRnt,
gorgeous Imagination, which gave hue to
everything that eminsted from him, while
there was happy originality exempilhed IN
all bis utteTancfs. He illustrated Cables
sentence: "Tou NAV dwarf a mau till he be
the mere stumpof what be should bs and he
will yet put forth green leaves"
BE defended Matt Ward for the murder OF
Professor Butler, in Louisville. about thirty
years ago. 1t was indeed q celebrated case
Communities all over the .Stats were divided:
Els guilt or innocence became political
issue. The interest WAS great beyond the
limits OF the State. George ID. 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 p as sacked and Quilted. a change OF
venue was had, and an array OF counsel such
rs has isrely been equsled appeared Tor the
defense. Besides Marshall there were Crlt-