The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-10-24
4 Tribute TO the Memory ef General
Taylor.
ny FesoE4IXA BRENCR.


I saw him hut twice, the hero of the Mex
ican war, the chief man in power in The L.
States, the late Presileut Zachary lay
Tor; hu, enough TO feel that saw III him
An homes, rar. the ncbicst work of God"
The first time was q beautiful evening on
the green grounds around the W hite House.
he Potomac gllstencl in the setting sun,
band OF music in the grounds was playing
The "Star spangletl Banner," aud gay
crowd of men, AMI women and children,
with nurses and negroes, were walking a
bout, enjoying the evening, the music, the
green grounds, and the view. OF The noble
river, with the Washington Monument in
giant proportions rising on its banks. Pre-
-ident Taylor was among .hem, not as the
kings OF Europe when they come down n
lnong the people, surrounded by guards of
star-spang!ed attendants; no, but nnattend-
ed. alone, plnin in attire as the plainest Of
the ci,iZens around him, the greatest part
of whom were strangers To him. Yet he
seemed 10 feel that be was among friends,
and his honest face and unassutnng bear
ing, his straight forward, friendly manner,
the firm and cordial pressure Of his hand, ,
made friend even of the stranger who was
Tor the first time introduced TO him. He
stood there serene, smiling to the children
who were running abont and turnbiing in
the grass in uDrestraineti liberty. He spoke
of the pleasure they gave him.
1t was truly republican scere--one Of
those we would Gain see more often on
earth,-where all distance between men,
all difference OF rank and fortune are done
away with, and life is again an Idyl full Of
innocence and beauty in the lap of great ma
Atatr frn -s.r ln.t IL
wider ard wider over such scenes, such
banquets of life!
The nex, time saw President Taylor, it
was in one Of the splendid rooms ofhis man
sion, AM with him his beautiful daughter,
The sister oSthe Graces, Mrs. Bliss. Polr-
zeal questions, 10 which he was called 10 at
tend, detached him for some time from lis.
When he came, he was cordial and simple
in his manner, as before on the green
grounds. Yet he seemed TO me, not quite
well, and as If he was trying to cast off from
his mind a cloud. And so be did, as gal
lant man and a true American gentleman
attending to the ladies'. He spoke TO us Of
the Indians, among whom he had been
much, and whom, be knew well And as
he spoke he frightened, and his speech
flowed on 80 pleasantly and so cheerfully
thai, had we been cyclists, would have for
gotten how time flowed on, as we forgot the
storm whici. gathered without aud ratified at
the windows
II was few days after that heard the
low, thrilling tones of Daniel Webster inter-
rnpt the discussion going On, to announce,
that ga great misfortune threatened the
Iand.' that the President of the l.. States
was dying-was not expected to outive
that day. And that very evening, how
changed was the gay scene in the White
Housed Death was there, was LAYING his
heavy hand on the beloved father of the
family-on the elected head Of the Repub-
lie Of The United States.
Yet serene was he even nov. In death
he grasped the baud of his wife, and said:
"My dear wife am not afraid to die.
have tried 10 DO my duty,' And that stern
monitOr-so fearful TO many--came 10 him
on his death bed, as comforter, as a sooth-
ing angel. But he had long since made of
him friend. Duty had been and was the
spring of his life and actions. His friends
and his foes and be had such in war and in
pofitics) must join ia acknowledging, tina,
fruthfulness aud c0nscientiousness were the
answering qualities of his mind In these
virtues be was great.
|. saw him but twice, and for a little
White, Oul rs saw nm, and with what |
have heard Of him, can well understand
that brave men, his companions on The bat (
tie field, have wept rs children a, MS death
ana that there Is within the White House,
n heart who, after that death, will never
more feel the Joy Of life. ...t,. /
Yet happy is she, who can live and glory !
IN such memories! And happy the man
who iive, and died as he, who, on his death
bed, looking over "A life OF great military
and civil import, could serenely say. IL am
not afraid 70 die; 4 have tried to do my
duty" .astsss
Washington, July, 1850