Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-03-19

leliseFfd bsiote large concoats ofiha Masonic
Ffaiofniiy and oiheT citizens, Al cineinnad, a.
semblsd Oh The occasion Of fsesisine The rsmaius
of'hs lsls Gsa HANEa at that plsSs--sad pnbs
Iishsd by rsquesl Of tbs Lodgess
ADDRESS.
BreiLren and Feil0s-ciaasaa
We have assembled on this occasion to psy
The customary tribute Of respect 10 departed
friend and brother. Il may Be too much to say
hat Ihere is an innate tendency in the minds Of
all who are not lOsi 10 iuH sense Of proprisiy
and the common feeling Of humanity, 20 DO jus-
lice and honor 10 the dad This disposition ap.
pears 70 have survived the ruins Of the fall. One
who has endowed by the Almighty with the most
exalted wisdom has declared that "a good NAN 10
better thaA precious ointment, and the day ofones
death is beucr than the day ofhs birth" If,hs
evil that men do Is buried with them in the gravs
and all animosites and envies are los, in the for.
gslfulness Of the tomb with equal truth nav II be
said the good they do survives the ravaees Of
death, and lives in the hearts Of surviving friends.
The inspired proverbalisi does not say that richs
IS, or leurning, or honor, or earthly blandish.
menIs are better than precious ointment. Ia fgu.
rative expression sudng 10 the ancient custom
of embalming the dead, but a good name.--
Good deeds ore more fragrant and lasting, and
serve more efectually to preserve the memory,
Than the richest perfumes. The principles and
actions Of men will live long after they ara dead,
proving lasting memeRio m0ri of those who have
passed away to the spirit world. They need no,
TO be recorded in book, or engraven on brass.
or written with an iron on monuments Of mar
bic 10 secure their remembrance, they are indel.
IDLY impressed upon the hearts and treasured up
IN the memories ofsurviving generations. That
the day Of death, TO the good man, is better than
the day Of his brlh, is obvious from the fact thar
death is the sum Of all human actions-the con.
clusion ofIhe whole great drama oflife-for
"What is dcalh but lifs's last shore,
Where vanilics are vain no more"
At our biuh we are introduced into a world of
sickness, sorrow and pain. The dav Of death
transfers US TO world Of everlasting life and
joy.
The state after de ath is one ofeyerlastinp per.
manency. No anaihemas can travel beyond the
margin Of the grave. No eulogies can charm
the ear Of those who have passed away 10 the
spirit land. The dead are far beyond the reach
of this world. General Thomas L. Hamer,
whose remains are now before US, was born in
Pennsylvania. IL was what might bo EN-.
phalhaticaly called a sclfmade man. Thrown
upon his own resources he entered the arena Of
active life and grapPIed with the many and for
midable difficulties which pressed around him.
These obstacles, instead of dscOuraging and
overcoming him, served but TO develop his
strength and urge him on TO mighter efforts
By dInt Of perseyerng industry and toll he rose
10 eminence at the bar, and as a counsellor and
advocate he stood in the front rank Of his pro-
(ession. Frank, honorable, and generous TO q
fault. he never encouraged expectations in eli.
ent which he did not confidently believe would be
realized. A benevolence which sought not os-
tentatious display, was prominent feature Of his
character. A cold and sordid selfshness, free.
zing all the generous impulses of our nature,
found no place in his manly and benevolent
heart. The widow, the orphan, the soldier who
had defended his country in the hour Of strife,
the poor, who by Affections or misfortune had
lost their all; ever found in him a sympathizing
friend and brother. He lookrd upon the whole
human family as one universal brotherhood.
/ Though not personally acquainted with him,
love to contemplate this feature of his character,
and who, ask, would wish TO tarnish the bright
/ ness of so good ndme. He was chosen by his
fellow citizens TO represent them in the Legisla-
ture ofhs adopted State, for several successive
years, a post which he filled with ability and
honor. He also served three terms successfully
in the Congress of the United States, and would
doubtless have continued in this responsible re.
lation, but from the fact that he declined re.eec.
ton.
OF his politics il does not become me TO speak;
the relation | sustain TO the community, but
above all the occasion, lorbids any expression of
sentiment in relation thereto. Suffice it TO say,
that those who differed with him in regard to the
great leading and exciting topics in the political
world, were ever ready to award to him purity Of
motive and honesty of purpose, in endeavoringto to
give them prevalcncy in our country.
Censure is a tax invariably laid upon every
candidate for fame. He, whose general charact.
er was so pure that it pleased the Almighty to
contemplate il. who, when but a stripping, led
the armies Of Israel TO battle and victory, was as
sailed by the tongue ofevil report, and he who
can pass through the world without eliciting tho
envy or censure Of others, must be singuary
fortunate. Our country having become involv.
ed in war with Mexico, concerning the justice
or injustice of which have not one word 10 say,)
and a call being made by the President upon
Ohio for volunteers, the Hon. Thos. l.. Hamer,
breaking asunder all the ties that bound him to
an afIectionatc wife and beloved children and
! forsakng all the endearmens of home and
j friends for the tolls and hardships oil the camp and
field, volunteered as private, and rePai red with
his company TO the rendezvous at Camp WASH
ington, near this city, His-son-in-law, Captain
Johnson, ofthe "Brown County Boys" accom-
panied him and acted as his aid at the storming of
Monterey. While at Camp Washington he was
elected Major Of the regiment 10 which he be-
Ionged.
On his way TO the seat ofwar, he was chosen
without opposition to represent the District in
which he resided, in the Halls of Congress-
The next honor conferred upon him was that Of
his promotion TO Brigadier GeneralshiP in the