Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1841-04-22
THE FUNERAL.
What all the pomps and triumphs ofour lives
But legacies in blossom! YOU'VE.

What all the pomps and triumphs ofour lives
But legacies in blossom! You've.
When, but four weeks since. il was our
welcome task to lay before our readers Il
sketch OF the joyous scenes which marked
the Inauguration of beloved Chief Mayis-
trate, how little did we-alas how little did
any one-anticipate that our columns would
so soon be occupied with the particulars OIL
his Funeral Obsequiesl 1t seems, even yet
but as dream--some false but aifrightinu
vision. Could the deep solcitude of the hes
and the wisest men-could the fond, the san
guine hopes of innumerabe personal and po-
! litlcal friends--could the prayers, the sincere
and fervent prayers, ola multitude of Chris
tian people-could the undivided affection OF
almost an entire nation, have secured to one
human being prolonged life and unimpared
health and felicity, these would asSuredly
have been the lot of WILLIAM HENRY HAIR
RisoN. Never, since the time of Washing
ton, has any one man so concentrated upon
himself the love and confidence of the Ameri-
can People and never, since the melancholy
day which shrouded nation in mourning for
his sudden DEATH has any event produced so
general and SO profound a sensation of sur
prise and sorrow.
So briet had been the late Presidents ill
hcSS, HUW, tS III case Vi w uSulnUIOn,
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
cloudlcss sky. Men looked aghast, and
staggered, as if amazed by something they
could scarce believe. But it was true. He
who, with open beaming conntenance, pass
ed along our streets in the JOY of his heart
he, the welcome, the long-eXpected, the desir-
ed. on whom ali eyes were fastened, to whom
all hearts went out, who had within him more
stirring subjects of eXhilirating conscious
ness than have met in any single bosom since
W ashington was crowned with wrca.hs as he
came back from Yorktown, was, ON We'd
nesday last, within one month, "one little
month";" borne along that same crowded ave-
nue-crowded, not as before with a jubiant
People gathered from every quarter of the
country, but with sincerely sorrowing multi
tudes following his bier. AS the shouts
which then rent the air were the free sponta-
neous expression of the love and Joy of free
men, delighting to confer their highest honors
on one whom they believed to have richly de-
served them, so, now, the tears which fell
from the eyes of woman, the signs and looks
OF grief OF grey-headed men, the general, uni
versal aspect of public sorrow, We're the un
bought, the unpurchasable tribute of berea
we'd People to public virtue and devoted pa
triotlsm. This was not the momentary gusl
OF feelings wrought upon by the pomp and
circumstance of funeral procession. 1t wa
was not the sable car. the nodding plumes
the slow and mournfu! array--it was the even
ltSeit--the loss Of such man, at such time
which drew forth these expressions ofpublic
feeling. They will be substantially the sam,
in every part of the country. AS it was here
so 1t viii be every where. When the words
''THE PRESIDENT Is DEAD" met the ear, the
man of business dropped his pen-the arti
san dropped his tools-children looked in the
faces OF their parents, and wives into the
countenances of their husbands, and the wal
Of sorrow arose as if each had lost Il parent
or some near and dear friend. Could Genera
Harrison now look down on the land he low
ed, he might, indeed, tread his history in th,
Nations eyes; - and those whose bosoms glow
and struggle with high purposes and strong
desires for their country's good, may learn il
what they now behold, wherever they turI
their eyes, how glorious reward awaits tht
memory ofthose who faithfully serve thei
country!
But, while we mourn for ourselves, there il
no cause of mourning ON behalf of the de
ceased. The ray of his country's gratitude
though late, shone In full splendor on his de
, parting hour. He had attained all that ma,
can reach of human honor. Freely, sponta
neousiy. unanimously, had his countryne
placed him in the highest seat they had
give. He had Gone enough, during the brit
time lie occupied il, to show that, as he Ina
4 passed with honor Through many lesser trust.
, so hewas equal to this last and highest tri;
+ to which his character ard powers could b
subjected AS much as he had an opportun
/, ty to do, he did well. The candid, even
D mong his enemies, (if there be any who d
inn hltiGb tn tl,1t IN
V this. But he had not so far entered upon Il,
!, tempestuous sea ofpubiic affairs as to expos
a himself to new and personal enmties irol
: the discharge of his duty. Before the storl
a had time to gatfer-beforc envy, ana detra
; ton, and party fury had begun to must
Il their stores OF coming vengeance to POT
e without mercy upon his head-that venerab
!. head, sivered with the frosts of age and
i long and arduous devotion to his country
If service, Is gently laid on the pillow of deaf
3 In that sacred sanctuary, which nothing cart
: ly can invade, he sleeps in safety from Il
st strife OF tongues. His name, free from Il
semblance OF d spot, and lilustrious in Il
halo OF an imperlshable fame, is deliver
1T over to history as d sacred trust, to be wr
'r ten on the same page with that Of those pu
ID patriots who, III every age and every Ian
g have been the disinterested friends Of hum
IPCSpO' anu happiness. lie beautiful uni
Of private excellence with public virtue h
rs never been more wihningly exhibited than
Of the case OF Gen. Harrison. His frank si
t. plicity and freedom from all ostentation--l
ne attachment 20 his soldiers---his urbanity d
oil condescension to men Of humble foTtune--f
a. charity to the poor-his open~hearted a
n, open-handed hospitaity--his incorruptil
OF honesty III every pecuniary trust-his unIfor
K unwaverlng devotion to his country, illust
ted in his dying moments By the express