The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-11

clrr, uscxhfustci tho sslitc trtusss Ans QoeS&on
which had mar ked his life. He was honest and
y unostcntatiops; he obeyed tho law and loved the
CONSTITUTIONS; he dealt with difficult questions with
singcncss OF purpose which is the truest pilot
( amid storms. Nor can il DO doubted that when
Impartial history shall record the events Of his Ad-
4inistration, they will be found worthy Of his
past life. and firm foundation for his future re-
nown. s,if.t aea 81
You remember, MIR. Speaker, that when the
great Athenian philosopher was inquired Of by the
Lydian king as TO who was the happiest, among
nien, he dec AIRED that no man should be pro.
bounced hal py Till his death The President of
tle United States has finished a noble life, as to
justify the pride and admiration Of his country
, nlenhe has faced the last cnenly with manly
fl,nness and n becoming resoaton lie died
where an American citizen would IposL desire to
die not amid embaiiled hosts aud Charging SQUAD
rons, but amid weeping friends and an anxious
nation--in the house provided by it's gratitude,
only to be taken thence to " house not made with
hands, eternal in tho hcayens-" tatf So "
Sir, in the death which has caused much dis
may there is a becoming resemblance to the life
which has created much confidence. His clos
ing hours were marked with beautiful calmness
his last expressions indicated manly sense OF his
own WORTH and consciousness that he had done
his duty. Nor can omit to remark that IL is this
sense OF the obligation Of duty which appears to
have been the true basis of his character In boy
hood and IN age-as captain and as general
whether defending fort against sayages, or exer-
cising the functions Of the Chief Magstracy, duty,
rather than glory--sef approval, rather than re-
nown-haye prompted the deeds which have made
him immortal stWD
Mr.. Speaker, the character upon which death
has just set his seal is filled with beautiful and inn
prcssive contrasts warrior, he loved peace;
man OF action, he sighed for retirement. Amid
the events which crowned him with fame, he coun-
selled withdrawal Of our troops. And whether
at the head of armies in the Chair of State he
appeared as utterly unconscious of his great re-
, nown as If no banners had dropped AT his word, or
as If no gleam of glory shone through his whitened
hair. II ia related of Epamnondas, that when fa-
tally wounded at the battle of Mantnea, they bore
him to height from whence, with fading glance,
he surveyed the fortunes of the fight and when the
field was won, laid himself down to die; the friends
who gathered around him wept his early fall and
passonately expressed their sorrow that he died
childless. "Not so,' said the hero with his last
breath, "for do not leave two fair daughters,
Leuctra and Mantnca?" General TAYLOR Is more
fortunate, since he leaves an excellent and most
worthy family to deplorc his loss and inherit his
glory. Nor is he fortunate in this only, since,
like Epaminondas, he leaves not only two battles
but iour-Palo Alto, Resaca, Monterey ,Buena Wis.,
ta-the grand creations of his genius aud valor to
he remembered as long as truth and courage APP
peal to the human heart
MIR. Speaker, the occasion and the scene impress
upon us deep Of the stability of all human
concerns, 80 beautifully alluded to by my friend
| from Massachusetts, (Mr. WIsrHRop.) The great
southern Senator is no longer among Us. The Pre-
sident, during whose administration the COM
menced, sleeps in "the house appointed for all the
living;" and the great soldier who led the advance
| and assured the triumph, ''lies like warrior talk
ing his rest" All! sir if in this assemblage there
. 10 man whose heart beats with tumultuous and
unrestrained ambition, let him to- day stand by the
bier upon which that heIess body is laid, and learn
how much of human greatness fades in an hour;
but i there bN another man here whose faintng
heart shrinks from noble purpose, let him, too,
visit these sacred remains. to be reminded how
much there is in true glory that can never die
Mr.. BAYLY and said:
MIR. SPEAKER: Representing in part the native
State of the Industrious dead, may be improper
70 me- in behalf Of her delegation, to add word to
n " ham al v,,..h ah1
may have differed with him while living, there is
not one who mourns more deeply his sudden death.
No State felt oitier pride in his military achieve
ments, or admired more his private virtues. None
Will drop tear Of more heartfelt upon his
bier.
hope il will not be deemed inappropriate for
the To Indulge IN some reflections suggested by the
occasion. For the second time, Mr.. Speaker, in
our political history, our national government is to
be subjected 70 the trial Of being administered by
President not elected by the people to that office
The hrst wac enough: but this must be
still more How different is our situation now
from what 1t was then! Then, it is true, we were
in condition of high political excitement But it
was The elevation or downfall of parties which de-
pended upon the result. Now we are in the midst
OF an angry sectional strife, threatening the very
existence OF the government itself II that crisis
required prudence, moderation. and wisdom to in
sure success TO the experiment, how much more
will the one in which we now find ourselves de-
mand the exercise Of those high qualities Sir, in
the very midst of the tempest, when the storm is
alarm, the captain has been Unexpectedly swept
from the deck and the second in command has
just taken charge Of the helm If this loss has add
cd TO their anxiety, IT but increases the obligation
oil ndety ON the part of the crew, upon whose del-
ity at last the safety of the ship depends Sir we
that crew, owe it 10 ourselves 10 those who have
trusted us where we are-wc owe il to mankind TO
save her from her pcrils
Heretofore, when deuges have swept over the
eastern continent, heaying off before them the yes
uges oil liberty, our country has been looked TO as
The Mount Ararat, upon which the ark, laden with
all that was dear to liberty, might rest in safety
Shall we now fan the internal fires which ars
kindling in is bosom, and convert IL into terrible
volcano, cructating its dreadful lava and spread-
ing rum and devastation around-an object 10 be
avoided rather than sought My ardent prayer
u.s. that there Is still enough of the spirit of our ia
TIERS among us TO save mankind from this awful
catastrophe.
tutions. am free TO admit that have never seen
their beauties in holder relief than to-day. The
scene which has just been enacted before us
has converted my admiration, as ] doubt not
has that Of all Of us, almost into idolatry
itself. In the midst ofsuch crisis the Union Of
these States never found itself in bcore-one threat
enng ITS downall-in the very focus of the excite
ment which has produced H. we have seen the Exc
cutve branch of the Government with all of it's
enormous power, pass without the conflict Of dy-
nasucs, without the presence of soldier, evena
police officer, 40 quietly from one act Of hands to
another, that but for the sadness which rests upon
the brows Of those around me, no ono would CON
lecture that any thing unusual had occurred,
Where else could such scene be Witnessed In the
history of what other government s its parallel to
be found' lie there not enough appeal to my
countrymen-in the reflections suggested by what
Ia passing around us, TO awaken the nation TO a
sense - that justice and patriotism by which alone
can The blessings we enjoy be preserved to our
selves and mankind.
Mr.. billiard rose and said Mr. Speaker at
The suggestion Of those in whose judgment have
confidence, rise to offer an humble tribute to the
memory OF the great man who has just fallen ia our
midst u he were living, should leave others to
eu'ogize hm--as he IL dead, choose TO speak Of
HIM. And yet am overwhelmed by the event
which has just occurred, that can scarcely find
language TO express what feel. Some events are
40 impressive that they leave little occasion for
words-tbey are too great TO be enlarged on. I am
almost ready TO follow the example of n great
French orator who, when called on TO pronouncea
Funeral GRAFTON upon deceased monarch laid his
hand upon the head of the dead king, and ex-
claimed There IL nothing great but Cod" Sir,
there Is nothing great but God.
General TAyLoR's whole career illustrated the
high qualities which eminenuy distinguished
him. do not dwell upon his battle. fields; they be-
long TO history, and they will find place upon the
fsrt.< l.t..t -