Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-09
POLITICS..
OF RESPECT


At a meeting of the Republican members of the
two Houses of Congress, held at the Capitol the I'd
day of January, A. D. 1884, for the purpose of giving
expression to their feelings upon the news of the
death of the Hon. Felix Grundy, Senator IN Con.
gress from Tennessee
The Hon. Richard NJ. Johnson Vice President Of
the United States, being called to the Chair, after
stating the purpose of the meeting, spoke with deep
feeling of his long and intimate acquaintance with
Mr. Grundy-of his invaluable public .ces in the
several high and responsible stations to which he had
heen called, aud which he had filed with distinguished
honor to himself and credit 10 the country-oi his
eminence jurist and stntesman-of his eoguence
in the Senate and at the bar. lie alluded 10 the high
estimation in which Mr.. Grundy held in private
life by large circle Of friends Of all parties-to his
kindness and benevolence friend and neighbor,
and his sincerity and consistency Christian. The
remarks of the Vice President the substance Of which
is here most mperiectly reported were delivered in
most touching and fccitous manner.
Upon motion Of Mr.. Butler, Of Kentucky, Mr.. Albert
Smith, of Maine, appointed Secretary.
Mr. Wright, of New York, then rose and said
Mr. Chairman rise to offer resolution to the meet.
ing, which hope may prove to be expressive of the
feelings of its members upon the melancholy occasion
which has brought us together | have not assumed
this duty without conviction Of its responsibility
cannot be unaware that what IS intended as COM
mendaon of the memory Of the dead, If tmed or
unfortunately expressed, may cast blot where it was
intended to besow praise. feel confident, however,
that the resolution propose to offer will exhibit but
rendered | am fully conscious it will fall behind the
feelings Of this meeting as it does behind those of the
mover; but such my confidence in the counsel have
received, far better than my own, in drawing il up
that believe this will he its great fault.
have, Mr.. Chairman, for a long time believed that
the practice Of Congress, of giving public burial to
members of Congress dying at the seat of Govern
ment, among the most proper and worthy of the
established usages IF the country 1t is duty TO
render jus, tribute the memory of every faithful
servant who shall fall in the public service; and in
this the usage is justified But il has, in my
tmation, much higher and more sacred value. The
course of the living cannot affect the dead but when
member Of Congress DIES here, his relatives and i'm.
mediate personal friends usually far distant Their
bereavement is in the loss of one highly
priced while the keenest poignaDcy OF their grief rests
upon the consideration that their esteemed relative has
met his death far removed from their kind and anx-
ious care. When the heart is thus made desolatc with
grief il is green spot upon which grateful and graz
flying feeling can rest that their dead has been ho-
nored and his memory regarded by his country.
Upon like considerations, the honors we pay to the
memory Of dead who fortunate enough to meet
the termination of life away from US, and in the bo
sons and under the care, OF their families and friends
well bestowed and the usage highly conmendable
When, then, one so high, Justly distinguished,
and SO aged servant of the public, Felix Grundy
was has fallen, not only objection, but it would
seem to me almost TO become duty, that those who
have been his associates, his political and personal
friends, CO. workers with him in the discharge of our
highly responsible duties here, should, by voluntary
assemblages, such this to testify to the absent
latves and friends, and 10 their conntrymen at large,
their estimate Of the merits of the deceased and of their
own loss.
am not, Mr. Chairman, schooled in the language of
praise, and cannot therefore, offering these resolu
tions attempt express my estimation of the loss
tanned in the death of Felix Grundv. NV acquaint-
with hm commenced with my service in the Sc
male Of the T. S, in the month of January, 1883, and
from that the hour Of separation the close
he of Our both
tical and personal, intimate and familiar. As
private counsellor, always found him able and faith
iu, and as friend, conid'ng and generous.
In the discharge of his public duties, have listened
to the power of his eoquencc have felt the force of his
arguments, have witnessed the cearucss of his mind
and the quickness Of his apprehension not with delight
merely, but with wonder; and all those powers SO
simply and unpretendingy displayed that have often
been compelled to think he did not himself know the
mental energies of Felix Grundy.
In one particular cannot do justice TO my own feel
ings, and omit special comment. refer to the nvaria
Bile camness OF his manner-the perfect submission Of
his feelings to his udgmen-the high courtesy which
always characterized his part in debate. No matter
what or how high the excitement Mr. Grundy was al.
ways calm cool, and collected lie seemed to be above
personal passion, above party excitement and always
remember what was due to the dignity of the body of
which he was member and of the country he served
Patriotism seemed to take the place of passion with
him and the personal feelings of every member Of the
Senate, whether political friend political opponent
TO be az sacred to him as the he advocated. In
this way, Ivery believe Mr. Grundy has contributed
as much any who has been a member of the
Senate sustain the elevation which the trainers Of
our system intended that body should take rs one
branch of the National Legislature and his example
of forbearance and selEcontol upon this point will be
Of the richest tributes which history will pay his
memory
Mr. Wright thereupon presented the following reso-
luton. which was read by the Secretary
RESOLVED, unanimously, the Of this meeting
That the death of the Hon. Felix Grundy q member of
the Senate Of the United States from the State Of Ten