Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 11.pdf/503

 468

dence for the future. Consequently, we find them settling there in 1822, and during the same year Mr. Preston was enrolled as a member of the Columbia bar. He at once formed a co-partnership for the practice of the law with D. J. McCord, Esq., the law reporter of South Carolina and one of the editors of " Nott & McCord's Reports." Mr. McCord was a lawyer of prominence and had a considerable practice. Through this partnership and the business which it had in the courts, Mr. Preston was at once brought before the people, and was afforded a fine opportunity for displaying his professional skill and legal learning, without having to pass through that un pleasant ordeal, so trying to the patience and so depressing in influence, — waiting for clients. I presume Mr. McCord, his partner, by reason of his age and his longer experience at the bar, must have somewhat overshadowed him at first, for, years after wards, we hear of Mr. Preston's referring to his early experience at the bar and playfully mentioning the fact that he was at that time called " Mr. McCord's young man." Judge O'Neall, in his " Bench and Bar of South Carolina," tells us that Mr. Preston made a speech before the South Carolina House of Representatives, in 1823, in favor of the claim of Asa Delozier, which was "remarkable for its eloquence and argu ment." In 1828, he defended Judge James, when the latter was impeached, and made an eloquent argument in the latter's behalf, all, however, without avail. Says Judge O'Neall: "Mr. Preston wrote the beautiful address of Judge James when called to the bar of the Senate for sentence. It will be found in the sketch of Judge James. It is a perfect gem, radiant with eloquence, and full of claims for sympathy in behalf of the venerable sufferer." In 1829 he represented his county in the State legislature. During the same year he lost his wife, who left surviving her an only

child, a daughter. He was also returned to the legislature in 1830 and 1832. Dr. Laborde tells us that soon after his admission to the bar he was employed " in a case of contested election before the Senate, between General Geddes and Wil liam Crafts, which was the occasion of great excitement in the legislature and the State. In this trial he bore himself with spirit and ability and, among other compliments, it may be mentioned that he so excited the admiration of Colonel James Hamilton, that he sought an introduction to him at the close of his speech, which soon ripened into an intimacy that, amid the many changes of fortune, never suffered the slightest diminu tion." In 1836 he became a United States sena tor, taking the place of Stephen D. Miller, who had resigned. He remained a member of that body until 1839 or 1840, when he also resigned. He served his State with great distinction in that body, reflecting high honor upon it by his brilliant elo quence and wise statesmanship. In the exciting political campaign between Martin Van Buren and William Henry Har rison for the presidency, Mr. Preston was a Harrison man. During that year, 1840, he and General Waddy Thompson both made speeches in favor of Harrison, among other places at Lomax's Old Field, Abbeville county, South Carolina, and a respectable minority of the substantial people of the county approved of their course, though a majority of the voters, led by Hon. Armistead Burt and Judge D. P. Wardlaw, the two leaders of the Abbeville bar, supported Van Buren. A distinguished alumnus of Wofford College says: "In my college days there were traditions of a great campaign ( 1840), in which Preston and McDufne spoke on alternate nights to crowds in Columbia, ' Whig and Democrat.' Preston was alluded to as the 'vagrant politician,' 'the strolling orator,' ' the mountebank statesman.' And,