The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-11

to-day to lay you before an official communication
ofhis death. Tits my purpose simply to make tn
announcement, not to dwell upon it; that dut,
will more properly devolye upon others. Whilst
gentlemen, our own body has been peculiarly ex
empt during its present sittings from the fatality
which usually 9tsends protracted session, W.
should not bS Regardless of the solemn warnings
which Providence has extended to us in thu
death of those associated with us in the admins
tration of our National Government. The vic
TINS who have been summoned to the tomb have
been less remarkable for their number than their
exalted character and position. t.
For the first time in our history has the Chief
Executive of the Union been stricken down during
tn, session of Congress 1t devolves a novel
and solemn duty upon the representatives or the
people. As the organ of House, dele gated with
| the mere expression of its resolves, feel it APP
proprate to indulge in no suggestions of my own,
or expressions of personal emotions. | cannot,
however, forbear from uttering the confident as
surancc that it will be your melancholy satisfac-
ton to adopt the most appropriate manifestations of
the profound sensibility which this affecting dis
pensation must awaken throughout the Union,
and TO concur in every mark of respect to the
memory of the distinguished patriot who has
been suddenly summoned from the high honors
and responsibilities Of the Chief Magistracy, to
which he had been calied by his grateful country
man, to the repose of the grave.
The message from the President Of the United
! States then reported from the Clerk s Desk,
IA follows, viz:
Fsllo,c-ciiisenS Of the Senate and
House Of Representatives.:
| A great man has fallen among u IS, and whole
country is called to an occasion of unexpected,
\ deep, and general mourning.
| recommend to both Houses of Congress to
adopt such measures as, in their discretion may
seem proper, to perform with our solemnities the
funeral obsequies of ZACHARY TAYLOR, late Pres
dent of the United States; and thereby to signify
the great and atfectionate regard of the American
people for the memory Of one whose life has
been devoted to the public service; whose career
in arms has not been surpassed in usefulness or
brilliancy; who has been recently raised by the
unsolicited voice of the people to the highest civil
authority in the Government-which he admins
tered with so much honor and advantage to his
country; and by whose sudden DEATH so many
hopes of future usefulness have been blighted for
| ever.
| To you, Senators and Representatives of Ma
ton in tears, | can say nothing which can allie
viate the sorrow with which you are oppressed.
| appeal to you to aid me, under the trying cir
cumstances which surround me, in the discharge
of the duties, from which, however much may
be oppressed by them, l dare not shrink; and
rely upon him, who holds in his hands the desti-
MES of nations, to endow me with the requisite
strength for the task; and to avert from our
country the evils apprehended from the heavy ca
lamity which has befel u.s.
shall most readily concur in whatever measures
the wisdom of the two Houses may suggest as
betting this deeply melancholy occasion.
WILLARD FILLMORE
WAsHNGToN, July 10Th, 1850.
! Mr.. CONRAD rose and said:
Mr.. SPEAKER: In accordance with a wish cx-
pressed by many members, have prepared a res
| olution adapted to the melancholy event which
has just been announced, and which purpose to
offer to The House Before doing so, however,
would do violence to my own feelings as Il repre-
sentative OF that State Of which the luslrious de-
ceased was citizen and the brightest ornament,
ifl did not offer some remarks appropriate to the
melancholy occasion which we are assembled
Seldom has an event occurred which more stri-
kingy illustrates the uncertainty of life and the
instability OF earthly greatness than the one we
are called upon to deplorc.
A few days ago General Taylor was in his
usual robust health On the fourth of this month
he attended some ceremonies which took place in
commemoration the anniversary of our nation
al independence. AS the ceremonies occurred in
the open air, it is believed that the exposure to
heat of unusual intensity produced the maady
which, at about haf-past ten last night, termina-
ted his earthly career. A great patriot has fallen!
A great benefactor of his country has departed
from among us In few hours q nation will be
plunged in mourning, and the voice of lamenta-
ton will ascend from twenty millions of people!
1t is not my purpose, Mr.. Speaker, to dwell at
length, on this occasion, on the public career and
the military achievements of General TAYLOR.
These belong to the history Of his country, and
are deeply engraven on the memories and the
hearts of his countrymen. | prefer to dwell on
those MINOR traits ef his character which, they
exert less perceptbe influence on the destinies
of nations, are too often overlooked by histo-
rans.
General TAYLoR's was not one of those charac-
tcrs, Of which history furnishes many conspicu-
Gus examples, in which many defects are conceal
ed, amid the dazzling splendor Of a single virtue.
On the luminous disc of his character no dark
spots are discernible. His biographer will have
no great foies to conceal, or faults to excuse, or
crimes to paliiate or condemn. There is no dark
passage in his life which justice will be called upon
to condemn, or morality to reprove, or humanity
to deplore. Like the finished production of an
artist, the details of the picture are as correct and
beautiful as the general outline is grand and i'm
posing
His heroic courage and military genius are those
qualities to which he is chiefly indebted for his
ia me and yet those who knew him best would
not consider them the prominent attributes Of his
| character. On the contrary, this courage appear
ed only an adventurous quality, occasionally de-
|