The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-14
A Proclamation.
TERRITORY or MINNESOTA, Executive Dept,
ST PAUL july % 1850

TERRITORY OF MINNESOTA, Executive DEPTH
ST. PAUL, July 20, 1850.
1t becomes my painful duty to announce TO the
people of the Territory of Minnesota the sad and
melancholy intelligence of the death of Zachary
Taylor, the President Of the United States. He
died at the Executive mansion, in the city of Wash
ngton on the night of the 9th inst at halfpast 10
o'clock.
In the inscrutable wisdom Of the Almighty Ruler
OF the universe the Chief Magistrate Of the repub-
lie has been stricken down in the midst Of his earth
ly power, at period in our nations history, and
at a crisis in our public concerns, when 10 him
the exalted head of our cherished instituions-thc
hearts and hopes Of millions we're turned as TO the
pilot who could "ride the whirlwind and rule the
storm"
The grand epoch of hero's life has been brought
to an untimely close; and the great captain, who
never met with reverse, has sunk beneath the
power OF conqueror far mightier than all the ar
mics of the globe.
OF the distinguished deceased need not speak
at length In civil position, civic virtues like his
rare. Honest, unprctending, straightforward, sin
gc-heartcd, possessing that modest merit and
BILE simplicity, 50 often the accompaniment Of grand
deeds, and ever the charac teristc of a great mind
his character is drawn in too distinct lines TO be
cnigmatical.
la arms his splendid successes have shed lustre
upon our land, and imperishably connected his
name with some of the brightest chapters Of Anne
rican history. Bred TO the military profession, he
has never abused, never sought 10 stretch any mill
tary power. Passing forty years Of his life in the
quiet and unosentatous discharge Of arduous mill
tary duty, public favor sought him, not he IL. He
labored not for glory, but glory followed him.
General Taylor entered the army as a lieuten-
ant, in ls0S, and fought against the Indians the
northwestern frontier in the Of 1919. In 1882,
he fought ia Black Hawks war. He disting ushed
himself in the Florida war, and defeated the Semi
nolcs the battle Of Okeechobec in 1896. In the
Mexican war, when the nation was watching with
intense soicitudc the result Of his movement from
Corpus Christi, our ears heard with anna cement the
brilliant victories Of Palo Alto and Rcsaca dc la
Dalr H..
We witnessed Zachary Taylor carrying his coun-
try's flag, amid the living and the dead, through
the slippery streets Of Monterey. and bcheld him
bear IL victorious against overwhelming odds at
Buena Vista. In this memorable campaigns
wonderful, that tho page Of history, TO the
most glowing Imagination IL seems more like fable
than iact-his courage, prudence and perseverance,
in overcoming the most appalling obstacles-his
Spartan episllcs, which fail upon the ear like a
blast OF the bugle, modcstly announcing his sue
cessive victorcs-a have contributed 20 give him
world wide reputation and place him in the fret
rank Of military commanders.
But his greatest glories were not those Of war
greater was the glory Of his personal character
This IL was, that in the present stormy state Of the
political atmosphere gave to the country full conf
dence in the moderation, wisdom, purity, and firm
Of his character This IL is, tlst, all that
mortal of the incorruptbe magistrate has
been consigned to the "clods Of the valley" leads
an entire nation TO deplore with stricken hearts
loss which seems almost irreparabe. Not the eclat
Of military renown the proudest distinction of
the illusrious dead, but the purity Of his private
life, the patriotism Of bis public acts truthfuness
which knew no discrimination, frankness which
knew no concealment.
Under this impressive dispensaton, in which the
Ruler Of the World speaks to the Republic with
such solemn significance, teaching the instability
OF human greatness and the vanity of human
hopes while II carries its keencst sorrows 20 the
hearts of the relatives Of the late President the in
habitants OF this Territory will nurture sorrow
peculiarly their own.
Many Of the maturer years Of General Taylor's
life we're passed within our borders, and he has
ever felt an unaffected interest in the prosperity Of
Minnesota. may be allowed TO say that on taking
leave OF him at Washington to assume the duties in
this Territory with which he had entrusted me, he
took occasion to express the deep personal interest
he felt in this remote section Of our common con-
iederacy. Our peculiar dependence on the Gene
raj Government renders the loss of such friend,
invested with the amplitude Of high authority,
heavy indeed
In announcing this affective bereavement, as IL
seems proper for all public bodies to suspend the
ordinary career Of their business for suitable re.
Elections upon great a calamity, and TO pay their
unieigned respect TO the memory of the distin-
guished patriot and illustrious Chief Magistrate to
whom the nation owes 40 large debt of gratitude
would recommend that on Saturday, the third day Of