The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-08-07
Death of Ex-Governor Clarke.


excellent, and distinguished citizen Of Iowa
reached this place some days since, and will,
sadness of heart we now communicate it to our
more distant readers. How frequently are we
called upon to sound the notes of woe over the
graves of our distinguished countrymen! and
how forcibly and how often are we reminded of
the truth thatDeath knows no distinction earth
ly greatness.
The Citizens of Iowa mourn the loss Of Gov.
Clarke, as one of the purest and brightest orna-
ments in the chaplet of her renown.
In Justice to his memory, and as an express
ion of our own feelings in view of this sad event,
we quote the following deserved tribute from
the Burlington Telegraph, the editor of which,
was for many years his familiar friend.
Death of Ex-Governor Clarke.
1t is with feelings of profound sorrow that we
announce the death Of Ex-Governor JAMES
CLARKE, of this City. He died on Saturday
Mason, two miles from Burlington, whittier he
had gone to recruit his health soon after the
terrible atflcton with which he was visited, some
two weeks since in the death of beloved wife
and child.
Gov. Clarke was a native Of Westmoreland
county, Pennsylvania, and at the time of his
death was in his Both year. He came to the
west in 1886, and after spending some months in
ST. Louis, he went, in the fall of that year, to
Belmot, in Wisconsin, where he was elected
Territorial Printer. In the year 1887 he came
to this city and started the Territorial, now Estate
Gazette which he continued to conduct until
the winter of $40, when he was appointed
Secretary of the Territory, which office he held
until the coming in of Gen. Harrison's admins
tration. In 1943 he again took charge of the
Gazette, and continued to conduct it until the
fall of '45, when he was appointed Governor of
the Territory by President Polk, which office he
held until the commencement of the State Gov
eminent, Dec. '4G. In the fall oflS48, Gov c.
again returned to the Gazette, and was its editor
at the time of his death
Endowed with an active and discriminating
mind, Gov. G. was eminently fitted for the du-
ties of an editor and by the cultivation ola taste
naturally refined and elegant, he had become at
once polished and vigorous writer He has
lett behind him many and enduring evidences of
his talents, and his political friends and the pub
lie of the whole State to whom he was generally
and favourably known, will long have cause to
regret his sudden withdrawal from the sphere of
his usefulness, and the field Of his Just fame
The intelligence of his death, as it traverses the
interior and extends to the borders of our youth
full commonwealth, will create profound sem
satlon among our people, and give rise to feel
ings ofunfegned and universal sorrow
Terms of ordinary commentator would but
feebly express the great deserts & exalted char
acter of the deceased. To talents of a hich Or
der, he united a judgement singularly clear and
sagaclous, and and understanding at once ready
and comprehensive. These high qualities had
long since commanded him to that confidence
and distinction which procured for him those
posts of honor and public trust which it has been
his fortune, i'll life, to enjoy, and the duties of
which he discharged with a fidelity and ability
that will long live in the memory of the people,
and constitute his eulogy.
Strictly upright in all his purposes, he was
faithful and Jealous in the discharge of every
duty incumbent upon him. Atfectionatc in his
disposition, and kind and cordial in his feelings
towards all the world, he was at once the idol
of the domestic circle, and the centre of an cx-
tended social acquaintance Generous to fault,
he never knew how to falter in his service to a
friend; gentle in his nature, he rarely, if ever,
gave just cause of complaint to others, of Der
mltted the sun to set upon any unjust resentment
in his own breast. A life so eminentlv pure.
so honorable to his fame, and so useful to COM
munity, cannot pass from our midst without
awakening profound grief in every heart. The
death OF such man is indeed public calamity,
for we shall look in vain to see his place sup
piled.
The funeral ceremonies of the deceased
took place yesterday from the Congregational
Church. Ceremonies at the Church were con-
Quoted under the auspices of Reverends Messrs.
Young, Sater, Demmitt, and Shinn An i'm
pressive prayer was made by Rev. Mr. Demmitt
An appropriate chapter was read from the bible
by Rev. Mr.. Young-an affecting and able dis
course was delivered by Rev Mr. Saltcr, who
was followed in some appropriate and touching
remarks by Rev. Mr.. Shinn. procession Of
citizens, accompanied by the City Band, was
then formed under the direction of Oliver Cook,
Esq. as Marshal, and moved to the Cemetery.
Here the procession was re-tormed-the body,
accompanied by the pail bearers, in front, follow
ed by mourners 1.-TWO small children in charge of
w. B. EWING, ESQ., clergy, ladies, Topographic
cal profession, and citizens generally. A brief
religious ceremony was observed at the grave,
after which the body was consigned to its final
resting place. Peace to his ashes!
The Change of Public Opinion the
Agitation of the Slavery Question.
Mr.. Clay, in his late great speech, in speak
ing ofthe change in public opinion in relation to
the agitation ofthe slavery question, said:
"There has been change of public opinion,
modification of public opinion at the North.
And allow me to say, that, with regard to that
most important portion of our Union, it's north
west section, that no man is more entitled to the
honor and gratitude Of this salutary change than