The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-06
THE NATIONAL BEREAVEMENT.


THE NATIONAL BEREAVEMENT.
dark pail covers this community. The ar
row of death, which always seems to love q
shining mark, has reached our late much beloved
and yenerated President! The arm, which no,
long since welded sword in defence OF the
country, is palsied-the eye, which lately beamed
so brightly and benignantly, is closed-the voice
whose trumpet tones but few weeks ago rever-
berated through the halls Of the Capitol is forever
bnshed and silent-and the venerable form OF
William Henry Harrison, lately animated and
erect. has become but a cold and lifeless cod
The hopes of nation are withered, and high
and confident expectation has given place to
grief and dependency.
Who shall measure the anguish of that af-
fcted family, from whose midst an alwise
Providence has removed the affectionate hus-
band, father, relative, friend, and benefac-
tori And although the tears of multitudes
may be mingled with those Of the relative, and
the sympathies Of nation be excited, yet who
can repair the loss2 May God, in his Provi-
dence, sanctify the dispensation for the everast-
ing good of the family and the nation. There
is great consolation to be found in the history OF
the evenful and patriotic life Of the deceased, as
there is also in the manner of his death. In the
one, as in the other, he has manifested the good
ness Of his heart, the constancy of his patriotism,
and the purity of his intentions. Short as has
been his administration, none who have been
friendly to him will have cause to regret their
efforts or their devotion
THE PARTICULARS
From the moment Gen. Harrison was elected
President to the day of his illness, his heart has
been filled with gratitude TO the people, to whom
indeed he has always been aHIectionately devoted.
In the generosity of that heart he has invariably
opened his doors wide to the reception of his
friends, and his house has been the abode of hos
pitality and kindness. He has INDUCED his
friends, alas, to his own destruction. From
sunrise in the morning, till nearly midnight in
the evening, he has necessarily devoted himself
to his felow-citizens who visited him, with
the exception of the hour each day spent in
Cabinet council. 1t was his habit, after rising
first to peruse his bible and then to take walk
before breakfast Frequently he would bring
in with him persons he had met in his walk
to breakfast with him. And afterwards, the
whole day would be spent in receiving com
pany and transacting business. On Thurs
day morning week the porter, who found him
reading the bible, and even then complaining
of indispostion, suggested to him the propriety
of excluding visiters until 10 O'Clock in the morn
ing. "No, no"-said the kind hearted Presi-
dent-"let them come in. Many Of them have
come from distant States to see me, and they
wish to get home, and will not refuse them y
On Saturday morning week, we saw him, and
he was at that time complaining Of headache
and expressing his regret that he found so little
time to attend to important business before him
abiding TO map Of Florida which he desired
to examine, as he wished TO bring the war in
that territory to a close. We believe the last
letter he wrote, was on the subject of that war
The same afternoon he was taken with chill,
and retired to that bed, which has in eight days
proved his last We were not without hope OF
his recovery until the afternoon of the last Sa-
turday, when Serious darrhna came on, under
which he soon sank. Religious services were
performed by Rev. Mr. HAwLBY Saturday even
ing, and he did not seem TO have become insen
sible until after 10 o'clock. AT a quarter before
10 O'Clock the President gave uttcrance TO hi:
last speech, which was taken down at the in
slant, by DR.. WoRTHINGToN, and deserves to BIZ
remembered as rejecting glory upon his death
1t was in the following words, and it may b.
supposed to be addressed to Gov. TYLER, who
becomes Gen. Harrison's successor under the
Constitution SIR WISH YOU TO UNDERSTAND
THE TRUE PRINCIPLES OF THE GOVERNMENT.
WISH THEM CARRIED OUT. ASK NOTHING MORE
At about IL o'clock the General raised partially
from his pillow and coughed. Afterwards there
was not the slightest indication Of sensibility.-
He gradually sunk, until the pIlse first depart
ed from the left arm, and Immediately after, viz
at half past IL o'clock, the circulation entirely
stopped, and General Harrison, withouta strug
gle, went into the eternal sleep of death.
As his fame will be immortal on earth, sc
may his spirit rest in eternal happiness in hea
ven.
There were present at the closing scene, in