The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-12-24

OF Ohio the of brigader general in the army the
United states The announcement just made by the
House to the Senate informs officially that that
citizen has ceased live The of his death occurred
at Monterey, in Mexico the 81 of December last and
was therefore, known 10 us Individually long ago but by
the rules observed these occasions it could not
be officially noticed till now, he having been a member
eectt the present, not member of the then sitting Con-
gress
But short Time previously his death, General HAMER
had passed along the line of bate amidst all its dangers
exeng his intellect his courage, and address in aiding
achieve the third victory of over the public
my He came out of that conflict unhur and with a
vgor OF constitution which justified the hope that he might
be able yet again his genius and valor in uphold
ing the rights OF his country, and the honor of its flag
But otherwise ordered and he retired from the bat
te-ground-thc common resort of dea-only fad it in
Of those diseases incident the multitudinous life
OF the camp, and which known in military annals
be but little sparng of the lives of than the I'M
sparng sword itself
To say that his death public loss would be to speak
truly but speak less than the truth The death that
man at time, ard in of public affairs would
have been loss his county, and great one. But his
death at that tme and in the then existing exgencies
the public service, was national privation be APP
precated by those who knew the peculiar
OF the and its happy adaptation such exigencies
We were at the beginning of war; in which, by the
cessites imposed by free Institutions, obliged
employ mixed force Of regulars and volunteers To
these forces under common discipline, fuse their
rious energies into harmonious whole, and direct
them with full efficiency, have BEEN and will forever
be- among the most serious difficulties of those placed in
the command OF armies In the attainment of this object
there required only the talents command the
cles OF men, in virtue OF authority but that
address, Also which the hearts of the soldery be-
cause it springs from the heart of the general.
would not, sir, willingly, do injustice the living,
do justice to the Dead could that be possibly necessary
Especially would not do injustice any of those Off
whose conduct and the conduct of whose troops in this
war; taught the world that neither the genius nor the
courage wanting to make this the first nation in it, Nor
think that do injustice any uttcrng the opinion
that perhaps of them possessed in higher degree
than did General HAMER that nscruabie power which
expressed by the word address, and by which single ndi
vidual often sway the dscordant wills of thou
sands and bind the whole, by SPELL his person
and his purposes closely than official authority
bind of various tempers common object.
1t for this that esteem his death to have been
peculiar misfortune the army, and therefore to the
ton ..t.r.s.s
In reviewing the lives of the eminent of country
who have already passed away, remark will be found
more common than that such selfmaie man. )
There in this Senate, and elsewhere around us,
whose great abilities and public services will entite
them be ranked with their ilusous predecessors of
almost every OF whom will with equal truth be said
he too, selfmlade Not of them, however
will fall emphatically within this description than
THOMAS l.. HAsER
Inheriting nothing from his parents but the right truly to
they respected and honorable people, he
alone from his native State of Pennsylvania, when but
boy and settled in the county Of Clemon, in the State of
Ohio.
He began lie as the instructor OF country school, de-
voting tho hours otherwise unemployed study and e.pe
ciay to The reading Of the law. la due time he
mitted to that learned professions and removing the adj
joining county of Brown, commenced and continued its
practice with distinguished lie had been the
bar, however, but very short time whom political events
began to excite extraordinary interest in the public
mind So deep and general did that interest become
and strong the passions which called up from
repose of the eight preceding years. that it scarcely
possible for young man. such MIR. HAMER was, of adj
mitied genius and eoquence, of ardent nature, of
blameess character, and OF decided political sentiments
resist the opportunities OF his felow-ctzens, who
sought make him the representative their wishes
and opinions. He accordingly elected and re-elect
ed to the lower branch of the State legislature, and
by that body elected its presiding officer. From this
post he retired intending his place the bar.
But the which had drawn him from it before
still acting and with accumulated torce he again yielded
and was, by the constituency three times elected
the nations House OF Representatives, from which have
just received this melancholy message At the expiration
of his third term, he again voluntarily retired once
more resumed the practice of the law 1t this sta
ton, with abilities and legal learning which, in that region
Of the State admitted ono rivalry and in the enjoyment
corresponding practice and emolumen that he heard the
call of his country upon her arm He obeyed and
was among the first to set example, by himself volunteer
ing soldier His friends and constituents fol
lowed his lead al speedily organized body stood ready
for the march.
Mr.. HAMER known personally and well to the Presi
dent with whom he had served in the House of
tave amid scenes less ing the mness and forti-
tude OF men than the field Of battle itself The Presidenl
was, therefore, under necessity ask who should be
placed in command Of the Ohio brigade. Mr. HAMKR was
appointed, and that too, without his solicitation and
believe, without his knowledge of such event being in
contemplation.
He accepted the commission, proceeded on duty and lost
his life in its performance having been elected in his alb
sence again to Congress.
When the intelligence of this event came TO the west
the legislature OF Ohio being session. Immediately adopt
ed appropriate measures to in behalf of the whole
people, their high appreciation of his virtues abilities and
services and the profound felt by ALL of the loss ss
tanned in his death The State stretched forth her hands
and drew the dead body of her adopted her bosom
There 1t no reposes amid the family the neghbors the
constituency who received with signs and tears for
the they had always before greeted his return
among them with exultation and joy.
1t would be but common place and an insufficient Gu
logy upon Mr. Hamer say that in all the relations he
bore to the community, he exhibited the qualities appro
pirate to those relations Society has right expect such
result, even from of mere mediocrity. But from
in the powers of whose mind the discriminating par
TALLY of nature manifest in HIS society has
right demand such exerton of intellect and exhibition
of virtues may tend the advancement its lasting
welfare and afford example the incoming generation
To this demand the whole life of Mr. Hamer-his private
and public manners, habits and sympathes his benevo
Ience integrity, and honor; his intelligence, industry
courage, genius, and patrioismall responded in man
ente him demand, in his turn the lasting graft
tude of society. This he enjoyed when he lived and
when called to pass that boundary which has
drawn between the living and the dead he did with the
consciousness that he laid down life that might
viewed by the intelligent and the just, with approba