Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-07-17
THE DEATH OF GENERAL TAYLOR.

/ - ~" h"oio o'tei ouI PdPe' iau ooSh 10
sued last week, the unexpected and mourn
ful intelligence Of the death of President
TAYLOR was announced in our village. On
Tuesday night Of the 9th inst, he breathed
bis last. We were entirely unprepared for
this sad news, having had no intimation
whatever Of the Presidents illness. The
loss of this great and good man, filling as he
did the most responsible trust which our
people could bes.ow, may be regarded as
great national calamity. !. is said that he
participated on the Fourth in the celebra-
tons Of that day, and appeared in his usual
health. Early the next morning he was
attacked with cholera morbus; fever super
seeded, and Tuesday night he died. Pres-
dent TAYLOR was born in Orange County,
Virginia, in the year 1884, and a. the time
Of his death was in his 66sh year-forty
years of which he passed in the service of
his country.
A despatch from Washington, to the Phila
delphia American, gives the following ac-
count of the closing hours OF The lamented
President
The President was sensible of this criti-
cal condition this (Tuesday) morning, and
said he was prepared to die, if it was the
will of God, as he had nothing to reproach
his conscience with in the discharge Of pub
lie or private obligations He did not doub,
tina, he might have erred, but he felt that he
had not done so intentionally.
Throughout the day, whenever he was
awake, he was composed, and perfectly re-
signed TO the result which he foresaw was
inevitable ; and while he avowed that it was
painful 10 be separated from family and
friends, he at the same time expressed his
entire readiness to obey the DEGREES of Provi-
dence. His dying hours exhibited the same
calm composure which he had evinced dur
ing the perils of the battle field, and mpl ess-
ed those who were near him with forcible
conviction Of his entire merits as a Hero
and Christian.
The National ln,eligencer thus announc-
es his demise:
Weep, lelIow-ci,izens The hand Of
Death has stricken down a great and good
man Zachary Taylor, our honored and
beloved President, is no more! A maig-
nant and rapid disease has swept him from
among the living. No longer ago than
Thursday last, he was apparently in the full
enjoyment of health and strength, par,icipa-
ting in the patriotic ceremonies of our Ma
- ho
with the dead He expired last night, att
half-past 10 O'Clock, surrounded by his af
ficted family. He died with the compo-
sure which conscious virtue, fortitude, and
confidence in the goodness of God can alone
impart His last Ineligible words were
81 am no. afraid TO die; have done my}
duty my only regret is leaving those who
are dear 10 me.''
In all this wide land there is not heart
which honors the noblest attributes Of our
nature-truth, bravery, humanity, patriotism
that will not throb with pain and grief at
this national bereavement.
The Union, in postscript, dated Tues
day night, thus speaks Of the death Of Gen.
Taylor:
The President Of the United States has
just breathed his last. The chamber in
which he died is filled with an anxious and
sympa,hizing crowd. How often shall we
have to exclaim, in the memorable words
OF Edmund Burke. "What shadows we are,
and wha. shadows we pursue ~ In little
more than nine years two Presidents Of the
United States have been hurried away, COW
cred, as they were, with all the honors
which their country could bestow upon
them. Scarce twelvemonlh ago, the la
men,ed predecessor Of General Taylor was
taken from us. But Mr.. Folks office had
expired, and his work was done. In less
than four months, two Of the distinguished
sons Of South Car DINA, and Senators Of the
United States, have brea,hed their last, and
scarcely had their country ceased 10 weep
over their graves, before the President Of
the United States descends to the tomb,
amid the sympathies of his as.onished
counlrymen.
This melancholy event will fall like
thunder-clap npon the people. 1t is an
event full Of the saddest interest-calculate
to astonsh and startle whole nation;
and to touch every heart in it. 1t is des-
tined to produce consequences to the coun
try which no mortal man has sufficient sa-
gacity to unroll.
In this grave and awful moment, the hear.
is full of the pro(oundest sympalhies and
regrets. But we have no time to pour them
fourth at this moment. A thousand other
pens will hereafter do justice to the illus
trious deceased. We bury in his honored
tomb every unkind or unworthy feeling
which we might ever have entertained
General Taylor rises before us in all the
glory of the Hero, in all the majesty of the
Patriot, whose name is associated with some
of the most brilliant achievements in our
annals ,,nhn has carrind the fame of his