Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-09-05

he was elected by nine-tenths Of the num-
Der of votes polled. AT the end Of hia
term he canvassed tor Congress and again
swept the state like hurricane. He con-
timed to serve with success in the SUI
preme councils of the nation until the Pc
riod Of the war with Mexico. He then
resigned, hurried home to Arkansas, and
raised regiment Of volunteer cavalry,
with which he made all possible dispatch
for the scene of action.
The writer of the present sketch saw
him on his line of march to coalesce with
the grand army of occupation, and never
will he forget the evening passed by the
light of his hospitable camp fire on Red
River, within the limits of Texas. The
prophecy of his farewell words ring still
in my ears with mournful distinc,ness.
Il co. said he, with look of fire, and
in tones of thrilling emphasis, ito make a
fame that shall be co-extensive with the
length and breadth Of The Union, or 10 ex-
tinguish life itself in blaze of glory I
| He kept his word; he did both. Hear
rived on the CORY arena in time to witness
the magnificent storm of the great day Of
Buena Vista; and where is the true child
Of American birth that cannot name the
three transcendent stars of chivalry who
fell quenched in blood that day?-aye, who
fell, but as they fell sheds parting sun
burst of everlasting l,fe-light over that
field of glory and Of graves! Doest re-
member, Hardin! Clay! Yell!
We have only space remaining to glance
currente caiamo at the striking character
of Gov. Yell's genius. 1t seems from his
childhood 10 have been triple compound
of blended courage, prudence, and the love
of appreciation. Although born of very
poor parents, he was distinguished even
when boy alike by his daring, his thirst
for practical knowledge, and the refined
courtesy of his manners. As lawyer,
! Judge, and statesman, he was far from be-
ing profound. He never sought for GEN.
tral problems embodying first principles;
he had no skill for the analysis Of first
causes, but he had an eye for consequen-
ces near and remote, piercing and far
sighted as the eagles.
Prudence was his cardinal virtue. This,
combined with his singular prescience,
enabled him TO avoid the rocks on which
SO many other Arkansas politicians saw
their popularity shivered to atoms. He
took no stock in the new bubble banks,
and accordingly, when the crash came
that reduced the state to insolvency and
aroused from the lips Of ruined people
such tempest of curses, he alone, of all
the public men, escaped censure. As an
orator, when called to give an opinion on
doubtful questions, he possessed the in
valuable faculty Of seeming perfectly clear
by a sentence rb 'euIfer sruc. borrvN'
phrase from Shelly his elocution on such
occasions was truly "a veil of woven wind,
r trans par ent, but intangible as ether. That
he had faults we do not deny, but, what
= ever their nature or number, we will not
discuss them now.
They were all amply expiated by that
heroic death-the rich libation Of blood
poured out on the altar Of his beloved
country! And on that altar, too, at the
, same hour, on the same point Of the en-
I sanguned field, before the same sweep Of
the fire whirlwind of battle, fell another
sacrifice, humber, but not the less accept
able to the genius of our glorious father
E land-we mean him who has figured in
the sketch as Good Natured Bill Buff
um.' He was always the inseperable
companion of Col. Yell. He carried a
standard through that storm of steel and
lead. He was cut in two by a cannon
> shot, and the coors of his country dropp-
ed over him like shroud. Poor Bill
i he shall laugh or weap now never more
. till the last morning! Glorious Bill he
died near his idoIized friend, and the ban
o ner of thirty stars was his winding sheet!