The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-11

TO affect reluctance IN accepting those very hon
, ors which they have long and arlenlly sought
that we are apt to consider all such professions as
indicating feelings the very reverse of those they
express. Those, however, who knew General
TAYLOR well, entertained no doubt of the entire
4 sincerity of his declarations when he was called
upon to be a candidate for the Office of President.
4 The excitement of politics had no charm for one
who had always been extremely averse to politi-
cal controversy. The pomp and splendor of the
presidential mansion had no temptations for one
who was always remarkable for the simplicity of
his tastes and the frugality Of his habits. Add to
this that his unaffected modesty and mexperience
in public affairs led him sincerely to distrust his
ability to discharge the duties Of this high and
responsible station. any,.
At no period of our history, indeed, was the
executive chair surrounded by more difficulties
than those which encompassed it when he was
called on to occupy it. Party spirit was still ra-
giug with unabated fury; dark cloud was visi-
bic on the horizon, which portended that storm
of unusual violence was approaching, and would
shortly burst forth Under such circumstances, a
man even of stouter heart than his might well hes
itate before he consented to embark on this ''sea
of troubles" Yielding, however, to the public
voice, and to the arguments and persuasion of his
friends, he did embark. The tempest arose; and
in the midst Of its fury, while the vessel of State
was tossed to and fro, and all eyes were turned
with confidence not unmingled with anxiety on
the pilot who, calm and collected, guided her
course, that pilot was suddenly swept from the
| helm
| Here let us pause! Let us avail ourselves of
| the momentary calm which this sad event has pro-
duced, and calmly survey the perils that surround
| us-the lowering heavens above, the raging bill
lows below, the breakers on our right, the shoals
on our left Let us prepare to meet these dan
gers like men and like patriots, to overcome them
Let us not despair of the republic. On the con-
trary, let determine that she must be saved and
she will be saved. The clouds that overhang us
will be dispersed, and the glorious stars of our
Union will again shine forth with their wonted
splcndor
| Mr.. WINTHROP rose to second the resolu-
tons, and proceeded as follows:
1t would not be easily excused, Mr.. Speaker,
by those whom | represent in this hall, if there
were no Massachusetts voice to respond to the
eulogy which has been pronounced by Louisiana
upon her ilustrous and amented son.
Indeed, neither my personal feelings nor my
political relations to the living and to the dead
would permit me to remain altogether silent on
this occasion.
And yet sir, I confess | know not how to say
anything satisfactory to myself, or adequate TO
the circumstances of the hour
The event which has just been officially announ-
ced, has come upon us suddenly-has so over
whelmed us with mingled emotions of surprise
and sadness-that the ordinary forms of express
sion seem to lose their signifcance, and one is
impeed to bow his head in silence to the blow,
until its first shock has, in some degree passed
| away
Certainly, sir, no can fail to realize that a
most momentous and mysterious Providence has
been manifested in midst. At moment
when, more than almost ever before in our his
tory, the destinies OF our country seemed, to all
human sight, to be inseparahy associated with
the character and conduct of its Chief Executive
Magistrate, that magistrate has been summoned
from his post by the only messenger whose man
dates he might not have defcd, and has been
withdrawn forever from the sphere Of human cx-
istenCc!
There are those Of us, / need not say, sir, who
had looked TO him with affection and reverence as
our chosen leader and guide in the difficulties and
perpeXites by which we are surrounded. There
are those of us who had relied confidently Oh him.
as upon no other man. to uphold the Constitu-
ton and maintain the union of the country in
that future upon which "clouds and darkness"
may well be said to rest. And, as we now be-
hold him. borne away by the hand of God from
sight, in the very hour of peril, we can hardly
repress the exclamation, which was applied to the.
departing prophet of old: "My father, my father;
the chariot of Israeli and the horsemen thereof"
Let me not even seem to imply, however that
the death Of Gen. TAYLOR is any thing less than
a national loss. There may be, and we know
there is, in this event. privileged ard eminent
grieffor his immediate family and relates, to which
can offer the assurance of our heartfelt SYM
pathy. There may be, too, "a peculiar sorrow for
his political friends and supporters. But the
whole people of the United States will feel, and
will bear witness, when they receive these melan-
choly tidings, that they have all been called to
sustain a most affecting national bereavement.
hazard nothing sir, in saying, that the roll of
our Chief Magistrates, since 1889, illustrous as
it is, presents the name of no man who has en-
joyed higher reputation with his contempora-
ries, or who will enjoy higher reputation with
posterity than ZACHARY TAYLOR, for some of the
best and noblest qualities which adorn our ma
ture.
His ndomitable courage, his unimpeachabe
honesty, his Spartan simplicity and sagacity, his
frankness, kindness, moderation, and magma
nmity Of spirit, his fidelity to his friends his
generosity and humanity to his enemies, the puri-
ty of his life, the patriotism of his public princ
pies, will never cease to be cherished in the CRATE
full remembrance of all just men and all true
hearted Americans.
As a soldier and general his fame is associated
with some of the proudest and most thrilling
scenes of our military history. He may be literal
y said to aveconquered every enemy he has met,
save only that last enemy, to which we must all,
in turn, surrcnder