A Memoir of S.S. Prentiss - George Lewis Prentiss - Google Books

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ENTERED According to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by

CHARLES SCRIBNER,

in the Clerk's Office of the U. S. District Court, for the Southern District of New York.

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CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

Return to Washington-Letters-Speech on the Defalcations of Public Officers-

Extracts-Description of a Speech on the Navy-Letters-His Congressional

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The Wilkinson Trial-Mr. Prentiss' Address to the Jury, .

66

Return to Vicksburg-Resumes the Practice of Law-Letters-Is solicited to become

a Candidate for the Senate of the United States-Correspondence on the

Subject-Letter to the Whigs of Madison County-Interest felt in the Election in

other Parts of the Country-Letter to him from J. J. Crittenden-The Canvass-

Letters Presidential Election of 1840-Letters-Mr. Prentiss' Exertions-Visits

the North-Invitations to attend Whig Conventions and Mass-Meetings-

Speeches at Portland and Newark-Anxiety to hear him-Returns Home by Sea

-Canvasses Mississippi as Candidate for Presidential Elector-Letters.

Domestic Correspondence-His Marriage-Letters-His Course in Relation to the

Gubernatorial Election of 1848-Visit and Letter from Henry Clay-Letters, 185

Mississippi Repudiation-Mr. Prentiss' Opposition to it-His Popular Addresses on

the Subject-Argument at Fayette against the Doctrine that one Generation can-

not bind another-Col. Joseph B. Cobb's Reminiscences of a Speech at Jackson

before the Whig Convention of 1843-Letter to the Poet Wordsworth-Mr. Words

worth's Reply-The Question of Repudiation finally decided by the Supreme

Court of Mississippi,

Reminiscences of Mr. Prentiss by Balie Peyton,

Recollection of him in 1843-4-Speeches at a Whig Convention at New Orleans-

Visits the North-Political Addresses during his Journey--The Presidential Elec-

tion of 1844-Subject-matter of Mr. Prentiss' Addresses-Return South, and

Speech at New Orleans on the Fine Arts-Letters-Invitations to attend Whig

Conventions and Barbacues in other States-Visit to Nashville-Letter from

Ex-Governor Jones-Speeches at Natchez, Jackson, and Vicksburg-Disappoint-

ment at the Result of the Election,

Decision of the Supreme Court of the U. S. involving his Title to the Vicksburg Com-

mons-Letters-Removal to New Orleans-Public Dinners tendered him on leay-

ing Mississippi-His Settlement in New Orleans-Withdrawal from Parties and

Devotion to his Profession-His Legal Career-Anecdotes-Trial of Phelps, the

Robber-His Character and Attainments as a Lawyer and Advocate,

Address before the New England Society of New Orleans-Letters-Address on

Behalf of the Starving Poor of Ireland-Death of his Eldest Sister-Letters-

Address to the Returned Volunteers of Gen. Taylor's Army-Letters,

New Year's Letter to his Mother-Difficulty with a Grandson of Henry Clay-His

Account of the Affair-Reminiscences of it by Balie Peyton and Richard T. Archer

-Letter from Mr. Clay-State of the Country early in 1848-Questions growing

out of the Mexican War-Mr. Prentiss' Speech at a Meeting to nominate Dele-

gates to the Whig National Convention-His Exertions during the Canvass-

Views of Slavery and the Wilmot Proviso-Gen. Taylor-Letters.

Mr. Prentiss' Character as a Popular Orator-The Sources of his Power-Miscon-

ceptions on the Subject-Resemblance between him and Patrick Henry-Pecu-

liarities of his Oratory-Its Strength lay chiefly in the Subject-matter of his

Addresses-His Political Opinions-Distrust of mere Politicians-His Views

respecting the Form of our Government-It is not a simple Democracy-Its

Practical Methods-The Will of the People not found in Primary Assemblies, or

Mass Meetings; but only in the legitimate Action of the Executive, Legis-

lative, and Judicial Authorities-American System of Liberty essentially Histo-

rical, and Peculiar to Ourselves-Evils in the working of the Government-

Executive Patronage-Extracts from Calhoun on the Subject-Debasement of the

Presidential Office-His Opini, n and Abhorrence of Demagogues-Extract from

Aristotle-His Patriotic Hopes,

.

Personal Traits-His Disregard of Money-His Generosity-His Interest in Young

Men and Kindness to them-Character of his Friendships-Sympathy with the

Poor, the Sick, and Afflicted-Letters addressed to him by Strangers-lis

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Letters-Severe Illness-Visits the North with his Family-Reminiscences of this

Visit-Fishing Excursions and Rides about Newburyport-His Interest in the Hun-

garian Struggle-Trips to Boston, New Bedford, and Martha's Vineyard-His

Regard for Old Men-His Conversational Talent-Returns South-Letters-Rapid

Failure of his Health-A Reminiscence by Col. Cobb-Devotion to his Profes-

sional Labors-Is invited to address the Story Law Association-Letters—

Approach of the Final Struggle- His last Appearance in Court-Letters to his

Wife-Sudden Attack-Is removed to Natchez-The Closing Scene,

Proceedings of the Bar of New Orleans, and Eulogy by Judge Bullard,

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