Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-21
TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF GEO.
C. DGOMGOOLE.

Wca>k every reader to peruse the able, touch
;nc and el,oucn. remarks Of R. Kidder Meade
ESQ. in the House Of Representatives on Friday
While doing honor 10 the memory OF the dislin.
suished dead, they show that his successor is
worthy 10 occupy his place:
Mr. MEaDe, of Virginia rose and said:
MIR SPEAKER: In obedience TO an hnn"red Gus
tom, rise to bring o the noucs a his Honse al
even, which has already been aueonn'.d 10 the
public-l alude 10 In death oi lhc h"h. GEORGE
c DRuMoooLE, of Virginia, laie member OF
this body. he died on the q h day Of April last,
q, h,s residence IN the county U, Brunswick
f.w DAYS after h. had received intelligence OF his
Reelection 10 CcncIess. His loss would have
b,en seusibly lett a, any period OF his lille; but
sI mi. tine waen amidst the violence OF party
his moderation, wisdom, and great experience in
public affairs, are 30 much needed, the "ho'e
country must deplore The sad event.
Gen. Dromgooe commenced his po'ticai NE
al an early age. But lev years elapsed, alter
he became eligible TO seat III the Legislature oil
VIRGINIA. before he was called upon by his native
county 10 represent ii in that body.
since then. with but TWO shor. Intervals, he mas
continued in The public service. The reputation
he ACQUIRED as member of the House oil pe'e-
oares soon attracted The attention OF his as'fic';
and. at The early age q .hIty-'hree, he was cho'
sen 10 deliberate wi h Madison, Monroe ana MAR
.hal, and other dis nsushed worthless in The on
ly convention which his assembled IN virginia
since The adoption Of her first Constitution.
o.aalterwards sent 10 the Senate o! that
800 . Win d,,,;anshu body ne presided lor msnS
yeats S slsc.d 10 the 6SAly, until 1898 wseu
H.re mis- srea, powers Of mind Ia a y. ; ares; =, ,
and acknow LEGGED, and their Influence msy .,
traced through The records ot this body. From
the commencement, OF his political career, hi
continued steadily TO ascend the path 70 tiSiinc
lion. inspiring his Trend, aud consti uentS will
& IN assurance that wherever he had fixed TN
goal of his aspirations, lherc mis- political III!
would terminate.
4, wou pe hypocrisy In NE, and, a, the sam,
,im. u>el: IS here 10 afec TO believe that Genera
Dtumaooe was without his bemishes bul i, i
easy for those who knew him, as HIS constituent
AID 10 turee them. Had he iaus, they belonged
10 the weakuess OF human flesh Few ever reach
ed that scul where honor, humanity and truth
dvelt together and worshipped. The companions
of his youth will never forget how ardent and sin
cere were hts attachments and how his presence
would always brighten up their hearts, and wake
up the emotions of young sympathy and affection
The friends or his maturer years think 70 sadnes,
of MS warm ant generous naure-his wise couu
seis AMI steady friendship
His mind was more solid than brilliant, and ils
mr. dnc,i ms more Fl Ted Tor use tnan ornament
The influence which ne exercised over The feel
inss AMI opinions Ut oIbets, especially his cons
tuen,s was one Of his most rem kablc auribule,
He seldom spoke in public t'om impulse, anc
every sentiment which he uuerfd was we'll ma
tured Hence be was always courteous TO adver
saIies. and seldom inJulsed ;n abuse OF them, bu
was sometimes only DANGEROUSLY sarcastic.
The conf fence III his constituents gave to his
opinions the force Of o'acies, and against them
the arguments OF adversares were hurled in vain
Ihave seen him in many warm political con
tests. and never knew him 10 lose the equilibrium
OF hi, temper and his perfect self possession
Els coolness, an real unaffected confidence in hi,
own power and su ,etiotity, would often work hi:
adversary into rage, who would expend his ener
gle. in & s OF desperation, and tall al last appa
rently by the blows OF his poweriu! antagonist
but, in fact, overcome by his own vchsmence DC
extravasance.
have sometimes been opposed. in these con
tesrs to his extraordinary man. These occasion:
never failed 10 give rise 10 reflections on the won
dertul influence by which, apparently wiihcu
much effort on his part, he controlled the ac'ions
Of others.
Circumstances conspired in The commence
ment of his public iiie TO give the subject Of my
remarks a favorable position among his fellow
men His father, native oil Ireland. was one OF
the ea,lies, settlers IN his district. His was the
yolopary du 10 publish from his pulpi, TO his
various congregations the Declaration OF Amerl.
can Independence. AS minister OF the Gospel,
be had few equals in the powers OF strong ns.u'