The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-01-08
THE HON. FELIX GRUNDY.

will be felt for the loss Of an able and efficient adj
vocatc of public truth, man of extensive learning
and information, and one who for many years has
held prominent position in the eyes Of the couu-
try, and passed through manifold duties, with
character never sued, and Il consistency never
mpcached, even by the tainting breath OF oalum-
my, it may not be anss to review a lew OF the
leading events Of his life.
Mr. Grundy was native of Nirglnia-born III
Berkeley county, Sept. llth, lit. His father set
tied in the renoter portion of the State, among the
mountains in Berkeley county, after his emigration
from England, and while that region was still sub
ect to the rayages of the Indians. Under the
watch(ul care of his parents, Mr.. Grundy in early
life acquired those remarkable traits of character,
which have since emlncntly distinguished him,
and in youth devoed,y applied himself as far as
the slender resources of his soon widowed mother
would permit To the dangers which he had pass
ed through and the difficulties which he surmount-
ed, the Hon. Senator ol:en referred, icclmgy and
cloqucntly, in later life. His devotion to the West
was mistaken to the last. 1t received the advan-
tnge of his earliest services, and of his later life,
when experience had added 10 the naturally mag
niiicent capacities of his mind Notwithstanding ,he
desire of his mother that her son should be educa-
ted for the medical profession, he could not resist
longing for the study of the law, and he was final
" placed under the tuition of George Nicholas,
then at the very head of the Kentucky bar, and
statesman whose name is connected with the Wig
orous support of Democratic principles. Mr.. Grnn-
DIV, soon after his admission to the Kentucky bar,
in the year 1897 appeared in political lite having
in 1893 been elected delegate from Washington
county to Il Convention, called for the purpose oil
revising the Constitution of Kentucky. His ora
1orcal efforts in this Convention contributed TO
place him in favorable aspect before the people
Of his native State, and he was soon after elected
a Representative in the General Assembly, and
continued to be n member of that body by success
siye reflections until Nov. 1906. During this
period he cxcred himself strcnuously for the pro-
lection of the actual settlers, who had purchased
public lands from the State. In the year 1902, he
was engaged in debate which lasted for several
DAYS, almost exclusively between himself and Mr..
Clay, on the powers to be granted TO corporation
being IN insurance company, ofwlch the avow-
ed object was to insure boats and carsocs on the
Ohio and Mississippi Into this law a clause was
introduced, which, after authorizing the corpora
ton to receive and assign bonds, bills and notes in
the course of its business, declared that ''such
notes as were payable to bearer might be assigned
by delivery" Under this proyision the company
assumed the right TO exercise banking powers. As
soon as this assumption was known, MIR. Grundy
introduced a bill to repeal the law, aud the discus
SION was on this subject 1t finally passed the
House, and subsequently the Senate. The Gov
crnor refused his approval, and it was returned to
the House, where it again passed, but failed IN the
Senate for want Of n constitutional majWity. In
this Indirect manner, the first bank was established
in Kentucky.
In the autumn of 1906 Mr.. Grundy was appoint
cd Judge Of the Court of Appeals, and IN March
following, or the removal of Judge Todd to the
Supreme Court of the United States, he became
his successor as Chief Justice Of the State, winch
however he resigned in 1908, and devoted him-
self scduousy and exclusively to his profession, -
With a view to Withdraw himself from public life,
he removed to Nashville, where his practice be-
came lucrative and extensive, but the controversy
some years afterwards tending TO war between
this country and Great Britain, reused his desire
for participation in public affairs, and he yielded
TO the solicitations of his Democratic fellow cll-
zcns. and was elected in 1911 by an almost unani-
nous vote, a member Of Congress. Upon his ap-
pearance in the House. (the commencement OF the
twelfth SESSION. he was Immediately placed by the
Speaker on the Committee of Foreign Relations.
His prominent position US recommending the war
is well known, and when on the LIST OF June, lSl2,
the message of the President recommending war
was referred to that committee, he cordially united
in the able report jus,iiying the commentator.
In 1929, on the resignation of Mr.. Senator Eaton
Mr.. Grundy, whose popularity among his consllln-
ents and the Republican party generally, had be-
come unboundcd was elected to fill the vacancy
and bis term expiring on the 4th March, 1888, he
was reelected for the succeeding six years. In
1888, he became by Mr.. Van Buren's appointment
Attorney General of the United States. From this
period, his history il familiar 10 the public. lll'
Ayhnle life was marked by the strlctcst consistency
and scrupuous regard to the cons'iutcnaIlty Of
his proceedings. For the person and principles Of
Andrew Jackson, he ever entertained warn
friendship and admiraiion and the touching COM
rlimcn, paid to the nld hero hy Mr. Grundy during
thc present year in reply to Mr.. Clay. is too goo'
to be lost While speaking in support of his ab''
report on the subject Of the assumption OF the Stat
debts. he says:
"The Honorable Senator tells us that he sees
light rising in the West which inspires him VIII
hope. Sir, my dull optics have not seen that llgh
of which he speaks and if the Honorable Senate
will look some time hence, he will discover tina
he has mistaken for substantial uninary, sinai
transient meteor which has exploded and left NJ
trace behind. But hare seen a light arise in TIN
West, and so brilliant was it that it dlmmcd AM
obscurcd all the lesser lights around it; il ascend
ed higher and higher, until it reached the meridian
there il remained stationary for time. So eilul
gent was it, that it irradiated this whole continent
its rays crossed the Atlantic, and penetrated tn
courts and palaces of kings and influenced thci
rOunclis II was seen ana l"t wherever cNllIc'
man dweIt. But that light is fast descending in tn
West, il has almost reached the horizon and vii
soon be beyond the sight of mortals. Mr. Presi
dent. YOU and shall never sec its like again. w
are too old-such lights do not visit our earth bu
al raro and long intervals. ] need not say TO tn
Senate or TO this audience, that the individual
have described under the figure introduced by. tn
Senator from Kentucky, is Andrew Jackson, tn
pride and glory of our country. When Impartial
history shall have faithfully performed its office
the aged men Of after times will point him out Il
their children as an example to be initiated but no
TO be equalled.''
Mr.. Grundy died in the I'D year Of his age. II
him the country has lost an able and efficient pub
lie servant. We feel our pen unequal TO the tasl
of doing Justice to his character. In private iii
he was universally beloved and esteemed, a frien,
without hatery, open, manly and sincere. Iii
caries, feelings were enlisted in the of truth
and with the democratic party lie never (lik
some who have smarted under the lash of his sa
,,rc\ rcnc,,dc Ia HE country his pTjDci