The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-03

ent juncture of pahbr affairs among the distin.
gsidhed lew who oy notable wisdom, integrity
Patr1otis and usefulness, attract the especial
gas % .ne" country, and mark their memory in
mn. WEBSTER. MIR. President, sincerely SYM
Patnizs. with the honorable member from South
at',lina, whose painful duty il has been within 80
.'ort period TO announce the death OF anoler COL
league. sympathize, sir, with all the people Oh
South Carolina, by whom, as know, the gentleman
now deceased was greatly respected and loved !
sympathize with that domestic circle 10 whom ms
death will be loss never 10 be repaired Ana, SIT,
feel that the Senate may well be the object Of con
doence on the death ola gentleman SO well known
in the other branch of the Legislature; OF SO much
experience in the various duties OF public and OH
cal life in his own State, and who has so recently
come into this body with every qualification TO rem
der here important public service, and with every
prospect of usefulness, except far as that pros
pect may have been dimmed by serious apprchen
sions in regard TO his health.
Sir, had the good fortune TO become acquainted
with Mr.. GILMORE ten or twelve years ago, when he
was member, and may say leading member Of
the House of Representatives. had formed very
favorable opinion of his character a man of integ
rity and uprightness of great respectability and
great talent. ! regretted his departure from the
counses OF the nation, because person with his
qualifications and with his habits of business grows
every day more useful in our political circles, 80
long as he remains in possession of his faculties,
and i'll the active performance of his duties. 1t
happened to me, sir, lome years afterwards, and
more private acquaintance with the deceased. l
had the pleasure Of seeing him among his own
friends, Of cutivatng his acquaintance in the midst
OF those circles OF social life in which he was re-
garded as treasure and an ornament. owe, sir,
to him whatever is due for kindness and hospital
~, for generous welcome, and for an extension of
the civilities and courtesics of life.
shall cherish his memory with sincere regard
as valuable and able public man, and gentle
man entitled to high estimation in all the relations
of life.
MIR. DAVIS, of Mississippi. Mr.. President, the
close personal friendship subsisting between my
self and the deceased constitutes at once dsqual-
ihcation my part for speaking of him, and an
impelling power which will not permit me to re-
main in silence. My acquaintance with him com
menced some twelve years ago; during part of
that time have been on intimate terms with him.
and may be permitted to express my concurrence
in W hat has been said of him on this occasion. He
has been truly portrayed as one in whose charac-
ter was blended firmness and gentleness, wisdom
and modesty. These were his characteristics; and
above all, directing and controlling all, there
that stern devotion to duty, that single appliance
to whatever was the task before him. which consti
tutes one Of the great elements of every public
character distinguished for virtue and public USE
funess. II was this devotion to duty in the sphere
alluded to by his colleague which doubt shat
tered his constitution, and thus terminated his life
On the bed from which he never rose when wasted
by disease and racked by pain, that principle
which caused him to devote head and heart to his
duty still ruled supreme physi suffering and
exhaustion. ! saw him but a short time before his
death. His first words to me then were those which
pointed TO the current business Of the Senate and
TO those interests of which he felt himself to be
Immediately the representative and OF which we
know he was so true, able, and faithful an ad
vocatc. The country loses much in losing such n
citizen; the Senate loses much in losing such a
member; his State loses much in losing such rep
rcsentatlve. But there Is deeper grief, greater
loss, darker pail spread over his bereaved family.
The veil which excludes that sacred grief from pub
lie contemplation, yet permits to offer hearts
best sympathy with the mourners' atilicton.
feel Mr.. President, that am utterly disqua-
fed for the purpose Of justly describing his many
endearing and radical virtues; still more for the
set phrase of formal eulogy shall not attempt either
one or the other. will leave to other tongues and
proper to say.