The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-02

wrote, or did; there was a Roman dignity in his
whole Senatorial department, which, together,
made up a character which cannot fail to be con
| templated and admired to the latest posterity
| have said, sir, that New England can appropri
ate no part of his fame. But we may be permitted
! 10 remember that il was in our schools OF learning
and of law that he trained up for the great
tests which awaited him in the forum or the Senate
chamber. Nor can we forget how long and how
intimately he associated in the executive or
dehberauve branches OF the Government with more
| than one of our own most cherished statesmen.
! The loss of such man, sir, creates a sensible
| gap in the public councils. To the State which he
represented, and the section OF country with which
| he peculiarly identified, no stranger tongue
may venture to attempt words Of adequate consoa
| ton. But let us hope that the event may not be
/ without wholesome and healing influence upon
| the troubles of the times Let us heed the voice.
| which comes to all, both as individuals and
| public officers, in so solemn and signal provi-
| dence Of God. Let us remember that whatever
happens to the republic, we must die! Let US re-
| fleet how vain the personal strifcs and partisan
contests in which we daily engage, in view of the
! great account which we may 80 soon be called ON
\ to render! AS Cicero exclaimed, in considering
| the death of Crassus: go fallacem hominum spem,
| fragilem que fortunam, ct inanes nostras conten
| tiones!' Finally, sir, let us find fresh bonds Of
brotherhood and of union in the cherished memories
| of those who have gone before u.s. and let US re-
solve that, so far as in Us lies, the day shall
| come when New England men may not speak of
the great names of the South, whether among The
dead among the living, as of Americans and
| fellow -countrymen!
Mr. vENABLE rose and said
| Mr. SPEAKER: In responding to the announce
ment just made by the gentleman from South Caro-
lima, (Mr HoLMEs,) perform sad and mel
anchoy office. Did consult my feelings alone,
would be silent. In the other end of this building,
we have just heard the touching cloquence of two
venerable and distinguished Senators, his contem-
/ poraries and compatriots Their names belong to
their country we'll his; and thought, while
each was speaking, Of the valiant warrior clothed
in armor, who when passing the grave of one with
whom he had broken lances and crossed weapons,
| dropped a tear upon his dust, and gave testimony
| to his skill, his valor, and his honor. He whose
spirit has fled needs effort of mine to place his
name on the brightpage of history, nor would any
euogy which / might pronounce swell the vast
tide of praises which viii flow perennially from
nations gratitude. The great American states
man, who has fallen by the stroke of DEATH has left
! the impress of his mind upon the generations among
whom he lived-has given to posterity the mines Of
1 his recorded thoughts, to reward their labor with
intellectual wealth-has left an example Of purity
and patriotism on which the wcaried eye may rest,
'And gaze upon the great,
Where neither guilty glory glows,
Nor despicable state"
For more than forty years his is conspic-
uous In our history. Born at the close of the
lutionary war, he in full maturity to guide the
councils of his country in our second contest with
England. Never unmindful Of her claims upon
him, he has devoted long life oher service, and
has closed il, like gallant warrior, with his armor
bucked on him. death made conquest of this
conqueror; for now he lives in fame, though not in
life; the only fame, sir, which he ever coveted
| an impulse to great and honorable deeds-a fame
which none can despise, who have not renowned
the virtues which deserve it, II is least some re-
lief to our hearts, now heavng with sghs at this dis
pensaton OF Heaven, that he now belongs to bright,
to enduring history; for his was one Of "the few
immortal names that were not born to die" OF his
| early history, the gentleman who preceded me has
spoken; of his illusrious life, need not speak; it
is known to millions now living, and will be fami
| liar to the world in after times
But, propose to something of him his
last days. Early in the winter of 1889, his fail
ing health gave uneasinees to his friends Sc
we're attack of bronchitis, complicated with an af-
fiction of the heart, disqualified him for the per-
| formance OF his Senatorial duties with the pune
tuality which always distinguished him. 1t
| then that became intimately acquainted with his
mind, and, above all, with his heart. Watching by
his bedside, and during his recovery, ceased to be
astonished at the power which his master mind and
elevated moral feelings had always exerted upon
those who were included within the circle of his So
cial intercourse. 1t was tribute paid sponta-
neously to WISDOM genius, truth. Patriotism, hon
esty OF purpose, and purity OF motive rendered ac-
tive by the energies of such an intellect as hardly
ever falls to any man, gathered around him sincere
admirers and devoted friends.
That many have failed to appreciate the value of
the great truths which he uttered, to listen to
the warnings which he gave, is nothing new in the
history OF great minds. Bacon wrote for posterity,
and men of profound sagacity always think in adj
vance OF their generation. His body was sinking
| under the invasion of disease before formed his
acquaintance, and he passing from among us
before i was honored with his friendship wit
messed with establishment the influence of his mighty
mind over his weak physical structure. Like pow
erful steam engine on frail bark every revolution
OF the wheel tried its capacity for endurance the
utmost. But yet his mind moved on, and, as if in
sensible OF the decay of bodily strength put forth
without stint his unequaled powers Of thought and
analysis, until nature wellnigh sunk under the inn
position. His intellect preserved it's vgor, while his
body wassinking todecay. The menstruum retained
all its powers of solution while the frail crucble
/ was mi inn IN nnr
ing his late Illness which, with short inermis-
sion, has continued since the commencement of
this session of Congress, there abatement
Of his intellectual labors They directed
well TO the momentous questions agitatng the
public mind, as to the completion of work which
embodies his thoughts on the subject ofgovcrnment
IN general, and our own Constitution in particu-
lar-thus distinguishing his last days by the great
est effort OF his mind and bequcathing il as his
richest legacy to posterity.
cheerful in sick chamber, none of the gloom
winch usually attends the progress OF disease
noyed him severe in ascertanng the truth OF
conclusions, because unwilling to be deceived him
self, he scorned to deceive others; skilful in APP
preciating the past and impartial in his judgment
Of the present, he looked to the future depend
ent on existing causes, and fearlessly gave utter
ance to his opinions Of its nature and character;
the philosopher and the statesman, he discarded
expedients by which men "construe the times TO
their necessities" He loved the truth, for the
truths sake, and believed that TO temporize is but
to increase the evil which seek to remove. The
|
tience-no cloud upon his intellect. To friend,
who spoke of the time and manner in which it
was best to meet death, he remarked, ~ hare but
iifff concern about either desire 10 die IN the dis
charge Of my duty; haze an mistaken reliance upon
the providence Of Cod
saw him four days after his last appearance in
the Senate chamber, gradually sinking under the
power OF his malady, without one murmur at his
aftiction, always anxious for the interest Of his
country, deeply absorbed in the great question
which agitates the public mind, and earnestly de-
string its honorable adjustment, unchanged in the
opinions which he had held and uttered for many
years, the ardent friend Of the Union and the Con-
stituton, and seeking the perpetuty Of our insttu-
tons, by intoxicating the of justice and the
duties of patriotism.
| Aggravated symptoms, the day before his
| death, gave notice Of his approaching end left
him late at night, with but faint hopes Of amend
ment and ON being summoned early the next
morning, found him sinking in the cold embrace
OF DEATH Calm, collected, and conscious of his sit
uaton, but without any symptom Of aarm-hs
face beaming with intelligence without one ndica-
ton of suffering or Of pain. watched his counte-
nance, and the Iustre Of that bright eye remained
r unchanged, until the silver cord broken, and