The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-11
fdence, for he deserved and will honorably


whose bereavement is deepest, and whose bro
ken hearts no human consolation can reach.
Let our anxious thoughts be directed, and
our warmest sympathies be poured out in
their behalf-for they have borne themselves
gently, in the position they have been called upon
to fill. cannot close, sir, these brief remarks,
without expressing my abiding trust that the
dispensations of an oyer-ruling Providence,
whose will We may not question--nay still be
ordered for the honor, the safety, and the glory OF
the Republic.
Mr.. McLANE; Of Md. said: Mr.. Speaker,
hope, sir, late the hour is in this days pre-
ceedings, may be INDUCED in responding to an
invitation of some friends around me, by giving
public expression to those sentiments of personal
friendship and respect which entertained for
the lila strious deceased, and when say, sir, that
my acquaintance with General TAYLOR, had Its
origin long before either he or i, had engaged in
the heated strifes of political life, when we both
served under the same flag, as brethren in
arms, | shall not be deemed obtrusive. He was
then, sir, in command Of the army in Florida,
and was an humble officer of one Of the corps
of that army. At this period of his life, he was
already distinguished by those high qualities Of
courage fortitude, and virtue, in the discharge of
his public duties, as he was for that extraordina-
ry benevolence and kindness which SO endeared
him to his family and friends. Sir, formed for
him then, a respect and friendship, which re-
tanned undiminished to the hour Of his death, and
which shall be cherished for his memory, now that
the hand of God has translated him from the
scene of his earthly life and trial . ...-.
Subsequently, sir, again met General TAYLOR,
at the head of his army in the Valley of the Rio
Grand. delivered to him, in his camp at Mon
terey, the orders of his Government, which an
nounced to him, that the military plans and poll
cy of the country, was to be materially modified
and changed. The Northern States of Mexico,
then about to be invaded, were to be left unmo-
Tested, and the entire military power of our peo-
pie was to be directed upon the city of Mexico,
by new line of operations. Those operations,
sir, left him to the comparatively humble task of
q defensive campaign i'll the valley of the Rio
Grande, while the more glorious and decisive
movement upon the city of Mexico, seemed likely
to fall to the lot of some more fortunate COM
mander. On this occasion, sir, it was my prvi-
lege and my duty to confer with him fully and
confdentially on the part of his Government, and
it afforded me, sir, the opportunity to witness
once more rare display of those qualities to
which l have already referred, of foritude, and
courage, and patience, and / must add, fidelity
to the Government which he served. 1t is not
for me, at this moment, when l have so unex-
pectedly, but hope not intrusively, touched this
topic to refer to those extraordinary events
which soon followed; and which invested his de-
fensive position with singular and startling i'm
portance, and which finally led him to the field of
Buema Vista, where he accomplished victory so
brilliant and wonderful, that it must rest, sir, az
the crown of glory to that war, while it will,
through all time, adorn his fame as an illusrious
soldier.
My reference to these events, sir, is that may
mark my association with Gen. TAYLOR, to events
near to his own personal fame and honor, and
apart from those passages in life, when he was ne
cessariy associated with the political and partisan
excitements Of the country. This course enables
me, sir, not only to forego, but to be altogether
insensible to any influences they might excite, and
to render his memory on this occasion my most
profound homage and respect As to the states
man, sir, he was necessarily exposed to encounter
the strife of contending sentiment and opinion,
and feel happy, sir, at this instant, that knew
him in life Of high and noble action, in which he
developed the highest attributes of Ameri can char
acter-patriotsm. And whatever might be the
relation we would respectively hold to his poGti-
cal opinions or policy, it is cheering to feel that
his life has left all example, displaying quail
titles of the head and heart, which cultivate and
cherish should be our first and chief duty. This
humble tribute, plainly land fear imperfectly ex-
pressed, I beg to submit on my own part, and for
the people represent, with further expression
of coincidence for those who remain to mourn the
loss of husband father, brother and friend.
| beg leave to submit the following resolutions:
Whereas, it has pleased Divine Providence to
remove from this life ZACHARY TAYLOR, late Pre-
sident Of the United States, the House of Repre-
sentatives, sharing in the general sorrow which |
this mel ancholy event must produce, is DESTROYS
of manifesting it's sensibility on the occasion;
Resolved, That a committee, consisting Of
be appointed on the part of this House,
to meet such committee as may be appointed on
the part of the Senate, to consider and report what
measures may be deemed proper to adopt in order |
to show the respect and affection of Congress for
the memory OF the illustrious deceased, and to
make the necessary arrangements for his funeral. |
Resolved, That this resolution be communicated |
to the Senate.
Mr.. MARSHALL said:
Mr.. SPEAKER: Silence is the eloquence of woe,
and most appropriate sign of submission to Him
whose inscrutable decree afflicts the people.
Were the emotions of my own bosom a this
moment the accepted counsellors Of my action,
content to mingle mine with the nation S tears,
should permit this solemn occasion to pass with
out the obtrusion of single remark. But Gus
tom, and the known relations l held to the
late President of the United States, induce
me to express here the profound sensibility
with which intelligence of his lamented death |
will be received by the Commonwealth of Ken
lucky. In no quarter Of our country will
this blow fall with more crushing force than
upon the district | represent. There are the
graves or his parents-the habitations of his
{lndred-the Suryiyino asooc;a,o, sc H.