The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-11
Proc edings OF the Criminal C0nrt of the
District OF Columbia
ON THE DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT.

ON THE DEATH OF THE PRESIDENT.
WEDNESDAY,, July 10, 1850.
At the opening of the Court this morning the
District Attorney, p. r. FrspALL esq, addressed
it, IN substance, as follows:
Nay IL please the Court:
rise, sir, to bring formally 10 your notice
event of which you already but too well, too
painfully informed. II was announced by the
death bell of the nght-it is written this morning
on the saddcned brow of every citizen of the me-
tropolis--it is proclamedin That
{" Long, low, distant murmur of dread sound,
Such as arises when nation bleeds
With some deep and unavoidable wound
The forebodings under which the Court adj
iourncd yesterday bave been realized. The Prcsi-
lent of the United States dead, The first citizen
of the last Republic is gathered to lis fsthersl All
that Of ZACHARY TAYLOR can perish is no morei
Disease more dire than cmbattlcd hosts, has
stricken down, almost without warming. him who
had met unframed the pcrils of countless fields.
In any country, in any age III any condition OF
public affairs, the death of Chief of the Govern
ment would DO deeply impressive on the general
mind. Inexpressbly severe must be the emotions
excited in this country, in her present political cir
cumsisnces, by the loss of his man, Mt tbs time
Fierce conflicts of opinion rage throughout the
Republic these conflicts have arisen not from
usual transtory of party dissension, but
from elements radicatcd in polity; and every
patriot is looking with anxious eye and aching
heart at portonts of dangers TO the Union, But
every eye and every heart was turned with unfai
tcring trust to him in whose hands the people had
placed the helm Of State; and whose geographical
relation TO the subject in controversy in itself
suspicious 10 public tranquility. Widely and
warmly as many differed from him on particular
questions all, all believed him 10 be true hcarted,
honest firm, unilinohipg in duty, moderate anh
saeacious; all relied his patriotism, which com
pretended in its devotion the honor and the inte
rcsts Of every part OF common country; all re-
parded as the nations shield the energies of a cha
racter which had shown itself equal To the most
appalling emergencies all felt that he utterly
incapable Of injustice.
Though "frccdorn's heart grows heavy at the
loss of such in tmcs like these yet is the be-
rcavcment not wholly irreparable. The name of
TAyLoR is a legacy Of priceless value to HE coun
try She has deli GIFTED TO honor him. Letber honor
him still more in profiting by his great example
If she desire 70 read rightly the Lesson which it
furnishes, sbo will not dwell exclusively, nor
even principally, ON the dazzling gories Of his
life. Her deepest regrets will be, not for the
ror who had carriedhe eagle to distant shores and
| at whose name "tie world grew pale;' not for the
conquerOr who had added provinces TO her empire
and poured exhaustlcss treasure into her Golfers;
not even for the civic ruler who had welded her
power and made yet propder her rank among the
nations; bot her deepest her most salulary regrets
will be ior the man whose conduct had earned for
him the praise of being the model citizen of the
model republic.
| The character which dawned 80 gloriously at
Fort Harrison, when he brcathed fresh viRor into
the dropping eagle Of his country, WINS preserved
with entire consistency 10 the closc of long, cyen
full life. HE penetration, providence. uncrring
judgment, constant presence OF mind, hrmness,
and valor, carried him in safety and honor through
situations Of difficulty and danger by the side of
Which the tales of romance tame; his modera
ton in the exercise of authority practically sbso
Lutte was prpvcrbJ his we'll. balanced mind never
yielded TO the seductons Of success and was serene
even in the moment of triumph. To dignity
W hich secured for him the respect Of others, he
added the humility becoming 10 imam who il
born to die;' in the true republican spirit, he
l treated every honest man as his equal, and
| in the true Christian spirit every poor man ss
his friend in the spirit of justice and kind
bcartedncss lac considcred-to use the beautiful
language OF a beautiful womau@all within his
po,oer TO be under his protection :" with modosty
which desired "the cup Of power to pass UNI
tasted from his lips," he had noble self-reli-
ance, which judged calmly aru icarcs'iy Tor ITSELF
and neither sought noe Stunned responsibility; in
conduct faithful disintcrestcd and puro-in man
ner he wac bland and cordial; the smile of his
bright, keen eye springiug from his warm and
generous heart.
Such some Of the trails of the character OF
President Taylor, which have placed his own
among " tho bright names that ballow song;'
which attracted TO hun, while living, the .dlpires
tion and affection of his country and for which che
will cmbalm his memory with her tears
| The DIsTRIoT ArToRNgy having concluded, the
Court responded as follows:
The Court heard Of the sad event which has been
officially announced with the deepest regret. The