The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-15
A ID ID II f. 5 5
OF THE REV. d. >. fhNE,
On the occasion Of the death Of the late Presi-
dent Of the United States.

OF THE REV. DIR. 5. PYNE,
On the occasion Of the death Of the late Presi-
dent Of the United States.
In other lands, where there prevails class Of po
litica and social relations essentially different
from own, there is word often used which, i'm
portant and expressive may be It's import 10 the
people OF those lands, seems with us, under ordina
ry circumstances, scarcely TO find place or an
application; mean the word august. 1t may APP
pear strange, speaking as an American TO Amerl-
cans, to employ such an expression as an august
person, or an august presence; and yet, whatever
there be IN that word that conveys the associations
and attributes OF majesty, OF all that can impress
human creature with reverence and awe, | ind 1t
in this audience and this presence for speak In an
!; assemblage which is but the type and symbol OF
mourning nation-appropriate symbol OF its digni-
ty and power. The Chief Magistrate of this rcpub-
lie, the members OF Its great legislative councils,
1 the honorable heads of its Executive Departments,
the honored chiefs OF the two great of the pub
lie servicethis is presence which To me. as a ctl-
q zen of this republic, Is indeed august.
Z And not less imposing to me is the representa-
ton of the dignity OF other lands in peace and har
Z mony with our own for that presence tells me not
only that they are here among us great agents Tor
s the interests of great nations and therefore for the
3 interests of the civilized world, but believe they
here this day this place Of the mourning obse-
ques of the honorcd dead, giving tribute OF not
mere official reverence, but personal regret yes!
Z ministers of this worlds rulers, to whom the
" peace OF the world is all important, well may they
regret him who as long he filled his great place,
was guarantee for one element IN that world
securlty-the STERN impartial neutrality OF these Cni
q ted States. | sure do them more than JUS
"a ce in believing that tenderer feeling Is blended
= with thls the warm grasp OF the hand the cordial
address, the true honest words of welcome, and the
q homely but atiectonate farewell present, |
y doubt not, at tins moment TO the memory OF many
q heart that beats beneath those insignia OF official
4 station. remember we'll the Impression made on
x me by his parting speech to the minister Of great
NJ empire: "God bless you, come back to us AGAIN.
y strange farewell, according to the vocabulary OF
a diplomatic etiquette noble aud characteristic one
y from General TAYLOR to the man he was really
81 sorry TO part WITH and whom he honestly wished
AZ to sec again. feel then, that speak in the pres
q Of not mere official represen tatves Of courts
- and countries, but OF men whose synpathes accom-
pany that presence making it all the more impress
FL sivc to me as it is honorable to them.
8 There is another presence here, to me the most
4 august Of all-the presence of that relic OF the
q mighty dead When living, he never heard from
u my lps word of adulution, and now, If in that
n light and life of truth to which that true soul has
81 been taken, he IL conscious OF aught that passed
n here, hc that am doing for him when dead !,
! that which would most have pleased him in life
will speak the truth, utter single word which my
conscience does not ayouch, which is not an index
Il Of the feelings Of my heart
u And oh! may i, the minister Of God, not lose for
= one moment the conscious of that Presence
the ''dscerner Of the thoughts and ntents of the
heart" May these few poor words OF mine per-
form the beet office for the dead, by doing good to
the living who in their turn must diel
In their appropriate time and place words have
been spoken, the record Of this great mans life, the
tribute 10 his multiplied claims upon the country
words worthy Of those who uttered them, worthy OF
N him whom they COMMUNICATED Had this, then,
been the ht occasion, mine the proper voice, to
erpatiate such themes, could only have reite-
rated what has been far better and more effectively
said. OF his glorious history, them the leader Of
Il armes-Of his measures as the Chief Magistrate OF
great nation, shall say nothing. shall advert
10 one point alone, subject of contemplation as
useful as tits beautiful.
| have been struck with the coincidence not
merely in feeling, but in the very expression OF
j that feeling, which has marked the reception
ii throughout the country Of the late heavy tidings
simultaneously, from our balls Of Congress, 10
IA every form of official announcement in every pri.
vate letter have received or seen, there was one
phrase as though 1t were the only possible the in
sunctiyc expression Of QUO universal feeling: "hLe
great man. IL IL evidently no mere form Of speech
nor u II employed in that conventional acceptation
Il by which any man who had died in that great Of
Il nee might be called great No, 1t is plain that in
II that individual man there were elements Of charac-
81 ter which have Impressed upon the common sense
and judgment Of this country the indelible conyc.
ton that he was great man. IL is worth Will,
Tor US 70 pause moment 10 consider what those
qualities were which elected an acknowledgment
~ unusually, 40 universally accordant Il wac
not his military proves or success. "Yixcrc forte.
ante agamcm mona" The civic and the mural
crowns adorn too many brows to have made TIN.
man. az by cmpha n, great That wonderful
campaign was indeed the lever which raised hin
up 10 show the world, not what ~ had made him
u
do the right thing at the right time; the man VIII,
would not leave his wounded behind him, anC
would have encountered any personal hazard Of
sacrifice 90 abide by that which his heart told hin
was right; the man quiet In expression, strong il
action, hrm In purpose, and whether ia expression
action, or purpose, that transparent honesty and
simple integrity forming, az IL were, the atmo
sphere In which be lived and Inoved-which 20 hap
PLY for himself and for not only enabled him e
see clearly and DO rcsolulcly what became a tru,
aud brave man, but enabled the world to see how
braycly and how honestly il done A rar,
gift Let us honor il; and, above all, let US try 4
learn a lesson from t.
The secret Of this illustriOus mans strength an,
greatness lay in his being honest, true right. mind
ed. lie mi ght have possessed the same clearness 0
judgment ia discerning any practicable or desirabl
end, the determination Of purpose in adhern,
20 his maturely adopted plan Tor working IL out
Would tbese things alone have made him what thi
nation has . universally callcdJim man ma,
see very clearly bad end, work with astonishing
vigOr and perseverance TO accomplish IT, Can sue
man be really grcat-can he be really strong?
~ true that without these more active qualities
mere rcctitudc Of intention and goodness Of hear
might constitute good but not great man. An
yet even in those elements Of goodness lie the essen
tial elements Of greatness The working powers G
energy and will, Of What avail they II they hav
not the true material TO work withal?-reiaJilifyl
a man have not that who will trust himl Though h
had the energy and intelligence Of the arch fen,
himself, Who will let him work with them or 70
them And where il that reliability 20 be sought
In the tickle changes Of a mans selfinterest, il
the declared submission TO popular will, SO that
man is perpotually looking without and neve
within for his rule Of right No To give res
body and strength TO human character, ther
must be the strong mind, indeed but il must be III
strong mind acting responsiycly to the teaching
OF the right mind. eff the eye be single, then sha
the whole body be foil Of light" Goodne,, an
po,oe-that is greatness. The people Of this Ian
saw IL there, and therefore have they called hir
great. u is an honor to them TO have seen him a
they did, and % have placed him where they did.
There rs, then, great lesson 10 be learned her
big day. J will not suffer myself to suppose tina
there II public man who hears me, who does nc