The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-07-23
Mr.. Webster's Eulogy on the late
President.

Mr.. SECRETARY: Alta Time when the prea,
mass of our fellow citizens enjoy remotkn-
BILE health and happiness Throughout The
whole country. it has pleased Divine Prov
dence 10 visit the two Houses Of Con-
gress aud especially this House, with re.
peated occasions Tor mourning and amen-
ta,ion. Since the commencement of the
session we have followed two Of our mem
bers 10 their last home, and we are now
called upon, in conjunction with the other
branch Of the Legislature, and in foil SYM
palhy with the deep tone orafIliction which
| am sure is felt throughout all the coun-
try, to take part in the solemnilies nj the
funeral oil the late President of the United
States. Truly, sir, was it said ia the com
municaton read 10 Us, that great man has
fallen amongst US. The late President of
the United States, originally soldier by
profession, having gone through long and
splendid career Of military service, had at
The close Of The late war with Mexico be-
come so much endeared to the people or,hc
| United States, and had inspired Them with
So much and so high a degree of rerard
and confidence, that without solicitation or
application, without pursuing any devious
paths Of policy, or turang hairs breadth
10 the right or TO The left from The path of
duty, great and powerful and generous
people saw fiji, by popular vote and voice,
10 confer upon him the highest civil au.
thorty in the nation. We cannot forget
| that in other instances, so in this, the pubs
lie feeling was carried away in degree by
the eclat of military renown. SO it has
been always. and SO it will always be, be-
cause high respect for noble feats in arms
has been, and always will be, outpoured
from the hearts of the members of a pop
ular governments hut it will be great
| mistake to suppose that the late President
Of the United States owed his advance
ment to the civil trust, or his great accep-
liability with the people, 10 military talent
or ability alone.
believe. sir, that associated with The
highest admiration Tor those qualities pos
sessed by him, there was spread through.
out the community high degree Of conf
dence and faith in his integrity, and honor
and upri Lhtness, as "A man. | believe he
was especially regarded as both firm and
mild man, in the exercise Of authority, and
| have observed more than once in this aud
other popular governments, that the prev
alent motive with the masses of mankind
for comforting high power on individuals, is
confidence IN their mildness, their paren-
tai protection, which are regarded as of a
sure and a sale character. The ne Jple
naturally feel safe when they feel them
, selves under the control and protection of
sober counsel-men OF impartial minds and
@ a general parental supernlendeuce.
a suppose sir, that no case ever happened
n in the first days Of the Roman Republic,
= where any man found himself clothed with
= the highest authority in the State. under
n circumstances more repelling all suspicion
n OF persona application all suspicion oil pur-
r suing any crooked paths in politics, or all
nf nrt tad k,,e 9,
ter views and purposes than in the case Of
: the worthy, and eminent, and distinguished
J., and good man whose death we now de-
r plore. lie has now left to the people of
= his country "A legacy in this he has left
d them a bright example which addresses it,
d self with peculiar force TO The young and
>. rising generation; for it tells them that
n there is path to the highest degree of re-
e nown, straight onward without change or
y deviation.
d Mr.. Secretary My friend from Louis.
l. iaua, Mr. Downs, has detailed shortly the
events in the military career of Gen. Tay-
l. lor. His services through his life were
r. mostly on the frontier, and always hard
d service, often in company with tribes In
1t dams all along the frontiers for so many
If thousands Of miles
1t has been Justly remarked by one OF the
e most eloquent men whose voice was ever
If heard in these houses. thai il is not in In.
- dian wars that Heroes are celebrated; but
t. it is there that they are formed. The hard
service, the stern discipline, devolving up
n on those who have n great extent Of from
at tier 10 defend with irregular troops, being
he called suddenly into contact with savages,
,e and 10 study the habits Of the savage life
" aud savage war, in order 20 foresee and
I'd overcome their siralagems. All these
things tend 10 make hardy military charac-
re ter for a very short period.
n, Sir, had connection with the ExCcu-
lie tive Government Of this country, and all
that tipe very perilous aud embarrassing
IS circumstances existed between the United
v. States and the Indians on our borders, aud
IN war was actually raging between the u.
of S. and The Florida tribes ; and | very we'll
remember that those who took counsel To-
n gether on that occasion officially, and who
were DESTROYS OF placing the military com-
e. mand in the safest hands, came to the con-
clusion that there was no man in the SER
of vice more fully uniting The qualities of mil
iiary ability, and great personal prudence,
y than Zachary Taylor aud he was Of course
appointed TO the command.
is unfortunately his career at the head of
this government was short. For my part,
in all have seen OF him, | have found
y. The circumstances under which he con-
of Quoted the government for the few months
es he was at the head of it, have been such as
l. perhaps not 10 give him very favorable,
certainly not long, opportunity OF devel-
oping his principles and his policy and TO
t. carry them out. believe he has lett on
H. the mind of his country strong impress
ty ion first, of his absolute honesty and in
e. tegritv Of characte. and his good sense !;
aud lastly, Of The mildness, kindness, and
a friendliness OF his temper towards all his
countrvmen. But he is gone-he is ours
Il, no more, except in the force of his EXAM
pie.
l. Sir, heard with infinite delight the sem
Of liments expressed by my honorable friend
Is from Louisiana. (Mr, Downs,I who hasiusi
resumed his seat, when he earnestly prayed
r, that this event might he used TO soften The
De animosilies, TO allay party ordinations and
~ restore fellowship and good feeling among
the various sections of the Union. Mr.
Secretary, great as is our loss to-day, it
It. these nesimable and inappreciable bless
e. ings shall have been secured 10 us even by
he the death OF Zachary Taylor, they have
Is not been purchased at too high price, and
This spirit, from The regions 10 which it has
assembled could see the resulls-cOuld see
is that he had entwined a soldiers laurel a.
IS, round a martyrs crown, he would say ex-
= uliingly-" Happy am | that by my DEAN
l. have dane more for that country which
rkns, n snra IA