The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-04-22
THE FUNERAL.
VIVA, all the pomps and triumphs of our Lives
But leGaeies IN blossom! YoUNG.

What all the pomps and triumphs Of our lives,
But leCaeies IN blossom NoUNG.
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When, but four weeks since, If was our
welcome task to lay before our readers
sketch OF the joyous scenes which marked
the Inauguration of beloved Chief Mag
istrate, how little did we-alas how little
did any one-anticipate that our columns
would so soon be occupied with the par
ticulars of his Funeral Obsequies 1t
seems, even Yet, but as dream-some
false, bu, atfrghting vision. Could the
deep solicitude of the best and the wisest
men-could the fond, the sanguine hopes
otInnumerable personal and politicalirlends
could the prayers, the sincere and fer
vent prayers, of multitude of Christian
people-could the undivided affection of
almost an entire nation, have secured to
one human being prolonged life and I'M
impaired health and felicity, these would
aSsuredly have been the lot of WILLIAM
Henry HARRISON. Never, since the times
of WASHINGTON, has any ohe man so con-
ceutrated upon himself the love and conf
dence of the American People and never,
since the melancholy day which shrouded
nation in mourning for his sudden death,
has any event produced SO general and so
profounda sensational surprise and sorrow.
So brief had been the late Presidents
! illness, that now, as IN the case OF WASH
INGroN, there had scarce been time for US
TO begin to fear, when the stunning blow
of the reality fell upon US like the stroke
of thunder from a cloGdless sky. Men
( looked aghast, and staggered, as if amazed
by something they could scarce believe
But il was true. He who, with open beam.
ing conference, passed along our streets
10 the 10Y Of his heart-he, the welcome,
the long-eXpected, the desired, on whom
all eyes were fastened, to whom all hearts
went out, who had within him more stir
ring subjects Of exhiIirating consciousness
than have met IN any single bosom since
WASHINGTON was crowned with wreathS
as he came back from Yorktown, was, on
Wednesday last, within one month, A." one
hide month, borne along that same crowd
cd ayenue-crowded, not as before with
a iubilani People gathered from every quar-
ter OF the country, but with sincerely sor-
rowing mrltitudes following his bier. As
the shouts which then rent the air were
the free spontaneous expression of the love
and Joy Of freemen, delighting TO confer
their highest honuls on one whom they be-
lIeyed to have richly deserved them, so,
now, the tears which fell from the eyes of
woman, the signs and looks of grief of
gray-headed men, he general, universal
aspect OF pablic sorrow, were the unhought,
the unpurchasable tribute of a bereavsd
People 10 public virtue and devoted patTi-
otisyn. This was not the momentary gush
Of feelings wrough. upon by the pomp and
circumstance of funeral procession. 1t
was not the sable car, the nodding plumes,
the slow and mournfui array--iI was the
event iiSeig-the loss Of such man, at
such time, which drew forth these ex-
pressious Of public feeling. They will be
substantially the same in every part Of the
country. As il was here, so i, will be ev.
cry where. When the words THE Pre-
sIDEST IS DEAD met the ear, the man Of
business dropped bis pen-the artisan drop
ped bis tools-childTen looked in The faces
Of their parents, and wives into the coun-
leaances Of their husbands, and the wall
Of sorrow arose as If each had lost a pa
rent or some near and dear friend. Could
Gea. HARRIscS now look down on the
laad he loved, he might, indeed, " read his
history in Nations eyes," and those,
whose bosors glow and struggle with high
purposes aud strong desires for their ceun-
irys good, may learn in what they now
behold, wherever they turn their eyes, how
glorious a reward awaits the memory OF
those Who faithfully serve their country
But while we mourn for ourselves, there
Is no cause Of mourning on behalf Of the
deceased. The ray Of his country's gra-
tiiude, though late, shone in full splendor
on his departing hour. He had attained
all that man can reach Of human honor.
Freely, spontaneously, unanimously Y, had
his countrymen placed him in the highest
seat taev lad to give. He had done enough
during the brief time he occupied it, TO
show that, as he had passed with honor
through many lesser trusts, so he vas equal
to this last and highest trial to which his
character and powers could be subjected. /
As much as he had opportunity to do, he
did well. The candid, even among his
enemies, (if there be any who do not blush
TO oan that titlc) viii admit this. But he
had not so far entered on the tempesiuous
sea Of public affairs as 10 expose himself
u new and personal cnmi.ies from the dis
charge Of his duty. Before the storm had
time to gaiher-before envy, and detrac-
ion, aud party fury had begun to muster
their stores Of coming vengeance 10 pour
without mercy upon his head-that yene-
rabie head, slIyered with tic frosts Of age
and Of long and arduous devotion to his
service, IS gently laid on the pill
I9w of death. la that sacred sanctuary,
which nothing earthly can invade, he sleeps
in safety from the strife Of tongues. HIS
name, free from the ssmblance Of a spot,
and iliustrious in the halo Of an mperish-
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