The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-10-01

associate lost their seats d48 NOS ~
the end make the slightest difference
They We're trtumphAntly reelected
and Prenttss became a popular t1o4-
The praises Of ms wonderful speech
were sung IN every part II the coor
try. Websters opinion ~as summed
Gp in the expressive words No one
could equal it
II - worthy o: note that i tTttsrE
incident connected with that meuar
between two r tie most prominent
figures % that generation Iuma-
Ciately after the House adjourned on
the day when the Mississippi repre-
sentattves we're uuSeated. Prrntl~s
was chatting with n grour Of his Wing
associates when Henry Clay happened
10 come UP and pointing his finger a.
Prentiss said joktnglN Vow du
you. go home where YOU belong just
then James X Polk. the speaker.
passed Clay ana PreutiSs on
his way 10 his boarding place and not
observing the presence n Prcntiss
thought that Clay's gesture and word,
were meant for han elias was the
Wing leader Of the Senate. Polk the
Democratic speaker Of the House and
both were aspirants FOR nomination
for the presidency in their respective
W bhIllES- iICTc WAS 10 love lost Ut
tween them at any time Accordingly
when Polk saw. as he thought. clay
point az him and accompany the ges-
tufe with the contemptuous words.
Now d-n YOU. go home whore You
belong he considered himself the obs
ject of an altogether u~nprovoked in
suit and Selling n chair advanced upon
the gentleman from Kentucky with
swift and martial tread. the light Of
battle in his eyes. Ga on the other
hand. conscious OF having given no
cause for offence to Polk, backed
away from the Honorable speaker of
the House Of Representatives. it is
true. but accompanied his retreat
with language and demonstrations Of
disapprOval which left no doubt on
the minds of the by-standers that his
retirement was only temporary and
was Intended to continue only till such
time as the distinguished Senator from
Kentucky could lay his hands on some
weapon sufficiently formidable to en-
able him to check the hostile advance
of the gentleman from Tennessee.
Friends Of both interfered and the
would-be combatants parted reluct-
antly, passing the compliments Of the
season and mutually assuring each
other hat their interrupted encounter
should be renewed at no distant day.
But before a challenge could be sent.
the true story Of Clay's conduct
leaked out and a due was prevented.
For several years the popularity Of
Prentiss was at flood tide in Missis-
sippi. Speaking of him at this period
of his life. one of his contemporaries
said that he could speak the thoughts
Of poetry with the inspiration Of ora
tory and in the tones Of music
During the noted Wilkinson muir
der trial at Louisville. Judge Rowan
who appeared With PrentiSS for the
defence. alluded to the rapid rise OF
his associate from the ~school-room to
the halls of Congress and added this
graceful tribute: NJ Prentiss must
pardon me for going into his private
history. | vas myself an humble
pedagogue. The difference in our con-
dition is that in my case the people
of Kentucky honored me: in his the
people of Mississippi honored them
selves"
Toward the end Of his short and
brilliant career, the shadows gathered
thickly about his path. His warm ma
ture and social disposition led him
into habits from which ne could not
escape. He lost heavily through the
dishonesty Of others and finally saw
his whole fortune swept away As the
result of an unfortunate law suit. His
popularity in Mississippi was seriously
impaired by his bitter light against
what he considered dishOnorable re-
p%udiation. To crown his misfortune.
he fell a victim to a painful and an
incurable disease. Unier these cir
cumstances, ne removed to New Or
leans and began practice in a new
field.
Though he was seriously handf-
capped by losses and ill-health and
though the method of practice in the
courts of Louisiana was peculiarly diff
fcuit to learn, such were the wonder
full powers Of his mind, hat he soon
retrieved his financial reverses and
became the most commanding figure
at the bar of New Orleans.
His last speech was made in de-
fence of Lopez who was tried in that
city for attempting TO lead an expe-
dition against Cuba. His strength was
SO far spent that he delivered the
greater part Of his argument while
was non the less convincing and pa
thetic for that reason. He left the
courtroom, after that trial, never tC
re-enter it. A short time later his
wonderful voice. which had charmed
and thrilled sc many thousands. was
hushed forever The entire country
deplored his loss and t9 the far South,
where he had been almost idolized
the news of his death Was like thu
toliing of bells at a brothers funeral
The saddest comment on his work
is that, having accomplished 50 much
his achievements We're few indeed in
comparison with what they NIGH
have been. One who was himself no
mean orator drew from his life. in
the words Of divine inspiration, this
solemn and instructive lesson:
My Son. If Sinners entice thee
consent thou not"
THOs. NJ. HUFHAM.
Republican State Convention Rccog-
niZes Him as The Coming