The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-12
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

I The Senate then adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
/ The following remarks of Mr. BAKER, of Hi
nois, were received too late for yesterdays pa
per:
Mr.. BAKER said .a.
MIR. SPEAKER: Ii is often said of sorrow, that,
like death, it levels all distinctions The humblest
heart can heave sigh as deep as the proudest ;
and avail myself of this mournfal privilege to
swell the accents of grief which have been poured
forth to-day with larger though not more sim
cere utterance. second time since the forma-
ton OF this Government President of the United
States has been stricken by death in the perform
ance of his great duties. The blow which strikes
the man falls upon nation heart, and the words
OF saddened praise which fall upon our ears to-
day, and here,'are but echoes of the thoughts that
throng IN the hearts of the millions that mourn
him euergchere. You have no doubt observed,
sir, that IN the first moments of great loss the
instincts OF affection prompt us to summon UP the
good and great qualities of those for whom we
weep. 1t is a wise ordination of Divine Provi-
dence; generous pride tempers and restraints the
bitterness of grief and noble deeds and heroic viz
tues shed consoling light upon the tomb 1t is
IN this spirit that recur for Instant and for al,
instant only, to the events Of a history fresh in
the remembrance of the nation and the world.
The late President of the United States has devoted
his whole life to the service of his country OF a
nature sngulary unambitious, he seems to have
combined the utmost gentleness Of manner with
the greatest hrmness of purpose. For more than
thirty years the duties Of his station confined him
to sphere where only those who knew him most
Intimately could perceive the qualities which dan
ger quickened and frightened into sublimity and
grandeur.
In the late war with Great Britain he was but a
captain; yet the little band who defended Fort
| Harrison saw amid the smoke of battle that thew
were commanded by man fit for his station. In
the Florida campaign he commanded but a bri-
sade; yet his leadership not only evinced courage
and conduct, but inspired these qualities in the
meanest soldier in his ranks. He begun the Mex
lean campaign at the head only of a division; vet
as the events of the war swelled that division
into an army, so the crisis kindled him into higher
resolves and nobler actions, till the successive
steps of advance became the assured march of
victory.
Il Mr.. Speaker, as we review the brilliant and
stirring passages Of the events to which refer it
is not IN the power even of sudden grief to sup
press the admiration which thrills our hearts
When, sir, has there been such a campaisn-
when such soldiers to be Leland when such
qualities of leadership variously combined !
How simple, but yet how grand, was the an
nouncement, "ln whatever force the enemy
may be, shall fight him." 1t gave Palo Alto
and Resaca to our banner. How steadfast the
resolution that impelled the advance to Monterey
frowning city-which stormed the barricaded
street--which carried the embattled heights, and
won and kept the whole' Nor, sir, can we for
get that in the flush Of victory, the gentle heart
stayed the bold hand, while the conquering sol
der offered sacrifices on the altar OF rim, amid all
the EMULATION Of triumph.
| Sir, may not stop to speak of the achievements
of Buena Vista: they are deeds that will never
diet was the great event of the age, contest of
races and institutions An army of volunteers,
engaged not in an impetuous advance, but in a
stern defence of chosen ground against superior
force, and in a last extremity--men who had
never fire, faced the foe with the steadines.
of veterans. Sir, as long as those frownin.
heights and bloody ravines shall remnin these re
: collections will endure, and with them, the nam
Of the man who steadied every rank, and kindet
a every eye, by the indomitable resolution which
would not yield, and the exalted spirit which ros
. highest amid the greatest perils. 1t was from
scenes like these he called to the Chief Magis
. tracy. IL was summons unexpected and un
r sought-the spontaneous expression of nobl,
confidence, the just reward Of great actions. 1
. may not be proper to speak here and now of The
manner which these new duties were executed
but may say, that here, everywhere else h,
: exhibited the same firmness and decision which
had marked his life. He was honest and unos
a tentatious; he obeyed the law and loved the Con
stltution; he dealt with difficult questions with ,
r singleness of purpose which is the truest pilo
amid storms Nor can it be doubted that whc,
: impartial history shall record the events OF hi
e administration, they will be found worthy of hi
. past life, and firm foundation for his futur
renown. II.
e You remember Mr.. Speaker, that when thu
great Athenian philosopher was inquired of b,
J the Lydian king as TO who was the happies
among men, he declared that no man should b,
J pronounced happy till his death. The President
of the United States has so finished noble life,
to justify the pride and admiration of his conn
| fryn he has ncad he Ia
manly frmness and becoming resolution. He
died where an American citizen would most desire
e to die-not amid embattled hosts and charging
squadrons, but amid weeping friends and an
anxious nation-in the house provided by its
: gratitude, only to be taken thence, to a "house
not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens
Sir, in the death which has caused so much dis
may, there is becoming resemblance to the life
which has created so much confidence. His clos.
ing hours were marked with beautiful calmness
his last expressions indicated manly of his
own worth, and consciousness that he had done
his duty Nor can omit to remark that it is this
sense of the obligation of duty which appears &c
have been the true basis of his character. In boy.
hood and in age-as Captain and as General
whether defending fort against savages, or exer
cising the functions OF the Chief Magistracy
duty, rather than glory-selfapproval rather than
renown, have prompted the deeds which have
made him immortal. a at -H
Mr.. Speaker, the character upon which death
has just set his seal is filled with beautiful and
impressive contrasts-a warrior, he loved peace ;
a man Of action, he sighed for retirement. Amid
the events which crowned him with fame he
counselled a withdrawal Of our troops. And
whether at the head of armies or in the chair of
state, he appeared as utterly unconscious of his
great renown as if no banners had dropped at his
T word, or as if no CLEAN of glory shone through
his whitened hair. Ii is related of Epamnondas
that when fatally wounded at the battle of Manti-
nea, they bore him to height from whence, with
!, fading glance, he surveyed the fortunes of the
? fight, and, when the field was won, laid himself
down to die The friends who gathered round
him wept his early fall, and passionately express
sed their sorrow that he died childIess "Not
So, said the hero with his last BREATH " for do |
not leave two fair daughters, Leuctra and Manti-
nea." General Taylor is more fortunate, since he
leaves an excellent and most worthy family to de-
plore his loss and inherit his glory. Nor is he
fortunate in this only, since like Epaminondas, he
leaves, not only two battles, but four-Palo Alto,
Resaca, Montery, uena Vista--the grand crea-
tons of his genius and valor, to be remembered