Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1850-08-03


Of lion, CHAnhts M, CoHRAB, Of Leui
siana, ,ipoh occasion Of aiiiisudeing Til
death of the lanahted late President Of III.
United States in The House Of Representa-
lives, The rfesstife af either matter ha'
thus faf piiavuidably excluded II from oil
| columns It IL Il noble tfibhte 10 depart
ed gfeattessFand moral worth:
Mr. CuNpAt said Mr.. Speaker, iii ae
eordanee with wish expressed by nlhtlt
MEMBERS | have prepared q resolution
adapted TO tile melancholy evetlt which
las Just been ANNOUNCED, and which pro
rese to offer teSthe House. Before doing
80, however, ! would do vielenee to tuy
own feelings, as representative Of That
State Of which the i1llistfious deceased was
d ttiseh, and The brightest ornament, If
did not offer sotne remarks appropriate To
the melancholy occasion OH which We are
assembled. Seldom has All event occurred
which more stflhingly illustrates the uli4
certainty Of life and The instability of earth
" Hfeatness than the one We are called op.
OH 10 deplote.
A few daysago General TAYtoH wits III
his usual robust health On the fourth ol
this month lie attended sotne ceremonies
Which took place til eomiteniofatioh of the
anniversary Of ouf national independence.
As the ceremonies occurred Iii The OPEN aif,
Il IL believed that the exposure To d heat
Of nntsnal intensity produced the naady
which, at abott haf.past ten last night,
terminated his earthly eafeet
A great patriot has fallan' A great
benefaetof Of his country has departed
from among us' In q few hours nation
will be plunged in mourning, and the voice
millions Of people
It is not my purpose, Mr., Speaker. To
dwell nj length on this occasion, OH tie
public career and the military achieve
inents Of General TAYb8n. These belsa,g
to the history Of his country and are deep
ly enaraven OH the memories and The hearts
ot his eetintrymen. | prefer to dwell Oh
those minor tftiits Of his character which
as they exert less tnreeptibe influence on
the destiiies Of nations, are loo often over
locked by histories.
General TAfLeHs g was not one Of those
characters OF Whiel, history furnishes many
conspicuous examples iii which many de-
feets ara concealed, amid The da8zlihg
spehhof Of q single virtue On the ltiiliis
ois disc ofshis character no dark spots are
han 4.,.H E6,
great lullias to conceal, OF iatllts TO excuse.
OF crimes to palliHte OF condemn There
Is no dark passaee In his life which justice
will be called upon To condemn or morality
to fepfove, or humanity to deplofe. Like
the finished production OF at1 artist. the
details Of the picture hfe as correct and ne
beautiful as The general outline Is grand
and imposing
His heroic courage and military genius
are those qualities to which he is chiefly
indebted for his fame and yet those who
knew him best would consider them the
least prominent attributes Of his character,
On the contrary. this courage appeared only
MI advehtitiens quality. occasionally de-
veloped by circumstances requiring its exs
efeise lis prominent characteristics, III.
ways manifest, were ah unaffected modes.
~, combined with extraordinary frtnness,
d stern seuse Of duty, aud Of justice tenn
pered aud soItened by spirit Of universal
Oh inflexibls integrity,
that knew ITO discrimination, d
sincerity and ffankness which rendered
eoneeament or disguise absolutely unne-
esssafy,
These we're the traits that endeafed him
to his friends, aud inspired with confidence
all who approached him. These were the
qualities which in private life made him
the upright man. the valuable citizen. the
devoted friend, the a1ee.ionate husband
the fond father, the kind and indulgent
muster, aud which. brought into public
life, nade hun the d dEsinterestea patriot and
the faithful and con sclentious funeiiohary
Ills martial courage was set off and reiev.
cd by his group off civic virtues, IA the
of the diglmond is enhanced by
tho gem OF softer fey by Which II is enet.
rlcl.
The mass Of the people in NIL countries
possess n wonderful sagacity IN detecting
the prominent traits Of their distinguished
men The American people afe inferior
to none in this quality and they soon di#-
covered aud appreciated the merits Of Gen
TAYLOR. II is not surprising, therefore.
that they called him, almost by aeclama-
ton, to fill the first office In their gift.
1t is NO common for the most ambitious
men to affect n reluctance in accepting
those very honors which they have long
and ardently sought that we are apt to
consider all such professions ns indicating
feelings thevery reverse Of those they cx-
press. Those, however, who know Gen
TAYLOR well, entertained no doubt of the
entire sincerity Of his declarations when he
was called upon to be II candidate for the
office Of President
The excitement of politics had no charm
for one who had always been extremely
avcrse to political controversy. The pomp
and splendor Of the Presidential mansion
had no temptations for one who was al
ways remarkable for the simplicity Of his
tastes and the frugality Of his habits. Add
to this, that his unaffected modesty and
in public affairs led him sim
cerely to distrust his ability to discharge
the duties Of this high and responsible sta
ton.
AT no period Of our history, indeed, was
the Executive chair surrounded by more
difficulties than those which encompassed
it when he was called OH to occupy it.
Party spirit was still raging with unabated
fury; dark cloud was visible on the hor-
rizon, which portended that storm of
unusual violence was approaching, and
would shortly burst forth. Under such