Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-05-08

-ishop Dcane's Discourse on the Death of
Gen. Hcrrlsnth.
Among the most eloquent tributes TO the memory
Of Ihe late ycneratej President, may be rcconcd The
d'scourse of Bishop Doanc, before the citizens OF
Arrlinsion. We extract the opening potion.
Il IS a dark December day. A deep snow clothes
bc ground. a sharp and cutting sioet drives with
,ha wind. Against the binding storm, and through
Nc deepening drifts, youthful soldier with his
toapsacl on his back, pursues bis steadfast way.
4 stiprg Of nineteen, slender frame, and feeble
h.allh, he is an Ensign TO tic army Of America,
'h Nashinson's commission, and he MARCHES
uiih his small detachment, his first service. 1t
was patriotic an1 christian duty. There are those
hcicre Me who remember well, what, in my young
days, was yet a nursery word, at which the mother
pressed her infant to her bosom, and children gath
"-ed closer to the frc--St. Cair's Defeat II was
To HAT battle field, to inter the bones of six hundred
sain that our young Ensign hastencd with his
'soop And though it srns patriot and a christian
,.aty how much more s,eTnly than the Gcrce.t on
set Of the hcady fight, must that still forrest field,
lie lowering sky, the bowling wind those gallant
sncn butchcred by savage hands, and all the recol-
econs and for.5odinss Of that most disastrous day,
iave the spirit of youthful soldier, on his first
campaign.
1t was chill November night when small ar
my Of Americans oncampcd themselves upon point
uf land, between the Wabash and tributary stream.
They were the gentlemen and yeomcn of the coun-
uy, who had enrolled themselves under the tcrito-
rial Governor, TO defend their homes agains, the in.
roads Of the hostile Indian tribes. and to chastise
,hcr insolence. A long and tedious march,
throash q most dreary wilderness, brings them at
list where u.eir willy foes await them; and on
a.eir proposition for conference and treaty, hos
ij!tics are intormiucd for day. Slowly and cheer
lessy the night wears of, within that guarded
camp, with clouds and rain. But weary mon ,ciN
sleep, whatever may betidc them; and now, for
hours, sound has stirred the stiffness of the scene
save the lone sentry's guarded step. But what is
iaai, which though "the misty moon beam :
struggling light" is seen, not heard, it elides
through the prairie grass' Is it snake that
winds his s,elthy way No, but subller Indian
ard in one instant he is dead Another: and the
savage yell starts every sleeper from his cold damp
couch, and death begins his work-And was this
sleeping camp deceived, surprised betrayed? Was
their Commander faithIoss to his trust1 No; every
man had slept were he mus, fight his clothes on, and
his gun loaded And he, while yet the night was
young sat by his tent fire, till the hour should come
10 rouse his weary comrades. In a moment he was
mounted. Where the feh, was hottest, there was
lie. a hall with no commission for his life, flies
through his hair In vain his officers demonstrate
With him for his fearless hazard of himself He
thinks Of brave st. Clair, and the gallant victims Of
that fatal field. Ho thinks of wasted towns and
blazing homes, and mothers slaughtered with thei
infants. And the morning dawns not till the yicto
ry is won!
Along the banks of the Ohio spreads a smiling
farm A plain and modest mansion rises from a slo
ping lawn. Its owner, having filled with credit tc
himself and honor 10 his country, almost every
station but tic frs-fough its battles, governed it,
territories, served it in both houses of Congress
and represented it abroad-wears out in frugal in
dustvy, his green Old age, PLAIN OHIO farmer; hi
housc the very home of hospitality; his name, th,
refuge and solace Of tho poor, the stranger and The
orphans; his title the nobIest that is known to ma
turc's horaldEy, patriot and patriarch.
1t is gusty day in March. Before the morning
lawns the Federal City is alive with men.
seems now full overfowing; and yet every hou
brings hundreds, thousands more. A cavalcade
formed, bells ring, and cannons roar. Fair women
lnd brave men, throng every window Of that nobl
Avenue. Not state Of the whole twenty six tha
is not reprezentel in that long drawn line 1t is tn
nations Jubhee. All classes all conditions bot
sexes, every age, parake the general joy. a grav
plain man, array cd in modest black, that rides,
covered, on the steed, more concious than himslf
the occasion, is the magnet that attracts oil eye,
and touches every heart. lie reaches the Capto
lie ascends the steps lie stands majestic in hi
ncohnoss and simplicity, before the nmeasurabl
multitude who have brough, with them the homag
Of the nation. The highest officer of Justice aG
ministers to him tho most magnificent oath ihs
rises TO heaven. And She youthful ensig
the gallant general, the laborious farmer, is Pres
dent of tie United States.
"One little month" has passed. It is a ftful
rrl day. Again, the Federal city is astr. Cannon
are heard but these are minute guns. The bel
peal out but 'tis the funeral kne The streets a
still. Once more, long procession passes down III
noble Avenue; but yen and cypress take the pla
of nodding plumes, and muflled drums beat time
aring hearts Again, that grave, plain man is ther
no more erect and tall 1.-THE Diliar of the State" l.