The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-13
Board Of Aldermen.

Board of Aldermen.
THURSDAY, July IL, 1850.
The Board met pursuant TO the call of the Mayor.
Present. essrs. Magruder, Drury, Wilson, Bay
ly, Franklin, Towers, Maury, Sweeny, Beck,
Gordon, Thornly, and Morgan.
The President of the Board of Aldermen being
absent, the Vice President took the chair.
The Secretary being absent account of sick
ness, Mr.. Towers elected Secretary pro tenn.
The following communication received from
the Mayor
MAYORS OFFICE, July H. 1850
Boards of aldermen and Common Council
GENTLEMEN: 1t becomes my painful duty 10
make known to you officially the death of ZACHARY
TAYLOR, late President of the United States. 1t
will be a source of melancholy pleasure to you,
feel assured, to adopt appropriate testimonials of
respect although in the decease of this eminent cit
zen formal ceremonies and splendid obsequies will
utterly fail 10 yield that full tribute of love and ad
miration which his worth demands. 1t is not the
loss OF the Chief Magistrate, invested with the am
ptude of high authority, which we called upon
TO deplore under an apprehension of any instabi-
ty in the operations OF the Government consequent
upon change so sudden and novel; for the Repub
lie moves steadily onward, having experienced no
nterregnum of confusion, even uncertainty; but
1t is the death OF noble son, whose span of life,
bracing the heroic daring of youth, the unconquer
able energies OF maturer years. the patriotic aspira
tions OF expiring age, has been devoted with
cred fidelity TO the highest welfare OF The republic
Duty ana often and again posted hlm
the front OF war; upon the point OF his upliited
sword has rested the glory and the honor of the
American name; and we may, with truthful exul
tation. say that sword, cleaning with the light of
victory, reveals no spot of blood to darfen The mir
brightness 1t is the proud tribute of history
that the merciul clemency OF the man outshone the
brilliant glory ofthe victor Summoned, not by the
uncertain voice of party, but by the nations graft
ude, To the Chief Magistracy of the republic, he has
passed away in our midst, with the insignia OF of
hce upon him, and who can justly say with spot or
blemish to dim their purity? Proud distinction,
that Ill both spheres Of public duty, civil and mill
tary, amidst circumstances of extraordinary trial.
he has given TO his country no cause of reproach,
but can claim from her scantiest gratitude
bounded love and admiration. Simple in his man
ners, and brief In speech, he did not possess he
did not require those arts of doubtful worth which
dazzle the public eye, but by devoted patriotism
and public service, without the hope desire Of re-
ward, stern allegiance to acknowledged duty, a
kindly and sacred regard for the rights and sensi-
biie. of his fellow men; the exercise of absolute
power TO protect, and not to abuse; and, fact by
faithful performance of the essential duties OF the
Citizen and the constant prac of the gcntler vir
tues OF humanity, he has won for himself the high
renown OF moral greatness.
The public voice has already awarded to him the
epItaph, "incorrrpfa tides ct mems consciG recti,
and his memory can seek no prouder memorial.
| shall be most happy to concur in whatever tes-
tlnonlals oil respect you may think proper to adopt
in honor of the lamented dead.
WALTER LENOX, Mayor.
Mr.. Wilson moved that the communication from
the Mayor be referred to joint committee of one
member from each ward, which agreed to
and Messrs. WiLon, Gordon and Drury ap-
pointed on the part of this Board.
Messrs. Wilson and Maury submitted resolutions
on the subject of the Mayors communication,
which were referred to the joint committee.
A communication received from the Board
Of Common Council, notifying this Board of their
concurrence in the action of the Board OF Alder
men, and that they had appointed Messrs. Bryan,
Winter, Brent, and Wheeler, committee their
part.
Mr.. Wilson, from the joint committee, made the
following report
ResoIforx Of respect 10 the memory Of Zachary Tau
ior,-hfe Presidsnt Of the United Siates
Whereas the Board of Aldermen and Board of
Common Council of the city Of Washington im-
pressed with the loss sustained by country in
the death of ZACHARY TAYLOR, late President of
the United States, desiring 10 express their feelings
upon an occasion 50 full Of deep and melancholy
interest to the people OF this city, and OF the
Try at large, and 10 manifest their high respect and
veneratiOn for the memory of "A patriot whose life
has been spent in the service OF his country of a
soldier, whose deeds have shed lustre upon her
arms, not more distinguished for his military vir
tues than for his moderation and humanity IN the
hour oil victory OF citizen who has won the con
hdencc and admiration of his countrymen, and
who has at their hands received the highest honor
they could bestow: Therefore
Resolved, &c, That they arc deeply impressed
with at the death OF ZAcHAEY TAYLoR, late
President Of the United States, by whom our coun
try has been deprived of one OF its most disun-
guishod citizens whom it has but recently honored
with the highest office in ts gift, patriot and a
soldier, whose lame Is indebiy written upon the
highest pages Of his country's history, and whose
memory will ever be held in grateiulremcmbrancc
by the people of this nation OF the great and
good OF our land.
ResolDed, That the two Boards sincerely sympa-
thize with the family of the deceased an the irrepa
rabc lOss which they have sustained in the death OF
such a husband, father and friend, and hereby
tender their aiiectonate coincidence upon this mel
ancboy occasion.
R.soiDed That, a further testimony Of respect
to the memory Of this eminent citizen, the City
Hall and the rooms Of the two Boards shall be
clothed IN mourning for sixty days, and the offices
OF this Corporation shall be closed until the funeral
services are over,
RssolUed, That the Mayor and the two Boards |
with their officers and the officers OF the Corpora
ton, will attend the funeral in body, and will
wear the usual badge Of mourning on the left arm
for sixty days; and Il IL hereby recommended 10
all OF citizens 10 abstain from all secular EN-
ployment during the funeral solemuities.
Resolved, That the Mayor be, and he is here
by, requested 10 send copy OF these resolutions to
the family OF the deceased.
Resolved, That the two Boards do adjourn.
The preamble and resolutions were una nitnously
adopted.
The Board then adjourned.
ISrEREsTISo DIscovERy SrAR PfTTsHuRo.-The
Pittsburg Gazette announces that Mr.. James Sims
painter Of that city, has discovered, upon the
lands of Mr. Geo. Ledlie on the line of the Per