The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-12

20 what has been said, the expression Of the
/ the profound regret with which, in common with
the Senate and the country, have learned the
sad event which has been announced to-day
4 public life of severe hardship, danger, and
glory has been suddenly closed That Providence
which protected the late President amidst the
perils OF his long, faithful, and splendid military
career, and which permitted him to reap the har-
vest of admiration and affection which had grown
up for HIM in the hearts of his countrymen, has
removed HIM from US before the measure of his
usefulness was full. That life which was ever
devoted to the service of his country, was yielded
up while he was in the discharge OF the highest
civil truss--trusts not sought by him, but mpos-
ed upon him by the people. To the performance
of these trusts he had brought the pledges Of an
unstained life, of pure and fervent patriotism
OF stern integrity, of kind and benignant temper
| of unyielding frmness, and of unmixed devotion
TO the welfare of that country which he had served
so WELL and which SO freely and worthily bestow-
ed its confidence on him.
| Few men have had better fortune than he
none better deserved il. The virtues Of his SIM
pie and modest, but heroic character, had so en-
deared him to his felow-citizens, that am sure
may venture to say, that even in the midst of the
political strife which he ever sought TO moderate
and soften, there is not one whose heart will not
throb with emotion when he learns the death OF
| Zachary Taylor.
| Mr.. KING. MIR. Secretary, it is not my design,
after the eloquent tribute that has been paid to the
memory of the deceased President Of the United
States, to add many words TO what has already
fallen from the honorable gentlemen. II was my
fortune TO have been personally and intimately ac-
| quainted with the distinguished individual who
| has been called away from among us, for more
Than hve and twenty years. My relations with
him, during that period, were of such character
ms enabled me TO form, think, a correct estimate
OF the man, and to appreciate, as did most high
! ly, his many esumable qualities; aud | can say
that IN all the relations oflc he so bore himself as
TO command the respect Of his acquaintance, the
ardent regard of his friends, and the devoted at
tachment of his countrymen. As man, he was
| surpassed by none IN honesty of purpose; he
was without guile As soldier, all know, and
none more than those | address, that he had won
laurels that would have graced the brow of the
first soldier of Europe or America. 1t was my
fortune, Senators, to be in Europe at the time
when the news reached there that the gallant
General of our forces on the Rio Grande, the late
President of the United States, was surrounded,
or supposed to be surrounded, by an overwhem-
| ing force, he commanding a small but gallant
band. Every American heart beat with anxiety
and fear. We felt, as Americans should feel
| that a reverse then would cast in some degree a
cloud over the country of our birth.
| When the news reached us that the gallant
General of that little band had marched from his
position, regardless of the danger; had retraced
his footsteps and conquered the foe at Resaca de
la Palma, no man but he who was away from his
|
we as American citizens felt at those tidings. Sc
majors, the gallantry Of that was appreciated
not only by his countrymen, butt was felt and APP
preciated by the first military men of Europe. The
living hero of the age, the great Duke Of We'll
ngton, declared, as Napoleon had declared Of
him on certain occasion, General Taylor is a
General indeed" l therefore, Senators, am not
surprised that the enthusiastic spirit Of the Ame-
| rican people led them to support man whose pat
riotism, whose devotion to his country, whose gal
antry, and whose successful services on the field
must have endeared him to the hearts ofall. AS a
man, have said, he was honest of purpose. His
patriotism, his devotion to the Constitution Of his
ucountry under which he cherished these free nsti
/ tons, have never questioned. think KNEW him
well, and believe there no man more patriotic
If errors were committed, | shall draw the cur
tain over them. No longer would feel justified
IN holding him up to the public gaze even if they
had been ten times as glazing as they were. Tho
country has reason to deplore the death of great
man, and, must be permitted to add, a good
man. He has gone from among us, and the az
fictve event has been appealed to to cultivate and
| cherish kind relations. trust in God that these
kind relations will be cherished and that we shall
on this day vow on the altar Of our country to
discard all pickering and strife, all sectional dis
sentions, and live and die as Americans should,
I in support of the Union
Mr.. BERRIEN. Senator'S, yield to a sug
4 gestion which has been made to me since our as
nlOTliIUS, ny nlSnly respected
associate, in making this brief trespass on your
time. ltisnot my purpose, in these brief and UMPIRE
medtated remarks to pronouncea eulogium on thu
i departed Chief Magistrate. That has been amply
done already, in terms at once impressive and elo
quent. Nor is 1t my design to give expression to
individual and personal feeling. Such feeling may
be left appropriately to repose in the BOSOM oil
him who cherishes It, Nor yet do seek to give
feeble and imperfect utterance to a nations grief
| That will be done by our countrymen III their pri.
mary assemblages, this melancholy inteli
gence flies with lightning speed to the remotes
borders Of the Republic, and with freshness
and vividness, and force, which the feelings of
free and sensitive people will impart to the ex
preston Of emotions springing directly from the
own sorrowing hearts. We should vainly at
tempt, by anticipation, to give utterance to then
feelings. Still less would venture 10 intrud,
upon the mourning inmates Of that domestic cir
Gle, who are still clustering round the mortal re
I mains of u departed husband and father; for the
| sorrows Of widowhood and of orphanage are sa-
| cred. But concurring, as / do most cordially, in
| the sentiments which have been so touchngly and
! eloquently expressed IN various portions of this
| chamber---if could succeed in adding one, even
| the slightest motive-in furnishing one, even the
feeblest incentive, to the suggestion which honor
able Senators have urged of the use which we
ought to make of this solemn and affective dis
been accomplished-my duty will have been full.
filed ........ saa ID
\ In my reflections upon this subject, have felt
that this dispensation of Providence is, in its re-
suits, to be eminently productive of good or OF
evil TO our common country and in humble re-
lance on the blessing and guidance of benefcent
Providence, it depends upon us, Senators, and our
associates in the discharge of the important trusts
which committed to this highest legislative as
sembly of a free people--it depends essentially
upon US and the coordinate department Of the
Government, to improve this affective dspensa-
ton Of Almighty God to purposes at once salu-
tary and beneficial to the great interests of the
country. If we can feel that in the sudden death
of our patriot chieftain--in his abrupt summons
of one 'without fear and without reproach"--in
the vgor of life, and in the full enjoyment Of the
highest honors-the most gratifying reward which
the unbought homage Of free people could ac-
cord to him-if we can feel the solemnity of this
sudden call Of an individual so esteemed, honor
ed, so surrounded with all that could contribute
to the happiness Of man--if we can truly appre-
cate the lesson which such dispensation is cal
cuated to impart then, Senator's, consequences
the most beneficial may result from it. If it shall
teach us TO realize the comparative litteness of
IL. l.. L.,