The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-02-27

1T was at Nashville during the presi.
dental campaign of 1914 that Prentiss
made one of the greatest speeches of
ms lie. The campaign was battle
of giants. The Wings had lost the
fruits of their victory CT 1910 by the
death Of General Harrison, and the
Democrats had gained ground until the
parties were about equally matched.
Tennessee was the home of Polk and
one of the battle grounds in the big
fight. Prentiss accepted pressing
invitation to deliver an address at
Nashville, and the occasion of his visit
was one of great excitement. HIS
fame had preceded his coming and
thousands upon thousands were
gathered, many being from adjoining
States. The crowd was estimated by
acres and the effect of the address was
overwhelming and it placed the cap
stone on his pyramid of fame. Men
of prominence afterwards described it
as the most magnificent display of in
tellectual power, beauty of thought
and eloquence that had ever fallen
from mortal lips, and it thrilled their
souls and fingered around their hearts
like the expiring strains of some en-
chanting melody.
AS the great address was being
brodght to close and the gifted orator
was in the midst of atranscendant effort,
he was taken with one Of the structures
of the chest to which he was subject
and fell back, apparently falnting,
into the arms of Governor Jones, who
IN his enthusiasm, exclaimed:
"Die, Prentiss, die, you will never
have more glorious opportunity than
nowl"
The six years following this speech
at Nashville were spent by Prentiss
alternately between politics and law.
In 1S47 he made q grave mistake by
moving his residence to New Orleans,
where he hoped to widen his law prac.
tice and secure money to pay off his
debts, many of which were large and
pressing. He made memorable
speech In the Crescent City in 1847 in
welcome to General Taylor's troops
who were returning though that city
from their victories in Mexico, anC
his worde on this occasion were The
acme of sublimity and grandeur. Blu
the star of Prentiss was waning. Hi,
gradually failing health rendered i
impossible for him to accept invita-
tions to deliver addresses, and pre-
vented close attendance to his Law
practice. His last public speech wa
in defense of Lopez, the Cuban patriot
who was accused of violating tn
neutrality act. This speech was de
livcrcd on the 7th day of June, 1850
and at it's conclusion Prentiss wa
, taken to his bed. He expressed,
) wish to die in the old Sargent hom
at Natckez, where his wife and child
rem were spending the summer, an
thlthcr he was tenderly borne, wher
he passed away ON tho afternoon G
the first day Of July, being hardl
t fortyt"o years Of age. The terminf
9 lion of his brilliant career was prems
i. ture, and what might have been hi
Q destiny had he lived cannot be foretolt
t His seething brain was laboratory
!. language. For him the fountair
d bubbled up anew, the rivulets mu
a INJURED, the rivers swelled, the ocear
8 roared. All nature seemed his ham
d maiden. From the fragrant flower
the mighty tree, from the meteor
o glare to the lightning's flash and Il
l. SUMS overpowering brightness, fro
e the deep solitude of nature to Il
& humming OF mans abodes, nothil