The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-02-23

The following are the remarks of Col. BESToS,
in the U. s. Senate, Feb. %, on the announce
ment, in that body, of the death of ALEXANDER
PORTER, senator from the state Of Louisiana, who
died on the 18Th ulumo, at his residence in that
state They will be read with interest.
| rise Mr.. President, TO second the mo-
ton which has been made TO render the
last honors of this chamber TO our deceas.
ed brother Senator, whose death has been
so leelingly announced; and in doing so
comply with an obligation of friendship,
as well as conform TO the usage Of the
Senate. | am the Oldest personal friend
which the ilustrious deceased can have
upon this floor, and among the oldest he
can have in the United States. 1t is now,
sir, more than the period of generation
more than the third Of a century
since the then emigrant Irish boy, ALEX
AMBER PORTER, and myself met on the
banks of the Cumberland river, at Nash
vile, in the state Of Tennessee, when
commenced a friendship which death on
" dissolved on his part. We belonged
TO a circle of young lawyers, and students
a, law, who had the world before them,
and nothing but their exertons to depend
upon. First clerk in his uncle's store,
then student at law, and always lover
of books, the young PORTER was one of
that circle, and it was the custom Of all
that belonged TO it to spend their leisure
hours in the delightful occupation Of read
ing. History, poetry, elocution, biogra-
ply, the ennobhng speeches Of the living
and the dead, were our social recreation ;
and the youngest member of our circle
was one of our iavorile readers. He
read well, because he comprehended
clearly, felt strongly, remarked beautiful
Ily, upon striking passages, and gave new
charm to the whole with his rich, meli.
auous Irish accent. Ii was then be.
came acquainted with Ireland and hel
children, read the ample story Of heI
wrongs, learnt the long list of her martyr
ed patriots names, sympathlzed in Their
fate, and imbibed the feelings for noble
and oppressed people which the ex,inc
ton of my own life can alone exlinguish
Time and events dispersed that circle
! The young Porter, his law license signed
, went to the Lower Mississippi; TO tn,
, Upper. And, years afterwards, we me
; on this floor, senators from different part
of that vast Louisiana which was not ever
a part of the American Union at the tim,
: that he and | were born. We met her
: in the session 1888, '34-high part,
times, and on opposite sides of the grea
party line; bu, we met as we had parle,
years before. We met as friends and
:, though often our par, to reply to eacI
y other in the ardent debate, yet never di
we do it with other feelings than ,hos
. with which we were wont to discuss OH
subjects of recreation on the banks of tn
Cumberland.
mention these circumstances, Nj
!. President, because while they are honors
n Die to the deceased, they are justification
:. to myself for appearing as the second
/. the motion which has been made.
personal friendship Of almost forty year
:, gives me right 10 appear as a friend I
the deceased on this occasion, and pc
n form the Office which the rules and I'll
10 usage of the senate permit, and which S