The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-18


bates on the great questions OF that day-the
treasury system and the tariff of 1916, then adjust
ed SO much 90 the benefit and satisfaction OF the
country. His speeches on those subjects were much
admired and read at that time, and will be referred
to as high authority hereafter. In the House OF
Representatives his energies had wide range,
and, whilst his active and powerful mind was en-
gagged in deyising measures 10 promote the inter
ests of his State the of his humbiest con
stituent not only not neglected or overlooked
but received his consideration, and were followed
up with zeal and fidelity peculiar 10 himself.
The terrible and destructive inundatons to which
the State of Louisiana has been subject had at
tracted his earnest attention and anxious dehoera
lions, in order to provide remedy Inc result
was, that in lSiI he originated and brought Tor
ward, in the House of Representatives, project
to secure "a grant from the United States to the
State of Lou; sana Of all the overlooked lands In that
State, with view to their redemption from that
condition, and to placing the property and health
of the people beyond the reach of that periodical
scourge with which they had been so frequently
visited, This measure, so dear to his heart ne
pressed forward with sleepless vigilance which
defed defeat and until il was, with the aid Of other
members of the delegation in March, ls49, crowned
with success
But he did not stop at this. This grant could
not be made available for several years. still
greater flood occurred in 1880 than that OF the year
before. He that something more was neces-
sary and that under all the circumstances OF the
case, the United States ought to make iuIther
and more readily available grant. For this pur-
pose he first suggested, at the last session OF Con
gress, the project of Congress ceding the whole OF
the Incorporated lands in Louisiana to the State
and by his indefatigible attention was the CHIEF
means of obtaining and bringing forward such IN
formation the subject as to leave scarcely
doubt of its ultimate success. His failing health,
il is true did allow him to present this last pro-
iect the House; but he originated It, and lett II
be carried out by other members oil the deiega-
ton. bill for that purpose was presented IN the
Senate and reported on iavorably by the commit
tee on public lands and il now stands on the cal
lapI reaIV aDDTODatlOn
W hch doubt no. it will receive at an early day,
approved, as it is not only by the committee, but
by the land office.
Louisiana has not and will not prove herself I'M
grateful forgetful of the important services rem
dered by her public men. She once made large
donation to the heirs of distinguished statesman
of another portion of the Union She Is not now as
prosperous as she has been and will be again Two
successive floods have desoaed some OF her richest
fields and destroyed some of her most beautiful
villas; carly frost has just greatly lessened the
production of her two great staples-sugar ana cot
ton; but, with such resources as her soil and CHI
mate Afford and such energy al actuates her peo-
pie, her period of depression cannot long continue
Her prosperity will soon return, and, when II does,
then will she remember one OF her most faithful and
| useful public servants; and think may venture
to anticipate for her that at Baton Rouge, the seat
| of government, in his own district, or at some
other conspicuous point the banks oi that great
river whose hitherto uncomfortable and disastrous
Hoods he had contributed so much to reduce to sub
! lection, she will erect monument to the memory
| OF JOHN ii. HARMASsoS as proof OF her gratitude
| and an encouragement to her future public SER
| wants.
| He expired in the city of New Orleans on the 10Th
Of October last, OF lingering illness, which mad
! been aggravated by his arduous public labors, 10
which he had devoted himself with a zeal and en-
| orgy that suffered no abatement even during his
wasting maady, and which terminated only with
| his life.
| He was thus cut off in the meridian of his life,
| and only at the beginning of what gave promise
| Of being Of usefulness to his country and
| credit TO himself Doubtless had he lived, his
State would have bestowed upon him Its highest
! honors.
Mr.. HARMANsoS possessed natural abilities OF a
very high order; keen sagacious, and dlscriInin
ating mind, with unsued integrity These char
acteristcs made their way 10 the hearts OF the peo
pie with whom his lot was cast. There his strict
business habits, bis active industry, his disinteres
ed friendship his enlarged benevolence and philan-
! thropy, and his patriotic devotion, gave him an
enviabe standing and popularity. In all the rela-
tons OF life he was amiable, afecuonate, and klnd;
u devoted husband and parent, who watched with
ceaseess scicitude over the carly development OF
mind in his young and numerous family, with
whose tears ours are min gled this sad occasion.
! As member of the social circle he had no di-
| luted friendships. His attachments were slowly
formed but lasting life In every relation oil so
ciety he scorned concealment or undue advantage,
| but with openness and frankness OF heart he IN
! spired every with conviction OF his integrity
| and purity of purpose.
Though a radical in politics, and an enemy to
| monopolies in every form, he knew how 10 appre-
ciate an honest difference ofopinon; and, although
welded by the deepest attachments to the peculiar
interests Of the South and of his State, in whose
soil he now sleeps, yet, as an ardent patriot, and
indu ging Just pride in our lofty rank as a ma
tion be loved and cherished, as the chief element
Of national greatness, and as the ark OF our Po
| ltical safety, the UsIoS for the Unions sake
| that Union in which are bound together may we
not hope, inseparaby and forever, and whose Rep
/ resentatiyes are called upon to mingle their
symp1thies on this melancholy occasion.
Nj nnKU AdODtIOn oil
] following resolutions:
ResoiUsd, That the Senate receives, with sincere
regret, the announcement Of the death OF the Hon.
| JoHS H. HARMASsoN, late a member of the House
Of Representatives from the State of louisiana and
tenders 10 the relatives of the deceased the assur
ance Of their sympathy with them under the be-
reavement they have been called to sustain.
! Resoired, That the Secretary of the Senate be
directed to transmit 10 the family Of Mr.. HARnAs-
son a certified copy Of the foregoing resolution.
! Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi On rising TO second
| the resolutions which have been presented, may
be permitted, early friend Of the deceased, 20
offer very briefly some tribute to his memory. At
the school referred to by his colleague the Senator
] from louisiana, as that in which had been with
him in the period Of boyhoo1, were together not
only in the same school, but in the same boarding
/ house, and in the same room. We there at that
early period Of life, formed that strict friendship
which, most Of all, endures through all the charges
| Of time and Circumstance. IL was friendship
which mstured with our manhood, continued until
the death Of the deceased, and remains to me ga
cred memory.
We we're intimately associated while members Of
the House Of Representatives, which VIC entered at
the same time, and identity Of political opinions
/ gave 10 our public relations the confidential char
actcr which had existed in private intercourse,
aud brought into such close associations AZ gave
/ me better opportunity than ] otherwise could
/ have had 10 understand all his high moral worth
az public man. That. however, the country is
better able 10 appreciate than his private character.
IL s Of the latter, therefore, that would speak, and
because Of the advantages which long acquaintance
and private friendship gave.
His temperament was ardent, sincere. His ma
turo was honest. lie emphatically what we
understand by the phrase, "a true man" True
1 to his trust, true 10 bis frendt; generous 10 his
! enemies; frank and decided TO all men. What
| ever there Of high energy and fixed purpose,
whatever there OF soft feeling and warm at
tschment, were harAily blended 70 form the char
acter Of friend. Those who knew him intimately
will long mourn his loss; those whose representa-
| tive he will long remember his devotion 70
| them, and be fortunate, indeed, II they find his
! equsl-not his equal in attainment, not his
! equal in mere talent these are but the gliding
! which ornament the exterior; the real substance,
| the reliable quality Of the representative u the
! moral character which lies beneath. His educa-
a.. in he fftaf,e fec