The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-12
DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT.
From The ". Y. Commercial advertiser.


raj TAyLon's character and the peculiar crisis in
national affairs combine to make his death at
the present juncture calamity of no ordinary
kind. His pure mindedness; his resolute purpose
invariably acted upon in every exigency, to do
what patriotism and sense of duty dictated; his
hrmness In restraining those who would fain have
overleaped all restraint, whether OF constitutional
or international law; and his constant refusal to
step down from his dig nifed Office to mngle in
party strife may have chafed persons into
even violent opposition; but in the heart of the
people, since he became known to them, he has
held a tenure of affection and love, of admiration
and esteem, such rarely falls the lot of public
men, and especially to men who are called to WELD
the executive power OF great nation.
His transition from the camp to the Presidency
was sudden, effected upon comparatively short
notice, that many feared lest he should prove in
adequate TO the cxigency. 1t was indeed severe
trial of the man; thorough test of his inherent
powers and resources. lie had shown himself a
master mind in the battle field and of courage that
knew no fear. But to arms he had been trained.
Education for the camp had developed his qualif-
cations for a warrior and commander of an army,
and an innate goodness of heart and sound judg-
ment had so attempered his military character,
that while he secured the confidence he also won
the love of those whom he commanded. But in
civic government he uncducated and untred.
In his patriotism and good sense, and still more in
his disnercsted self sacrificing love of country,
the people trusted, with strong instinct that did
them credit, and which the event more than JUST
fed. He entered the Presidential office, and early
indicated the wisdom of the peoples choice. II
was soon that, while immovable from the
sure anchorage of single eyed, disinterested patri
otism, he possessed most remarkable power of
adj himself tn novel and ted
cumstances that surrounded him.
But he is now more. After passing unframed
through many deadly conflict, he has fallen asleep
in the quiet Of civic life, surrounded by new asso-
GATES whose love he had already won by the force
of the character that made soldiers willing to
obey him, to the death. Whether he would
have thus early fallen had not the of State
been forced upon him-for they came not of his
own elections thought that will force itself
upon the mind. We may not decide it, but we have
fears that the turbulent scenes which he has 80
successfully controlled-thea aggressive spirit which
with wonderful prowess, he has kept at bay-the
disorganizing, dsunion tendency of movements
for the last few months-wo fear that these, while
they could not destroy his outward equanimity or
deter him from "endeavoring to do his duty, have
nevertheless had some share In superinducing the
bodily disease which overmastered his sinewy
Frame and removed him from the turmoil of his
times.
General TAYLOR is dead. Few nobler men has
the common enemy slain-a purcr patriot, more
thorough American republican, never, at least
since Washington, fell before the same destroyer.
He was great a soldier, but he still greater
and more lovely man. Blending most happily in
his nature the trues modesty with strong self respect
and self reliance; generous without ostentation;
thoroughly republican and simple in his sentiments
and manners, yet winning respect every where by
the calm dignity and urbanity Of his department;
a stranger from his youth to any thing that bor
dered upon ittlcncss selfishness beloved in his
family circle and by all who had daily intercourse
with him, he has left behind him a name that gen.
eratons to come will revere and bless. 1t ia in our
heart dwell his virtues, but the sad intelli-
gcnce Of his death-and his death at this juncture
of our national aairs-seems to have sealed up the
fountains Of expression, to have disturbed the flow
of thought and we overwhelmed by the sud
dcnness and pain of,the inscrutable dispcnsaton.
From the Ne,p Yo,k Tribune.
We write under the weight of great national
calamity ZACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth President Of
| the United States, expired with perfect calmness
| at Washington last evening at thirty five minutes
past ten o'clock, after a painful illness Of little
more than five days. His disease began with
CnOlcra lnorDus, winch passed. INTO
tant fever he treated with all the skill that
science could bring to bear and affection render
vigilant, learn, after the old system OF prac
ticc, with purging, by calomel and otherwise, and
blisterin..
| General TAYLOR had endeared himself to the
American people TO a degree which few public
men attain. The of this lay in the great
goodness Of his .heart, the exceeding sincerity Of
his character, in his transparent common sense 80
broad and strong as TO amount to wisdom, in
| hrmncss that faced every danger and Stunned no
responsibility, and in patriotism and sense of
honor which threw almost chivalrous halo over
the sturdy elements of his nature. Not a states
man by genius by habit, he brought to the Pres
dency sound practical judgment which often
proved more reliable than the opinions OF those
long sersed in political affairs. A southern man
and a STAKEHOLDER, his mind was above the narrow
prejudices of district and class, and steadily aimed
at the good Of the nation as a whole. lie felt as
| the President Of the American people, and in
stinctively apprehendcd the destiny of the republic.
Not endowed with uncommon powers Of reflection,
he penetrated the questions brought before him
by a spontaneous faculty Of insight, and, having
once made up his mind, did not abandon his deter
mination. Though bred in camps and accustomed
To the ranks and distinctions Of military life he
never lost the readiness Of his Tnpathies,
perienced a dminuti OF that genuine sentiment
Of democratic equality which related him to every
citizen. He was eminently a man Of tire people,
and that from the eIhsustlsss promptings Of his
own heart lie took them by tho hand, he shared
in their joys and their sorrows not for any Interior
purpose, not one descending for the moment
from eminent position, but because nc felt him
self foreign TO human interest emotion.
triumphant general, counting among his battles
of the most difficult and successful Of military
history, elected to the Presidency without effort
his part, he never forgot that admirable native
modcsty which forbade him TO eraggerate the
value Of his services and talents, or TO claim
any gift capacity which he not fully con
scious of possessing. With manners Of great plain
ness, destitute Of polish, he always conveyed the
impression Of a true gentleman. No man ever
lived more free from vanity littlencss of every
kind. lie constituted LIBERAL generous, manly,
noble, and his life illustration Of these char
acteristics. Perhaps bis military achievements will
be longest remembered in history, but his private
character has ever seemed 10 us more reinnr Die