The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-02
bright and brilliant than tn

4 star which is now set
Il my happiness, sir. during large part Of the life
OF the DEPARTED with him all great questions
OF national policy And, at later period, when il was
my fortune TO differ from him to Of domestic
policy had the happiness to agree with him generally
10 those which concerned our foreign relations and espe
cay as TO the preservation OF the peace OF the country
During the long session at which the war was declared
we were messmates, were other distinguished members
of Congress from his own patriotic State afforded
by the intercourse which resulted from that fact well
as the subsequent intimacy and intercourse which arose
between us an opportunity to form an estimate, not
y OF his public but OF his private life and man
with whom have ever been acquainted exceeded him
habits q temperance and regularity and n all the free
in all the tenderness, and respect and affection, which he
manifested towards that lady who more than
any other the sad event which has just occurred Such
Mr. President, was the high estimate formed OF his
ranscendent talents. that at the end Of his service in
the executive department under Mr. Monroes adminstra
ment should have felt perfectly assured that under his
auspices the honor the prosperity and the glory Of our
country would have been safely placed.
y Sir, lie has gone No more shall we witness from
yonder seat the flashes Of that keen and penetrating eye
Of his, darling through this chamber No shall we
poured out from bis lips, which, i i did not always carry carry
conviction TO our Judgment commanded our great ad-
mration Those eyes and those lips closed forever
which has been created by the event to which we are
now aludngwh will il be filled BY an equal amount
OF ability patriotism, and devotion to what he conceived
= to be the best interests Of his country
Sir, this is not the appropriate occasion, would bel
the appropriate person, 10 attempt delneaon Of his
character or the powers OF his enlightened mind will
only say. in few words that he possessed elevated
8genus Of the highest order that in felicity Of generaza
ion Of the subjects Of which his mind treated, have
seen him surpassed by no one and the charm and cap
waiting influence Of his colloquia powers have been felt
by all who have conversed with him. was his senior
Mr. President, in years--in nothing else According to
the Of nature, ought TO have preceded him Id
has been decreed otherwise; but know that shall
ager here only short time, and shall follow him.
And how brief, how short is the period of human
oil ,fta1 trfh fha
fought we not to profit by the contemplation of this mel
&anchoy occasons Ought we not 10 draw from il the
eoacias9n how unwlse i Is o indulge in the acerby q
sway OF the animoses of party feeling how wrong il
indulge in those unhappy and hot slrfes which too
often exasperae our feelings and msead judgments
in the discharge OF the high and responsible duties which
we are called to perform how unbecoming if not pre-
It is in US who are the tenants Of an hour in
this earthly abode, to wreste and struggle together with
violence which would not be justifable if il were oul
perpetual home
Ii conclusion sir while beg leave to express my
dial synpahies and sentiments OF the deepest coincidence
towards all who stand in near relation to him, trust
shall all be instructed by the eminent virtues and merits
ample 70 fulfil our great public duties By tie lights so
own Judgment and the dictates of our own consciences
he did according his honest and best conceptions o
Mr, WEBSTER hope the Senate will indulge me
in adding very few words to what has been said My
apology Tor this presumption is the very long acqaant
self We are of the age. made my first entrance
into the House Of Representatives in Nav 1873 there
found Mr CALHOUN He had already been member OF
that body for two or three years. found him then
active and efficient member OF the assembly to which
he belonged taking decided part and exercising de-
cded influence in all its deliberations.
From that day to the day of his death, amidst all the
sres OF party and politics. there has subsisted between
us always, and without interruption, great degree oi
personal kindness.
Differing widely on many great questions respecting
the institutions and government OF the country, those differ
never interrupted our personal and social intercourse
have been present at most OF the distinguished instances
of the exhibition OF his talents in debate have always
heard him with pleasure, often with much instruction,
not unfrequeny with the highest degree OF admiration
Mr. CALHOUN was calculated to be aleader in whatso-
ever association OF political friends he thrown He
was man OF undoubted genius and OF commanding tall
ent All the country and all the world admit that His
mind was both perceptve and vigorous 1t was clear,
quiet and strong.
Sir, the eloquence OF Mr. CALHOUN or the manner Of
his exhibition oil his sentiments in public bodies, part
Of his intellectual character II grew out Of the quail.
ties OF his mind II was plain, strong, terse condensed
concise; sometimes impassioned, still always severe
Rejecting ornament not often seeking far for illustration,
his power consisted the panness OF his propostons
in the coseness of his logic and in the earnestness
and energy. OF his manner. These are the quail
ties. as think, which have enabled him through
always command attention His demeanor as SEN
ator is known TO us al-is appreciated venerated BY
US all No man was more respectful to others; no
carried himself with greater decorum no man with
superior dignity think there is not one OF us but felt
when he last addressed from his seat in the Serate
form stlll erect, Win voice Dy
such degree o physical weakness did in fact possess
hm--wiih clear tones and an impressive and may say
an imposing manner-who did not feel that he might
imagine that we saw before us senator of Rome, when
Rome survived
Sir have not in public in private life known a
more assiduous person in the discharge OF his appropriate
duties have known no man who wasted less Of life
what is called recreaton employed less OF il in any
pursuits not connected with the immediate discharge Of
his duty. He seemed to have no recreation but the
pleasure OF conversation with his friends Out OF the
chambers OF Congress, he either devoting himself to
the acquisition OF knowledge pertaining to the immediate
subject Of the duty before him. or else he was induging
in those social interviews in which he SO much delighted
My honorable friend from Kentucky has spoken in
Just erms OF his colloquia talents They certainly were
singular and eminent There was charm In his CONVEX
saon not often found He delighted especially in con-
versalion and intercourse with young men | suppose
thai there has been no man among who had more win
ming manners IN such an intercourse and such conversa
lion, with men comparatively young than Mr. CALHOUN
believe great power OF his character in general
was his conversational talent | believe il is that as
well as consciousness Of his high integrity and the
geaest reverence for his talents and ability that has
made him so endeared an object 10 the people Of the
State TO which he belonged
Mr.. President, he had the basis the indispensable
basis, oil all high characer and that was unspoed in
tegrity-unimpeached honor and character II he had
Inspirations, they were high, and honorable and noble
There was nothing groveng, or low, meanly selfish,
that came near the head the heart OF Mr. CALHOUN
Firm his purpose, perfectly patriotic and honest as am
quite he in the principles that he espoused and
the that he defended aside from that large
regard for that species OF distinction that conducted him
10 eminent stations for the benefit of the repubc do