Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 12.pdf/56

 William Campbell Preston.

WILLIAM

37

CAMPBELL PRESTON. V.

Bv WALTER L. MILLER OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BAR. I HAVE always been under the impres sion that Mr. Preston's oratory was char acterized by beauty of diction, charm of style and gracefulness of delivery; and I was, therefore, somewhat surprised to find Governor Perry criticising his gestures as awkward. In his " Reminiscences," he says : "I have heard Colonel Preston before pop ular assemblies, at the bar and in the legis lature, and I have never heard him on any occasion when he did not let fall from his lips some of the prettiest expressions and most heart-stirring words ever uttered by a public speaker. His style was always fervid and rhetorical. His gestures, however, did not strike me as being graceful or studied, whilst I could not divest myself of the idea that his language was studied, and did not flow from the inspiration of the moment. It was too ornate to be natural, whilst I thought his gestures were too awkward to be studied. It might have been said of him that he was a man of nature and art. He had the kindred blood of Patrick Henry coursing through his veins and the kindred eloquence of this great Virginia orator flow ing from his lips." Most writers, however, speak of Preston as graceful. And now, in order that the reader may have as full, clear, and correct an estimate of Mr. Preston as possible, I will present some extracts giving the opinions of people who knew him, heard him speak, and were familiar with the leading facts of his life. Says Mr. Magoon : " From his place in the Senate, he poured molten gold into the crucible of politics, with gems gathered from every glittering grotto and fragrance dis tilled from every blooming field, and lo,

there issued from the fusion, many substan tial and splendid formulas, besides much excellence that was palpable only to the most delicate sense. But the best strength of this enthusiastic patriot is never taxed to the utmost except when he feels that real and fearful dangers threaten the welfare of his own State or the Union at large. He loves his country deeply, passionately, and we sincerely believe that no man is more willing to make greater sacrifices for the general weal, or more competent to pro mote it. Few excel him in gentler strains, ' the sway of social, sovereign peace '; but absolutely none like him can effectively command that more fiery eloquence that rings on the startled world like a clarion, and is ' swift, in diverse use, as is a warrior's spear.' He then breathes all the firm reso luteness of the martial-god, while ' his red shield drips before him.'" Governor Perry took an active and prom inent part in public life before the war and was familiar with our leading politicians, lawyers, and statesmen of that period. He speaks of Preston as follows : " There have been few public men who possessed such a combination of high endowments, noble quali ties, and rare accomplishments as Colonel William Campbell Preston. He was one of nature's noblemen, in person, head, and heart. His figure was striking and com manding. He was tall and well-proportioned in his person. His manners were high-bred and courtly. In heart he was kind, gener ous, and affectionate. His character, in public and private, was pure and spotless. His intellectual qualities were brilliant and dazzling. He was a finished scholar, an