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

the world sublime spectacle oi the heauty and
- perfection OF SELF government.
Such a this ought to make a happier
and better people. II should make sensible OF
| the great and manifold advantages enjoy u
free and united people. Let us, then, bury IN the
tomb of our departed President all sectional feel
Il ings and divisions, and unite in that
spirit of cordial good will and brotherly love which
united our foreiathers IN the earlier days OF the re-
public. Let renew before we leave his grave our
vows To support the Union, and our determination
TO perpetuate our Constitution in all its prmevai
simplicity and purity. There is room enough,
glory enough and honors for US all, while We pre-
serve the Union and know how wisely and ptu-
IDENTIFY to enjoy il.
Whereas Il has pleased Divine Providence TO re-
move from this life Zachary Taylor, late President
OF the United States the Senate, sharing in the gen
cral which this melancholy event must pro
duce is desirous of manifesting its sensibty the
occasion:
Therefore resolved, That committee, consisting
OF Mcssrs. WEBSTER, CAss and KING, be appointed
on the part of the Senate to meet such committee
as may be appointed on the part Of the House of
Representatives, to consider and report what mea
may be proper to adopt to show the respect
and affection Of Congress for the memory OF the il
lustrious deceased, and to make the necessary ar
ran gements for his funeral.
Ordered, That the Secretary Of the Senate com
municatc the foregoing resolution To the House OF
Representatives
Mr.. WEBSTER said: Mr.. Secretary, alta time
when the great of our fellow citizens enjoy
markable healthand happiness throughout the whole
country, it has pleased Divine Providence to visit
House, with repeated occasions for mourning and
lamentation. Since the commencement of the SEES
sion, have followed two of our own members to
their last home; and now called upon in
conjunction with the other branch of the icgisla
ture, and in full sympathy with that deep tone of
ufflicton which am is felt throughout all the
country, to take part IN the last and due solemn,
ies Of the funeral of the late President of the United
States.
Truly, sir, was it said in the communication read
TO Us, that "grcat man has fallen among US
Iatn ,tItf h. int tUtn1
a soldier by profession, having gone through u long
and splendid career OF military service, had, at the
close of the late war with Mexico, become so much
endeared to the people OF the United States and
had inspired them with so high u degree of regard
and orhdence, that without solicitation applica
ton, without pursuing any devious paths OF policy
or turning a hairs breadth to the right the left
from the path of duty great, and powerful, and
generous people saw fit, by popular vote and voice.
70 confer upon him the highest civil authority in
the nation We cannot forget that, in other
instances 50 in this, the public feeling won
and carried away, in some degree, by the eclat of
military rcnown. So 1t has been always; and SO
it always will be, because high respect for noble
ieuts in arms has been, and always will be out
poured from the hearts of the members OF popu-
lar Government. But it will be great mistake
to suppose that the late President of the United
States owed his advancement to high civil trust,
his great acceptability with the people, to mill
tary talen, ability alone. believe, sir, that
associated with the highest admiration for those
qualities possessed by him, there spread
throughout the community high degree OF conf
dence and faith in his integrity and honor and up
rig htness l believe he was especially
. regarded as both firm and mild man IN the
exercise Of authority And have observed more
l. than in this and i'll other popular Govern
ments, that the prevalent motive with the masses
Of mankind for comforting high power on individu
ala, is confidence in their mildness their pater-
nal, protecting, secure, and safe character. The
people naturally feel safe where they feel them
selves to be under the control and protection OF
suber counsel, OF impartial minds, and general
paternal superintendent.
suppose, cir, that eyer happened in the
very best days of the Roman republic, when every
man found himself clothed with the highest au-
thority in the State, under circumstances more re-
pelling all suspicion Of personal application, all
suspicion Of pursuing any crooked path In pollucs,
all suspicion Of having been acuated by sinister
views and purposes than in the OF the worthy,
and eminent, and distin guished, and good man
whose death we now dcplore.
He has left TO the people of his country a legacy
in this He has left them bright example, which
addresses itsclf with peculiar force to the young
and rising generation; for it tells them that there is
a path to the highest degree of renown-stralght,
onward, steady, without change or deviation.
MIR. Secretary, my friend from Louisiana (Mr.
DowSs) has detailed briefly the events in the mill
,ary career of General TAYLOR His service through
life WAS mostly on the frontier and always a hard
service-often in combat with the tribes OF Indians
all along the frontier for many thousands of
miles. Ii has been justly remarked by one OF the
most eloquent men whose voice was ever heard in
these houses, that il is not in Indian that he
are celebrated, but 1t is there that they are
formed The hard service, the stern discipline,
devalving upon all those who have a great extent
of frontier to defend, and often with irregular
troops of their own, being called on suddenly TO
enter into contests with syages, to study the hab-
its o savage life and savage war, IN order TO lore
see and overcome their strats gctns-al these things
tend 10 make hardy military character.
For very short time, cir bad connexion with
the Executive government % this country; and at
ta,tme very perilous eiIba rrassng cIrc umstances
existed between the United States and the Indians
on the borders, and war was actually raging be-
tween the United State. and the Florida tribes and
very well remember that those who took counsel
together on that occasion officially, and who wese
desirous OF placing the military command in TIC
safest hands, came To the conclusion that there wa
man in the service more fully uniting the quail
ties of military ability and great personal prudence
than ZACHARY TAYLOR; and he was, of course APP
pointed 10 the command.
Unfortunately his at the head of this Gov
eminent was short. For my part, in all that have
of him, have found much 10 respect and mo-
thing To condemn. The circumstances under which
he conducted the Government for the few months
he at the head of II, have been such perhaps
not to give him a very favorable certainly not a
long opportunity Of developing his principles and
his policy, and 10 carry them out; but believe be
has left the minds Of the country "A strong i'm
preston, first Of his absolute honesty and integrity
Of character next, Of his sound practical good
and, lastly, Of the midness kindness, and friend
lipess Of his temper towards all his countrymen.
But he IL gone. He IL ours more. except In
the force of his example Sir, ! heard with infinite
delight the sentiments expressed by my honorable
friend from LOUISIANA, (Mr. DovSs,) who has Just
resumed his seat, when he earnestly prayed that
this event might be used to soften the animosities,
to allsy party examinations and recrmna tons,
and TO restore fellowship and good feeling among
the various sections Of the Union. Mr.. Secretary
great IL our lose to-day If these inestimable and
inapprecable blessings shall have been secured 10
us, even by the death Of ZAcHARY TAYLOR, they
have not been purchased at too high price and
IL his spirit, from the regions to which he has as
corded, could these results flowing from his
, unexpected and untimcly end If be could zee that
he had entwined soldiers laurel around mar
tyre crown, he would say eIutingly, Happy am
that by my death have done more for that coun-
, try which loved and served, than did could
do by all the devotion and all the efforts that
could make in her behalf during the short span Of
, my earthly existence"
Mr.. Secretary, great a. this calamity u, ",
< lnourn, but not those without hope. We have
eminent man, and another eminent man
and at last man in the most eminent station. fal
away from the midst Of US. Butt doubt not there Is
b power above us exercising over us that parenta
care that has marked our progress for 80 many
years have confidence still that the place OF TIN
dcps rted will be supplied. that the kind beneficcn