The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-20
THEODORE sEDGEwIcK, Eso.

hand OF DEATH Ia the midst Of their usefulness, u Is
our melancholy duty TO add the name Of Theodore
ssdgeieiek, Esq. Of slockbrdge We recall the Ia
mented Hayne, Leggei Buel, Alvord, and many
others, whose deaths sore bereayements, not only
TO friends, hui 10 our whole country.
| From the midst of Us, from town, our county,
ans eminent for his literary acquisitions, his endow-
menls and his personal virtues has gone, and gone
foreyer-wih awful suddenness-a lmosl IN the
lwinkling Of an eye.
On Wednesday last, (the 9th instantly Mr.. Sedg-
wick visited his brother in Lenox in the afternoon
went into court then in session, TO see some OF his
| friends, intending 10 return home al evening We
now remember with melancholy pleasure, CONVEX
| sation had with him-his checriulness-hs ine
spirits. When in court he was invited and pressed
TO go 10 Pitished 10 meet in The evening Of his
political friends He went and al the conclusion Of
| supper, he was called upon 10 address the meeting
| We have been Informed that he spoke about twenty
minutes, that he introduced his remarks by some
| vefy serious and impressive observations upon the
obligations OF ALL and especially OF men OF his age
| who had not long TO live, TO utter no sentiments but
such they thought 10 be true. He said he had no
personal interest in the opinions he intended 10 ex-
press, aud was induced to declare them, only from
conviction OF their importance, and their truth he
down before he had quite finished all he intended
TO say-after sitting few moments and at about the
hour Of nine O'clock he rose 10 go 10 his lodging, BIT
his limbs Immediately failed him. He complained
OF aihiness said he should soon be over H. but the
/ practised eye Of Dr. Childs saw at that there
was paralysis. Every effort which professional skill
could suggest, and every attention which kindness
could bestow were used TO counierac the ravages of
disease, but in vain. In few hours Cat quarter
past Two o'clock, before any OF his family except a
brother could comet TO him. life was gone.
Mr. Sedgwick retained his consciousness and his
powers OF speech, almost TO the last-he was deeply
affected by the great kindness of those who had the
] care OF him, and sank into the arms of death, with
| the quietDess of an infants Sleep
| We shall attempt to give slight sketch Of his
character, imperfect IL must be. He was born In
Sheffield in December, l7S0. At the age OF seven
| his father removed with his family 10 Stockbrdge.
He was bred TO The profession Of the law; having
having finished his preparatory studies, he began
practice in Albany, deyoing himself with untiring
assiduily and with great 10 the duties Of his
profession until i'll health compelled him 10 aban-
| don il. We cannot speak from our own knowledge
of his character as lawyer. That il was OF high
order none doubt, when it was recollerted he
had for competitors, such men rs Van Vechen,
Henry AMI Van Buren, the President Of the United
States
In 1891 he retired from his profession and re-
moved TO StockbTidge, 10 the home OF his youth
He retired not TO idleness-with him industry was
matter OF conscience, as well as inclination. With
the pursuits Of literature, he combined the more ac
tive ones OF agriculture and horticulture. BY his
i own example he did much TO create taste for fine
cultivation of farms, gardens and fruits in his neigh
bors and townsmen. He was twice elected Presi-
dent Of the Agricultural Society OF the country
Ie several times elected representative 10
| the General Court II while member Of
the Legislature, that after much inquiry, examina-
tion and reflection he presented 10 its consideration
Tin 1870 the project Of making rail road from
Boston 10 Albany. AT that time there not foot
of public railway in Massachusetts. II was bold
project He advocated 1t with the power OF one,
who had all the knowledge that then existed upon
the subject of railways, and with all the earnest
ness of one convinced of the truth of his opinions
He could not persuade majority Of tle Legsla
ture but he never relinquished his opinions. He
often said, he might not see the work accomplished,
Ihnrn utara lluin uhn 10 MN
live 10 witness the completion Of the road from
Boston to Springfield distance of one hundred
miles. He did live TO see a Commonwealth which
put their veto upon his project by dead majority,
adopt and carry il into effect.
Within lew years Mr.. Sedgwick has published
several volumes upon Public and Private Econo-
nv This is not the time or place TO discuss either
his political sentiments, or the metits of his publish
ed works. They have been favoraDly received by
the public, and are remarkable as proofs of the wide
observation, deep reflection varied learning and
personal virtues Of their author.
The lie and character, that is, the personal vir-
tues OF this man, of chief interest TO us. They
are unspeakabe consolation 10 his family, whose
hearts now smitten with grief; who have lost in
him sympathies and affections in their pure and best
estate. In his domestic and social relations he was
above all praise. As the elder brother of family
extensively known by the published works of some
Of its members, but more advanageously known for
the personal virtues Of all he embodied illustrated
and enforced those maxims of wisdom and virtue,
which he received from his eminent and wise
father His house dedicated In generous,
kind and unaffected hospitality HIS affections
not circumscribed not limited 10 those allied to him,
his personal intercourse with all that OF friend
No ever parted from him, bnt with the convc-
ton that he was beloved by him. This true
conviction, for he always found, at least thought
he found, in every man the element OF some good
ness, however much il might be obscured by vice.
He had strong, true and unaffected love OF man
kind stronger faith in the virtues of than
many have, believing that not only their miseries,
but their vices caused more by the inequality of
their condition, than BY any intrinsic perversly of
character
With him it great object to remove these
inequalities; his writings are devoted TO this great
object believing he did, that OF the chief evils
of society is the power which one class of men has
over another, and that state OF mutual dependence
is most favorable to virtue and happiness. cannot
! but think that chief inducement to him TO write
upon the subject of " Public and Private Economy"
was to prevent poverty TO show the laboring man
how he might improve his condition The chap.
tiers the poverty existing in the United States are
invaluable.
Were il proper to designate his mos, conspicuous
virtues, where all existed in harmony, We should
say they were his love of truth and his bcnevoence
Truth he always sought, nd was therefore great
friend to free discussion, and liberal itstrue
sense. He maintained his opinions with a zeal and
/ frmneSs which showed his love of truth but with
dIijence of opinion, which made him treat with
Difference the opinions Of others who differed from
! him. His benevolence was under the guidance of
sound religious principle and warm religious aec-
tons. In his estimation the great business Of life
was to do good TO one another. Though he thought
| favorably Of mankind, he was always for making
them better Kindness, he thought the most efficient
means BY which TO improve the moral character of
men. He may have over estimated such means but
such an opinion shows the benevolent character OF
4 his mind.
We must bring this sketch to close with pain
u consciousness of its imperfections and that our
remarks much below their subject.
| II is great happiness to have known him-to
i L.. hnl e.