The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-04-13
Death Of Mr.. Calhoun.
SENATE,
WAsHINaToS. April l

and appropriate manner
Mr. Clay. Prompted by my own feel
|ings Of profound respect wish, on rising to
second the resolutions which have just been
read, to add to what has been SO web and sol
Justly said by the surviving colleague of the
| lillustrious deceased, few words Ny per-
sonal acquaintance with him commenced up
wards of thirty eight years ago We entered,
at the same time and together, the House Of
/ Representatives, at this other end Of the bull
ding The Congress Of which we thus be-
came members was that among whose dellb-
efaticns and acts was the Declaration of War
against the most powerful nation, as It re-
spects us in the world
During the preliminary discussions which
arose in preparation for that great event, as
well as during those which took place when
the Resolution was formerly adopted, no men,
.tber DISPLAYED a more lively and patriotic sen
dsibilit; to the wrongs, which led to that awful
event, than the deceased, whose death all
4 unite now in deploring. Ever active, ardent
and able, no one was in advance of him in ad-
vucating the cause of-his country, and in de-
nouncing the injustice which compelled thai
country 10 appeal 10 arms
In all the Congresses with which have had
any acquaintance since my entry into the SER
vice Of the Federal Government, in none in
my opinion. has been assembled such gal
] laxy Of eminent and able men as those Con
gresses which declared the War and which
Immediately followed the Peace In thai
splendid assemblage, the staF which is now
set, stuod bright and brilliant.
1t Mas my happiness, sir, during great
part of the life of the departed, to concur with
him upon all great questions of national poll
Iey. During the session at which the war was
ldeeared, we were messmates. as were other
4 distinguished members ofSCongress from his
lown patriotic State. was afforded by the
intercourse which resulted from that fact, as
from subsequent intimacy and intercourse
(which arose between eus, an opportunity TO
form an estimate not merely of lis public but
of his private hfs, and no man with whom
Ehave ever been acquainted, exceeded him in
habits of temperance, in all the simplicity OF
social Intercourse, and in all the tenderness
affection and respect which he extended to-
wasds that lady, who now mourns more than
any other the cent which has happened.
And such, Mr. President was the high es-
timate which formed of his transcendent tall
ents at the end of his service in the Execu-
Live Department under Mr. Monroe, that had
HE been translated to the highest office of the
Government, / should have felt perfectly as
Esured, that under his auspices. the honor and
the prosperity and the glory of our country
would have been safely preserved Sir, he is
Egone. No more shall these Halls witness
from yonder seat, the flashes of that keen and
lpenetratng eye which he possessed, darting
Through the Hall. No more shall we listen
to that torrent of clear, concise, and compact
i logic, poured out of his lips. Those eyes and
Those lips are closed forever.
And when, Mr. President, will that great
1 =yacancy created By the event to which we are
lnow alluding, and when will It be filled by an
4 equal amount of purity, of patriotism. and of
j devotion to what he conceived TO be the best
Interest of his couetry. Sir, this is not the
4 proper occasion. nor should be the proper
Iperson to attempt delineation of his charac-
Ter, or of the powers of his mind. / will only
4 say in few words, that he possessed a lofty
4 9genius-that in his powers of generalization
of those subjects which bis mind treated,
have seen him surpassed by no man. and the
Icharms and captivating influence of his collo-
gquial powers have been felt by all who have
ever enjoyed them.
4 | am the senior, Mr.. President, in years,
and in nothing else According to the course
of nature, ought to have preceded him. The
q Divine Ruler of human events has determined
fotherwise. ] fell that shall linger but a short
time, and shall soon follow him and how brief,
8. how rapidly passing, is the period of existence
allowed even to- the youngest among us! Sir,
ought We not all to be profted by the contem-
4 plation of this event? Ought we not to draw
from it how nnwise il is 10 indulge in the as
cerbity of debate-how unwise it is to yield
ourselves TO the animosities of party feeling
4 How wrong it is to indulge in those unhappy
and hot strifes, which too often mIsIead us in
the discharge Of the high duties which we are
, called upon to perform?
In conclusion, Mr. President, / desire to
/ lexpress. the most cordial sympathy. and senti-
ulents of the deepest cond0ence, for those
who stand IN the nearest relations TO him ]
trust that We shall all profit by the singular
merits of his character, and live and learn re-
lying upon our judgments and the dictates Of
our own conscience to discharge our duties as
he did, according to his best conception oi
them, faithfully and 10 the last.
Mr. Webster said-I hope the Senate will
indulge me in adding very few words
My apology for this presumption is. the very
) long acquaintance that has subsisted between
) Mr.. Calhoun. and myself We are Of the same
!. lage-I made my first entrance into the House
j tof Representatives in May, 1913. there
found MIR, Calhoun; he had already been an
: etcient member Of that body for two or three
: years. / found him then aiiactive and Efficient
: member of the assembly 10 which he belong
ed taking a decided part, and exercising-a de-
: cided influence in all its deliberations, from
! that day to the day of his death.
Z Amidst allth strifes of party and politics
there has subsisted between US, always and
without interruption, great degree of person
: al kindness Differing widely upon many
great questions belonging to the institutions
: and Government Of the country, those differ
i ences never interrupted our personal and So
( cialintercourse. / have been present at most
: of the distinguished instances of the exhibition
2 lof his talent IN debate. have always heard
him with pleasure, and often with instruction,
, and not unfrequently with the highest degree
: of admiration.
j, Mr.. Calhoun was calculated to be leader
lin whatever association of political friends he
t was thrown: he was a man of t,neioubted oe-