Washington telegraph., 1850-09-18

SaVc uS,-l uOu oiouO Soi D. saw
Tribute to the Memsry of Gen. Taylor.
BY FREDRIKA BREMER.
I saw him but twice, the hero of the
Mexican war, the chief man in power in
the United States, the late President
Zachary Taylor; but enough to feel that
| saw in him
AN honest man, the nobest work OF God"
The first time was beautiful evening,
on the green grounds around the White
House. The Potomac gIistened i'll the
setting sun, a band of music ia the grounds
was playing the "Star spangled Banner"
and gay crowd of men and women,
and children, with nurses and negroes,
were walking about, enjoying the even
ing the music, the green grounds, and
the view of the noble river, with the
Washington Monument in giant proper
tons rising on its banks. President lay
lor was among them not as the kings of
Europe when they came down among
the people, surrounded by guards or star
spangIed attendants; no, but unattended,
alone, plane in attire as the plainest of
the citizens around him, the greatest part
of them strangers to him. Yet he seemed
to feel that he was among friends, aHd
his honest face, and his unassuming bear
;ng. his ightforward, friendly manner,
the firm and cordial pressure of his hand.
made friend even of the stranger who
was for the first time introduced to him.
He stood there serene, smiling to the
children who were running about and
cumbling in the grass in unconstrained
liberty. He spoke OF the pleasure they
gave him.
1t is truly republican scene-one of
those we would fain see more often on
earth.-where all distance between men,
oil difference of rank and fortune are done
away with, and life is again an IdyI full
of innocence and beauty in the lap of
great nature. May the star-spangled
banner float wider and wider over such
scenes, such banquets of life.
The next time [ saw President Taylor
it was in one of the splendid rooms OF
his mansion. and with him his beautiful
daughter, the sister or the Graces, Mrs.
Bliss. Political questions, to which he
was called to attend, detained him for
some time from US. When he came, he
gas cordial aud simple in his manner,
as before on the green grounds. Yet he
seemed to me, not quite well and as il he
was trying to cast off from his mind
cloud. And so he did, as gallant man
and true American gentleman attending
to ladies. He spoke to us of the Indians,
among whom he had been much, and
whom he knew well. And as he spoke
he frightened, and his speech flowed on
so pleasantly and SO cheerfnlly, that, had
we been egotists, We would have forgot
ten how time flowed on, as we forgot the
storm that gathered without. and ratified
at the windows.
Il was few days afterwards that [
heard, in the Senate, the low, thrilling
tones of Daniel Webster interrupt the
discussion going on, to announce that "a
great misfortune threatened the land, !"
that the President of the United States
was dying-was not expected TO outlive
that day. And that very evening, how
changed was the gay scene ia the White
House! Death was there. was laying his
heavy hand on the beloved father of the
family-on the elected head of the Re-
public of the United States.
Yet serene was he even now. In
death he grasped the hand of his wife,
and said: "My dear wife, l am not
afraid to die. I have tried to do my
duty" And that stern monitor-so fear
full to many-came to him on his death
bed, as comforter, as soothing angel.
But he had long, long since made of him
friend. Duty had been and was the
spring of his life and actions His friends
and his foes land he had such in war and
in politics.) must join in acknowledging
that truthfulness and cOnsclentiousness
were the answering qualities OF his
mind. In these virtues he was great.
I saw him but twice, and for little
while, but as saw him, and with what
I have heard OF him, can we'll under
stand that brave men, his companions oa
the battlefield, have wept as children
at his death; and that there is. within
the White House, heart who, after thai
death, never more will feel the Joy of life.
Yet happy is she who can live and
glory in such memories! And happy the
man who lived and died as he, who. on
his death-bed, looking over life OF great
military and civil import, could serenely
say, II am not afraid to die; l have tried
to do my duty."-Sortasn's Magazine
for September.