Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-07-25
DEATH OF THE RESIDENT.-Proceedin
In the Senate.
WaShinpton. July 10. 1850.

Washington, July 10, 1850.
The Senate was called to order by the Secretary,
who read communication from Vice Presiden,
Fillmore. announcing that in consequence of the
death Of Zachary Taylor, President of the United
States, he Fillmore, would longer be able to pre-
side over the Senate.
Whereupon, Mr. Webster, submitted resolu-
tion, providing that the two Houses should assem-
BILE in the Hall Of the House of Representatives at
lo O'Clock to witness the Inaugur alton Of President
Fillmore, which duty having been performed, the
Senate returned to its Chamber. Mr. Downs, OF
, louisiana, rose and said
Mr. Secretary, rise as a member ofihe
delegation Of the State whose citizen the
late President of The United States was, to
offer resolutions suitable t. the occasion
The announcement of his death has alrea-
dy been made officially here and elsewhere
and on the wings Of lightning, and almost
as swiftly as thought, the sad intelligence
has been conveyed to remote portions o!
this great republic.
How sublime, as well as melancholy, is
the scene in which we are now engaged
but few days since-less than week
| many Of us sat near the late President
Of the United States, and saluted him in
health, at the base of that monument which
we are now raising to the creates, Of his
predecessors-hero and statesman like
| himself-and where we had assembled to
pay devotion to the memory of the man,
"First in war, first in peace, and first in
the hearts Of bis country and to kin.
die anew in the breasts Of all that spirit
| of union, fraternity and liberty, without
which we shall prove ourselves unworthy
of our ancestors and reproach to his me-
F.! mory.
| Yes, there sat qniet and placid as the
! gentle breeze from The Potomac that cool
ed his heated brow-the man whose very
pathway TO his log cabin schcoi-house in
Virginia, the bloody ground. was heset by
the tomahawk. of the savage who
. had passed through four wars and many Of
the bIoodiest and most glorious battle
fields of his country unscathed-at the
head of the greatest Republic of this or a.
ny other country-pr"ected no, by bayo-
nets, but Ly the affections Of his country
men. Yet. in few short days, in the
midst Of this quiet, this peace, prosperity
and favor, he was called to approach that
doom which awaits us all.
Zachary Taylor was born in 1884, in
Orange county, Virginia. In early lie he
gave evidence Of extraordinary energy and
force of character. In 1908 he was ap-
pointed, during the Presidency Of Mr. !cf-
fersor, Lieutenant of the Army of the
United States in 1912 to the rank
Of Captain, and after the declaration Of war
with Great Britain, in that year, he was
Lreve'ed Major by President Madison.
After his memorable and gallant defence
Of Fort Harrison, with handful Of men,
against large body of savages, in 1912,
then advanced to the rank Of Colonel, he
distinguished himself in the Black Hawk
War-was ordered into Florida in 1886.
and Tor his signal services against the saw
age Seminoles, was created a Brevet Bril-
eadier-General, Commander.in-Chief in
Florida. Subsequently, he was transfer
red TO the division ofthe army on the south
western portion of the uEion-was order
ed into Texas in lS45 advanced to the
banks of the Rio Grande, and Afterwards,
beginning with the battles OF the Sh and
9Th Of Nav, 1916, al Palo Alto and Resa-
ca de la Palma, and ending with Ruena
Vista-he overthrew. with fearful odds
against him, and sisnally defeated the most
skiltul of the Mexican Generals, Ampu-
dia, Arista, Paredes, and even the Presi-
dent Of Mexico himself; and by series of
brilliant victories, gained for himself and
the brave wing under his command ord
wide renown- commanding tie rc>pec,
and admiration Of Europe and America and
securing an enyiable and proud place in
the brightest chapters of American arms.
| But why attempt to portray bis life, or
describe his actions? This is not the time
or place for such a purpose, if had the
ability to DO it justice. His history i. part
of the history Of his country, and therefore
needs no aid Of friends to preserve it.
The battle fields Of Fort Harrison, OF
Okee Chobee, Palo Alto, Ressca de la
Palma. Monterey, and Buena Vista, the
mos, glorious Of them all, are his monn-
men,. and eulogiums. He needs no 9TH
er. OF political history this is not the
place, ncr am | the person to speak, yet
| may hope to be pardoned single re-
mark.
The wisest and best counsels of public
men in free country-free in speech, in
the press, and in the ballot box-a free
country il they were-but is consolatory
to know that whatever difference Of opin-
ion may have existed as to the policy of
him whose nntimely death we all SO much
lament, they are already, before the tomb
has bpen closed over him. buried in obiv-
ion forever. He is hereafter to belong to
no party--to no section-but TO the whole
American family, and his memory will be
revered and cherished by them all alike.
But let not the tears we are shedding over
our departed President, blind tbs to the
grandeur scene in which we stand.
Did the world ever witness such an one
before? How soon, if ever, can it be
witnessed in other countries The Chief
Of natinn Of more than twenty millions
| Of freemen is suddendly withdrawn from
the world by an act oIGod, followed by no
disturbance Of the perfect equipoise Of
our institutions. The gentlemen compo-
sing the Cabinet Of the late Preside af-
ter his dicease, and al the approach of
midnight, without ostentation. quickly re-
A. A.. n.