The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-01
rom TOE satuta : sttning Post
LETTERS FROM GRACE GREENWOOD.

WASHINGTON, July Ii, 1850.
GENTLEMEN must write, this week, under a
cloud Of sadness, and with understandable emotions
of awe, bewilderment, and grief The death Of
our President, so utterly unlooked-for ms it was,
over what spirit has il not cast shadows of gloom
Who does not feel intense sympathy with the be-
reaved home-ciroe of the husband and the father
who does not feel that greatness and strength
have gone from us in the departing Of the hero and
the patriot-who does not know pang of genuine
sorrow and shock of apprehension at the sud-
den going out of that one life on which seemed to
depend, at this period, so much of the glory and
destiny of the nationl What momentuous
eventi-what mysterious and fearful manifes-
tation Of the power and providence of God 1t
is in vain that we seek to pierce the thick cloud
to see the need and the purpose of this. We
have but to fall back ON childlike and un-
questioning faith in His wisdom and goodness
"who doeth all things welln
We were in the Senate Chamber on Tuesday
morning, when Mr.. Webster, in a voice like a
deep-toned bell, and with the utmost eolemnity Of
manner, announced the alarming illness of the
President, and moved an immediate adjournment.
never witnessed q scene OF more impressive sad
ness. All that day we suffered great anxiety
accounts grew worse and universal became the
sorrow and alarm. At 10 o'clock we heard that
he was dying, and between II and l2, by the slow
tollng of the bell, far more mournful than any
words we knew that he was gone
Yesterday We visited the Capitol to hear the
official announcement of the death of General
Taylor, and to witness the Inauguration of the
new President. The ceremony took took place
in the Hall Of the House Of Representatives, the
emit. I will not describe it, as you have already
seen full accounts. will only say that | was
H. h. sko AZ ttu hra IN md
simplicity There was no form, no pomp, nor con-
fusion, nor contendipg of factions-the most beau
tiful practical manifestation of the spirit of our
Republican system possible to behold.
Mr. Fillmore bore himself nobly through ali.
He was greatly changed Ia appearance by the
events of the last few hours His fine, manly face,
usually 30 bright with the sunshine Of happy
and generous nature. was now deeply Swallowed
by sincere grief and solemn sense Of the i'm
measurable responsibilities so suddenly devolving
upon him. Buthe was as far from unmanly weak
ness as from arrogant confidence His voice, In
taking the oath, was clear and firm, and all must
have felt that he spoke before God, with spirit
strong in high pure purpose to fulfil faithfully
the solemn obligations imposed upon him, and to
justify the trust Of the nation that, In the seleo
ton of him for his late honorable position, warn
ed by former error, provided for mournful con-
tingency like this.
As he stood calmly and gravely forth, as the
highest representative Of the power and the glory
of Government so vast and stupendous as ours
as he took its mighty care upon him, henceforth
as an iron crown, to weigh upon his brow-from
many heart, ] am sure, as from mine, came the
prayerfu ejaculation-"G God be with him !"
I will not, Of course, presume to pronounce
upon the political principles or Executive sbili-
ties Of the new President, but II may be allowed
lr \ hat
In some respects he is peculiarly fitted to his new
position. He will wear gracefully the honors and
dignties Of that high station. The striking
beauty of his person, the suavity and simple ele-
gance Of his manner his conversational tact and
talent will all be matters of graduation for US in
the future
Mr. Fillmore looks the President and the gen.
tleman--a great desideyatnm and happy circum-
stance, after all.
The eulogies pronounced upon General Taylor
were brief, but quite eloquent, and generally CIV
en- with much appearance Of feeling. That of Mr..
Winthrop was spoken with his usual oratoricsl
elegance Col Baker, of Illinois, dwelt chiefly,
and much in character with himself, on the mill
tary career and glorious achievements Of the he
roio dead, and spoke with all the enthusiasm Of
the soldier and the friend. The opening Of the
speech Of MIR. Hillisrd, and the remarks Of Mr..
Bayly, were fine. But you will see ell these as
well as the proceedings Of the Senate, where eu-
logies were pronounced by Mr. Cas-, Mr.. Ber-
rien, Mr.. Downs, Mr.. King, and, to the surprise
Of some, by Mr. Webster. Mr.. Clay positive
" declined speaking; either from the state Of his
health, or from motives of deicacy, in considers
ton Of his rather sntagonistic position toward the
late President and his Cabinet
The family Of General Taylor are said to be
overwhelmed by their great sorrow. Mrs Tay-
lor, who has been for some yearsi In feeble health is
almost borne down 10 the grave, with the husband
of her youth aud the companion OF her age. She
says that ever since his nomination she has been
haunted by terrible presentiment of this mis-
fortune.
SATURDAY, JrIy 10
Have Just returned from witnessing the passing
of the funeral procession Of President Taylor
down the Avenue, from the White House TO the
Capitol II was truly most grand and melsn-
choly pageant The hearse, drawn by eight white
horses, Was exceedingly beautiful, with gloomy
mseniRcence Of form and decoration--the triumph
nj car Of death One Of the most touching sights
was the famous white war-horse Of the dead
hero, led next the hearse, caporisoned az Of old,
treading along lightly to the familiar music, arch
ing his proud neck with the native vanity peculiar
to his race, and all unconscious that he now fol-
lowed TO the still grave-rest the kind master he
had once borne 30 bravely through the loud rush
Of battle.
AT last the long, sad, and splendid array passed
by. and we turned homswsrd, feeling that ell was
indeed over. II is now night; the muffied drum
10 no longer bsatingthe bells have ceased tolling,
and the hot mouth Of the cannon il silent. The
shadows Of the grave encompass the dead hero,
but heavier, colder darkness is gathered around
the lives Of those from whom he grieved TO part
6 the friends who loved him.
In the Senate there has, Of course, been little
done during the past week MI. Smith Of Con
neoticut finished his speech on Monday, and Mr.
Butler Of South Carolina oommcnoed bic on
Tuesday. or these two speaksrs, Mr.. Butler Is
decidedly the most interesting He always speaks
In clear, ringing voice. and with much earnest
mes Of manner. He L. very singular looking
person, and win arrest ut once the attention OF
visitsr 10 the Senate. Though BY no means an