Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-10-31
A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF GEN
TAyf0p

A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF GEN.
TAYLOR.
Dy FREDERIcA BREarR
saw him but twice, the hero of the
Mexican war, the chief man in power in
the u. States, the late President Zachary
Taylor, but enough to feel that | saw in
him
can honest man, the noblest work of God.,,
he hrst time was beautiful evening
on the green grounds around the White
House. The Potomac clisteped in the
setting sun, band of music in the ground
was playing the ''Star spangled Banner"
and gay crowd of men, and women and
children with nurses and negroes, were
walking about, enjoying the evening, the
music, the green grounds. and the views
OF the noble river, with the Washington
Monument in giant proportion rising on
its banks. President TAYLOR was among
them not as the kings of Europe when
they come down among the people, sur
rounded by guards Of star-spaneled at
tendants no, but unattended, alone, plain
IN attire as the plainest of the citizens
around him, the greatest part of whom
were strangers TO him. Yet he seemed
to feel that he was among friends, and his
honest face and nassumine bea ring, his
his straightforward, friendly manner, the
firm and cordial pressure of his hand
made friend even Of the stranger who
was for the first time introduced to him,
ne stood there serene, smiling TO the
children who were running about and tum-
bilng In the grass in unrestrained liberty
lie spoke of the pleasure they gave him.
1t was truly republican scene-one of
those we would fain see more often on
earth,-where all distance between men
all difference of rank and fortune are
done away with. and life is again an Idol
!uIl OF Innocence and beauty in the lap of
great nature. May the star.spaneled
banner float wider and wider over such
scenes, such banquets of life
The next time | saw President Tavlor
it was in one of the splended rooms Of his
mansi2n and with him his beautiful daugh-
ter the sister Of the Graces, Miss Bliss.
Political questions, to which he was call
ed to attend detached him for some time
from US. When he came he was cordial
and simple in his manner, as before on the
green grounds. Yet he seemed to me.
not quite well, and as if he was trying
TO cast off from his mind cloud. And
so he did, as gallant man and true A.
merican gentleman attending to ladies'
He spoke to us Of the Indians, among
whom he had been much, and as he spoke
he frightened, and his speech flowed On
so pleasantly and so cheerluiy that had
we been ego;i>ts, would have forgotten
how time flowed on, as we forgot the
storm which gathered without, and rat,!ed'
at the windows.
I II was a few days after That / heard
the low, thrilling tones of Daniel Web
ster interrupt the discussion going on to
announce that "a great misfortune threat
ened the land" that the President OF the
United States was dying not expec-
ted to outlive that day. And that very
evening, how changed was the gay scene
in the White House! Death was there
was laying his heavy hand on the beloved
father Of the family ly-on the elected heat
OF the Republic Of the United States.
Yet serene was he even now. Ir
death he grasped the hand of his wife
and said: My dear wife an not aIrai(
to die. have tried to do my duty "
And that stern monitor-so fearful I.
many came to him on his death he'd, a:
comforter, as a soothing angel. But h,
, had long since made of him friend.-
Duty had been and was the spring of hi
life and actions. His friends and his foe
(and he had such in war and in politics
must join in acknowledging, that truth
fulness and conscientiouSness were tn
answering qualities Of his mind. II
, these virtues he was great.
. | saw him but twice and for a littl,
! while, bu, as saw linn, and with what
! have heard of him, can well understan
! that brave men, his companions on III
!, battle field, have wept as children at hi
" death; and that there is within the Whit
House, heart who, after that death, Wi
nsa er more feel the Joy Of life.
. Yet happy is she, who can live an
y glory in such memories! And happy th
man who lived and died as he, who, o
+ his death bed, looking over a life of gre;
q military and civil import could serenel
say, Il am not afraid to die have trie
ia do my duty"
e Washington, July, 1850.