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

fcctly assured that under his auspices the honor,
the prosperity and the glory of our country would
have been safely placed.
Sir he has gone No more shall we witness from
yonder seat the flashes Of that keen and penetrating
eye OF his, darling through this chamber. No more
shall behold that torrent of clear, concise,
pact logic, poured out from his lips which, if il did
not always carry conviction 10 our judgment, COM
manded our great admiration. Those eyes and
those lips are closed forever.
And when, Mr.. President, will that great vacan-
cy which has been created by the event to which
we are now alluding-when will il be filled by an
equal amount of ability, patriotism, and devotion
TO what he conceived 10 be the best interests OF his
country
Sir, this is not the appropriate occasion, nor
would be the appropriate person to attempt de
llneaton of his character or the powers OF his en-
lightened mind. will only say, in a few words,
that he possessed elevated genius of the highest
order; that in felicity of generalization of the sub
jects of which his mind treated, have seen him
surpassed by no one; and the charm and capti-
waiting influence of his colloquial powers have been
felt by all who have conversed with him. | was his
senior, Mr.. President, in years-in nothing else.
According to the course of nature, ought to have
know that shall linger here only short time,
and shall soon follow him.
And how brief, how short is the period of human
existence allotted even to the youngest amongst
us Sir, ought we not to profit by the contempa-
ton of this melancholy occasion? Ought we not to
draw from it the conclusion how unwse il is to in
dulge in the acerbity Of unbridled debate how I'M
yield ourselves to the oil the anlInosi
ties of party feeling? how wrong il is to indulge in
those unhappy and hot strifes which too often
perate feelings and misead our judgments in
the discharge of the high and responsible duties
which We are called to perform? How unbecom-
ing, if not presumptuous, it is in us, who the
tenants Of an hour in this earthly abode to wrestle
and struggle together with violence which would
not be justihabe if il were our perpetual home
In conclusion, sir, while beg leave to express
my cordial sympathies and sentiments of the deep
est coincidence towards all who stand in rela-
ton to him, trust we shall all be instructed by the
eminent virtues and merits of his exalted character
| and be taught by his bright example to fulfil our
great public duties by the lights of our own judg-
Incnt and the dictates of conscience as he
did, according to his honest and best conceptions
of those duties, faithfully and to the last.
MIR. WEBSTER. ] hope the Senate will indulge
me in adding a very few words to what has been
said. My apology for this presumption is the very
long acquaintance which has subsisted between
Mr. CALHOUN and myself. We are of the same
age. ! made my first entrance into the House of
Representatives in May, 1918. there found Mr..
CALHOUN. He had already been member of that
body for two or three years. ! found him then an
active and efficient member of the assembly to
which he belonged taking decided part and ex-
ercising decided influence in all its delibera-
tions.
From that day to the day of his death, amidst all
the strfes of party and politics. there has subsised
between US, always, and without interruption, a
great degree of personal kindness
Differing widely on many great questions respect
try, those differences never interrupted our per-
sonal and social intercourse. have been present
at most of the distinguished instances of the exh
bition of his talents in debate. have always heard
him with pleasure, often with much instruction,
not unfrequently with the highest degree of ad-
Iniraton.
Mr.. CALHOUN was calculated to be a leader, in
whatsoever association of political friends he was
thrown. He was man of undoubted genius and
of commanding talent. All the country and all
the world admit that. His mind was both percep-
tive and vigorous. 1t clear, quiet, and strong.
Sir, the eloquence OF Mr.. CALHOUN, or the manner
of his exhibition Of his sentiments in public bodies
was part of his intellectual character. 1t grew out
of the qualities Of his mind. 1t was plain, strong,
terse, condensed, concise; sometimes impassioned
still always severe. Rejecting ornament, not often
seeking far for illustration his power consisted in
the plainness of his propositions in the coseness of
his logic and in the earnestness and energy of his
| manner. These the qualities, / think,
which have enabled him through such long course
| of years to speak often, and yet always command
attention. His demeanor as Senator is known
to us all-is appreciated, venerated by us all No
man was more respectful to others no car
| ried himself with greater decorum, man with
superior dignity. think there is not one Of us but
felt when he last addressed US from his seat in the
| Senate-his form still erect, with voice by no
means indicating such degree of physical weak
ness as did in fact possess him--with clear tones
and an impressive and, may say, an imposing
| Inanner-who did not feel that he might imagine
| that saw before Senator of Rome wher
Rome survived.
Sir, have not in public in private life known
| more assiduous person in the discharge of his ap
propriate duties; ! have known no man who
wasted less of life in what ID called recreation, OIL
employed less of it in any pursuits not connected
with the immediate discharge of his duty. He
| seemed to have no recreation but the pleasure OF
| conversation with his friends. Out of the cham
bers of Congress, he either devoting himself &c
the acquisition of knowledge pertaining 10 the i'm
mediate subject of the duty before him, else he
was INDUCING in those social interviews in which
he 50 much delighted.
My honorable friend from kentucky has spoken,
in just terms, Of his colloquial talents. They GER
tsinly singular and eminent. There was a
| charm in bis conversation not often found. He
delighted, especially, in conversation and inter.
course with young men. suppose that there ha:
! been no man among us who had more winning man
ners in such an intercourse and such conversation
with men comparatively young, than Mr.. CALHOUN
believe one great power OF his character, In
| general, was his conversational talent / believ,
| It is that, well a Consciousness of his high in
tegrity and the greatest reverence for his talents
| and ability, that has made him 30 endeared al
| object TO the people OF the State to which he be
longcd.
MIR. President, he had the basis, the ndspcnsa
bic basis, of all high character; and that was
spotted integrity nimpeached honor and charac
ter. If he had aspirations, they were high, anS
honorable, and noble. There was nothing grovcl
| ing or low, or neanly selfish, that came near tn
head or the heart Of Mr.. CALHOUN. Firm in hi
/ purpose, Terfectly patriotic and honest, as i an
quite sure he was, in the principles that he es
poused and in the measures that he defended, asid
from that large regard for that species Of distinc
| ton that conducted him To eminent stations for tn
benefit of the republic, ! do not believe he had
selfish motive or selfish feeling.
However, sir, he may have differed from others o
us in his political opinions or his political principles
those principles and those opinions will now descenC
10 postcrty, under the sanction OF great name
He has lived long enough, he has done enough
and Inc has done il so well, successfully, hon
orably, to connect himself for all time with tn
records Of his country. He is now a historical
character. Those Of us who have known him her
will find that he has left upon minds and ou
heartsa strong and lastn impression Of his person
his character, and his public performances which
while we live, will never be obiterated. We shall
hereafter, am sure, indulge in it as grateful re
collection, that we have lived in his age-that VI
have been his contemporaries, that we have see
him, and heard him, and known him. We shall
delight TO speak Of him to those who rising u
to fill our places. And when the time shall com
that ourselves shall go, one after another, d
succession 10 graves, we shall carry with
deep Of his genius and character, his homo
and integrity, his amiable department in privat
life, and the purity Of his exalted patriotism.
Mr.. RUSK briefly alluded to his early acquaint
+ ance with Mr.. CALHOUN, and the kind and mos