Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-03-02

- Sc tzsss's
Death 81 senator Porter. =
The death Of the Hon. ALEXANDER PORTER, J.
!. 8. Senator from Louisiana, was announced to !,
se seaaie BY NJ. DAaaew, The colleague Of the
eeeAsed, in most feeling and appropriate
peesh, accompanied with the usual resolution
q The respect entertained for the
nemosy Of the dseeassd.
The resolution having been read. Mr.
BENTON rose and said:
risc. Mr.. President, To second the
motion which has been m,de to render
the last donors of this chamber 10 our
deceased bruAher Senator, whose death
has hren 50 feelinpiy announced; and in
doing -. | comply with tn obligation OF
friendship. as wellyss conform to the
usage Of the Senate. am the oldes,
personal friend which the iilus,rious de
c~aaed cen have upon this floor. and
amongs, tho ~adest which he can have in
the Uni'cd States. Il is now. sir, more
than the period Of gcnern,ian : more
than the third Of cen,ury-s;ncc the
thea enseersns Irish boy, ALEXANDER Pol.
.Ex. and myself, met on the hunks OF thu
Cumberland river, a Nashville, in the
State Of Tennessee, when commenced
friendship which death only dissolved on
his part We belonged To circle Of
Young lawyers, and a,uden,s a, law who
he'd the world before them. and n, thing
but their ex~rsions TO depend upon. First
clerk in his uncle's store, then a s,uien,
a law, and always lover Of books, the
young PoRTER was one &c that circle, and
Il was the custom of all that belonged 10
il to spend their leisure hours in the de
liehtl0l occupation Of reudine. History
poetry, elocu,ion. biography. the emo
bling speeches Of the living aud the
dead. were our social recreation: and III.
youngest member of the circle was one
Of our favorise readers He read well
because he eomprehended clearly, Eel
strongly. remarked beautifully upon s,ri
king passages, and gave new charm 7,
the whole with his rich. mellifuous Iris
sccsns. Il was then tina, became &C
quain,ed with Ireland aud her children
read tho ample story Of her wrong.
learnt che long lis, Of her mar,yred n
iriots' nanGs. symphathixed in their fate
aud imhibed the feelings for noble an
oppressed people which the extinction {
my own life can alone exiinguish
Time and events dispersed that circle
The young PoRrEs, his law license sig'
cd, went to the Lowes Mississippi;
the Upper. Aud. years afterwards, "
met On this floor. senators from ditIereI
parts oc that vast Louisiana which ",
not even part Of the American Cninn
the time that he and | were born. "
met here in the session 1888 81 HI:
party times. and on opposite sides Of Il
great party line: bu, we met as we HI
parted years before We NE, as friend
and, though often cur rar, to reply
each other ia the arden, debate. We, nc
or did We do il with other feelings III;
those With which we were won, Ia d
cuss our suliscis Of recreation on q
hanks of the Cumberland.
I saention these circumstances. NJ
President, because, while they arc he
!orabie 10 the deceased. they are also ~
ti6cAiory 70 myself "a appearing as !:
second to the morton which has be
n,a5e. 4 personal friendship OF aim,
forty years gives me a right 10 appear
q frienI 10 the deceased on this orcasit
aad 10 perform The offi''e which the ru'
aud the usage Of the Senate permit, a
which 90 many cher senator's would
cordially and SO faithfully perform.
10 performing this Office. have. Ii
rally, but little else to do but 10 sero
tho saotion Of tho senator from LouisaI
Mr.. BARRow The mover has done a
pie justice 10 his great subject. He a
bad the advantage Of long acqnain'au
and intimate personal friendship with
deceased. He also knew him on |
banks Of the Cumberlspd, though
,yeung to belong 10 The circle Of 20"
lawyers and law students, Of which I
junior n,ember--the young ArExANI
PaaIGR-wasthe chef armament and /
light Put he knew ohim-long and
iin.a,ely- and has given evidence
that knowledge in tae just, the feelil
The cOrdssl, ADD impressive eulogi'
which he hae Just delivered on the
and character Of his deceased friend 4
CO league. tie has, presented to you
matured man, as developed in his Z
and n,erid,an age: he has presented
you the flushed scholar-the emn
lswyer-ihe profound julge-ihc dis
euishcd senator--ihe firm patriot
constant friend-li,e honorable man
brilliant cnverscr-ihe social, cheer
witty companion. lie has presented
you ihs ripe fruit. Of which | saw
early blossom, and .f which felt the
surancc, more than thirty years ago. I
il would ripen into the golden fruit VII
we have all bcheld
Mr. President, this is no vain or EN-
ceremony in which the Senate is n
engaged. llonors 10 the ilIustrious d
70 beyond The discharge Of debt Of
tic TO than, and the rendition Of cor
lation 10 their friends: they became
sons and examples for the living. !
siory Of their humble beginning, and
bic conclusion, is an example TO b
lowed, and an Indictment to be felt.
whsfs shall We find an example m
worthy Of imitation, or more full Of
eouragemcn;, than in the life and Ct
acter Of ALEXANDER PoRrER:-a lad
tender AEGEAN orphan with q wido'
mother and younger children-the fat