Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-11-10

ilctIl VI ria ~ VI uoh1C " h''N'
statesman, a patriot, a friend, a good man-to weep
for him, rather than TO speak of public acts-ls now the
feeling ofevery one But how can we omit the last
great act, rs yet unfinished, IN which his whole soul
was engaged al the time Of his death !? The bill for
the settlement and occupation Of the Oregon Territory
was his and he carried it through the Senate, when
his colleague, who now addresses you, could not have
done it,. This is another historical truth, fit TO be- made
known on this occasion, and which IS nov declared TO
this large and respectable assemblage under all Inc CIR
cumstances which rmpart solemnity to the declaration
Gree, applause) He carried that bill through the
Senate, and it vas the measure of a statesman. Just
to the settler, it was wise to the Government.
The settler has a right to have a home in the new
country which he reclailns from the wilderness and The
savage. The Government of the United States can
only save its domain on the Oregon by planting It's c-
tizens there. Land is the inducement and The reward
TO emigration; add that land was granted by the bill
literally granted TO the wife and the children, to the
young man and The widow, as well as 10 the husband
and the father. That bill is the vlndication and the as
sertiou Of the American title against the daring designs
of England; and it was the only way to save the coun-
try. Ii was carried through the Senate at the last SEES.
sion; and its author was preparing TO carry 1t again
Called this Summer 10 the Atlantic States on private
business, he avalled himself Of all opportunities TO COL
lect fresh materials for the support OF his darling mea-
sure. The last day that he spent IN this town, only
three weeks ago, on his return from The East, he spoke
of these materials, of the daring pretensIons OF Eng
land, aad Of his determination to push the measure
which was to save his country's rights, with renewed
vigor at the ensuing session. Alas. thal he should not
ha We been spared to put the finishing. hand to a measure
which was 10 reward the emigrant, 10 protect ms coun.
try, to curb England, and TO connect his own name
with the foundation of an empire But II IS done. The
unfinished work will go ont will be completed; and
the name of Linn will not be forgotten. That name
will live, and be connected with Oregon, while its banks
bear n plant, or its waters roll q wave.
A great man of the early days OF the French Revo'
luton, died while he had a great measure depending:
il was Mirabeau, who was surprised by death while his
bill for the division of estates was pending before the
Legislative Assembly. The terrors OF death could
not slife his regard for his bill. He willed the I'M
finished work to the celebrated Talleyrand; and this
Deputy read to the Assembly the speech prepared Tor
the occasion by the great orator, and carried the mea-
sure. If memorable fate had allowed a few minutes
to our departed friend, he would doubtless have done
the same. Death had no terrors for him, and n mo-
ment would have been snatched from the agonIzing
cares of friends and family, TO have commended and
committed the GROWING measure OF his lIie to the faith-
iul hands of n successor. He had not tina; time-not 4
moment TO think nor Ia ~speak!-and now the whole re-
presentation from MIssourI-the whole delegation from
the GREAT WEsr-must constitute themselves ms Po-
lltlcal legalees-take his great measure 10 themselves,
and carry il through.
Mr.. B. would still confne himself to points not SO
generally known; and among these was the great de-
yelopmentof mind which their lamenled friend was
undergoing at the time Of his death. OF the nine
years he had served in the Senate, the last two or
three were fullest of improvement 10 himself and be.
neft to his country. His faculties were maturing every
day, and hi, delivery becoming truly beautiful. Bred TO
a profession which did not admit Of public displays,
he required practice 10 perfect and develope his pow
ers-and practice was doing its part in %perfecting ge-
MUS. a natural gift for speaking, was improved into
eloquence; a mind originally good, was enriched with
the acquisitions of study and observation. Thus i'm
proved, he spoke wi,hou, effort, and seemingly without
n consciousness of the power and beauty of his own
discourse. The Senate listened to INN with astonish-
ment and admiration, and some have ben heard to
exclaim-Me man is inspired! A few years more
would have doubled his powers. That such u man
should have petished in the meridian of his days, and
so suddenly and Unexpectedly, is forever to be deplored.
He lay down 10 sleep a few moments, and awoke no
more! 1t was the sleep of d~eath-sleep converted
into dea,h-e.ernal sleep! He died unseen; and he
whose skill had saved so ~many-whose sympathy had
carried consolation to SO many death beds-w was with
on, help and without consolation, until the mortal strug-
gle was over, and The inanimate clay had become in
sensible TO the efforts of skill, or the sorrows of friends
aud family.
On another occasion, Mr.. B. said, it would be his
privileg &c to speak more deliberately Of the merits OF The
deceased; at present, he only followed the impuls'ons
Of the heart in giving vent to feelings OF sorrow and
affection which found a response in all bcsoms, and
which so many had met this night 10 manifest.