New-York daily tribune., 1843-06-22
Death of Hon. Hugh s. Lesare.

We give below accounts Of the most uncXpcct-
ed and deeply lamented death Of the Hon. HuGn
S. LEGARE late Attorney General Of the United
States, and since holding the still more elevated
and responsible position Of Secretary OF State,
Pr0 tenn ltwas understood that President Tyler
had rendered him the post Of Secretary of State
Internationally, but he declined it from an ar
dent attachment to the profession in which some
OF his noblest trumphs had been achieved.
Mr.. Legar6 was one week since in the prime
of life, It's activity and usefulness, and in the full
ness of a lofty fame He is descended from one
of the old French Huguenot families in South
Carolina who have been residents of that State
since the Revocation Of the Edct of Nantz He
never married, but devoted himself with single
ness and ardor to the study of the Law and to
Literature, and attained decided emincncc in each
He has long stood at the head of the Charleston
Bar, and his contributions to the brilliant but
shortvcd Southern Review arc among the
ablest of its contents. His paper on Roman
Law in the New Y ork Review has been widely
and Justly admired 1t was rule of his life to
devote eight hours each day TO study, unless pub
lie duties impcratively forbade.
In the great Notification controversy which
divided South Carolina into two hostile camps
Mr.. LegarG was arrayed on the side of Union, of
which he was powerful champion. He was soon
after the Compromise of 1893 appointed by Gen.
jackson Charge to Belgium, whence he returned
in 1861. BY the force of his talents and gc-
MUS he was chosen to Congress from Charleston
In 1887, without opposition though that city had
been strongly and bitterly adverse to him in by
r,ost p~l;.:. H. into the Councils VI
the Nation at the memorable Extra Session of
1887, when Van Buren first unfolded his Sub
Treasury project. OF this project Mr.. legare
was an early, powerful and most eloquent opposer
the most effective we believe among a host of
Statesmen. To enter freshly Congress of which
CLAY, WEBSTER, EVANS, etc were Members, and
make AN ADLER argument than either Of them on
the great Currency subject which they had been
considering and discussing for years, is the work
OF none but mighty mind; and yet think
that MIR. Legare's first Speech on the Sub Tre;!-
sury and his subsequent Letter TO Constituent
are the most profound, luminous and cogent argu-
ments ever made OH the right side of that oues-
ton. They evinco depth of philosophy, d
Statcsman-hke grasp Of the subject, which others
may have barely oqualed, combined with lclici-
ty and force of illustration which none can have
excelled
Mir. Legare was thrown out of Congress at the
close of his first term by the overwhelming Cal
houn influence of his District, and thence remain
ed in private life until made Attorney General on
the breaking up of the Harrison Cabinet. Anna
bic in heart and pure in life, he was beloved in
private as much as admired in public lite cspcci-
ally in his wayward native State, which, though
she has treated him like a stcpmothcr, has regard.
ed him with pride as a son.
The President and suite are OF course whemed
in the deepest pcrplexity and atiliction. The
Presidential tour is broken up, and Mr.. Tyler and
party return TO this City to-day and proceed im-
mediately TO Washington.