The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-11

whci, has bes,, pronounce ed by iouisianA upon her
= illustrious and lamented SON Indeed, neither my
personal feelings my political relations 10 the
living or to the dead would permit me TO remain
altogether silent this OCCASION. And yet, sir,
confess ] know not how to say any thing satisfac-
tory To myself or suitable to the circumstance OF
The event which has Just been officially an
nouDced has come upon "a 80 suddenly-has SO
overwhelmed us with mingled emotions OF surprise
and sadness that the ordinary forms OF expression
seem TO lose their Significance, and one would ain
bow his head to the blow in silence, until It's first
shock has in some degree passed away. -
Certainly, sir, no can fail to realize that a
most monienous and mysterious Providence has
been manifested in our midst. At moment when,
more than almost ever before in history, the
destinies Of our country seemed. toall human y h.
to be inseparaby assocated with the character and
| conduct of its Chief Executive Magistrate, that
Magistrate has been summoned from his post by
~ the only messenger whose INA ndates he might not
- have defed, and has been Withdrawn forever from
the sphere of human existence
Thea are those Of us, need not say sir, who
i had looked to him with affection and reverence
our chosen leader and guide in the difficulties aud
y perplexties by which we are surrounded. There
are those of US who had relied confidently ON him,
rs upon no other man, to uphold the Constitution
and maintain the Union of the country in that future
upon which "ciouds and darkness may well be
saaid to rest. And, as we now behold him, borne
away by the hand of God from sight in the very
hour OF peril, we can hardly repress the exclama-
Il ton, which was applied to the departing prophet
of old "My father, my father the chariot OF Israel,
md the horsemen thereof"
Let me not even seem to imply, however, that the
death of General TAYLOR ia any thing less than
national loss. There may be, and know there
is in this event, aprivileged and pre- eminent grief
for his immediate family and relatives, TO whichwc
can only offer the assurance Of our heartfelt sym
pathy. There is, too, pecu ar sorrow for his po-
htitAl friends and supporters, which We would not
affect to conceal. But the whole people Of the
United States wlfee and will bear witness, when
they receive these melancholy tidings that they
"a He'd tn auat0 i'm ma
Il tional bereavement
hazard nothing sir, in saying, that the roll Of
our Chief Magistrates, since 1889, illusrious il
u.s. presents the name of no man who has enjoyed
higher reputation with his contemporaries, who
will enjoy higher reputation with posterity than
ZACHARY TAYLOR, for some Of the best and noblest
= qualities which adorn our nature.
His indontable courage, his unimpeachable hon
esty his Spartan simplicity and sagacity, his frank
ness, kindness, moderation, and magnanimity,
his fidelity his friends, his generosity and hui
manity to his enemies, the purity of his private
life the patriotism Of his public principles, will
never cease to be cherished in the grateful remem-
brance of all just men and all true hearted Anne
ricans.
As Soldier and General, his fame is associated
with some OF the proudest and most thrilling
of our military history. He may be literally said
: to have conquered every enemy he has met, save
only that last enemy, to which we must all, in turn,
e. surrender.
As civilian and statesman, during the brief pc
= Rod in which he has been permitted to enjoy the
u
- awarded him, he has given a proof of devotion to
duty, Of attachment TO the constitution and the
Union, Of patriotic desire to maintain the peace
OF our country, which no trials or temptations
4 could shake He has borne his faculties lncekly,
but firmly. He has been '.clcar in his great office"
He has known no local partialites or prejudiccs,
= but has proved himself capable of embracing his
whole country in the comprehensive affections and
n regards OF large and generous heart.
But he has fallen almost at the threshold 9th civil
career, and at a moment when some Of Us we're
looking TO him to render services TO the country
which we had thought no other man could perform.
Certainly, cir, he has died too soon for every boly
but himself. We can hardly find it in our hearts TO
repine, that the good old man has gone to his rest
VIC cannot grudge the repose in which the brave
old soldier sleeps. His part in life had been long
and faithfully performed. In his own last words,
"He had always done his duty, and he not
afraid to die But regrets for ourselves and
for our country are deep and unfeigned
Sir, II was fit and beautiful circumstance III the
close of such career that his last official appear
ance was at the celebration of the birthday OF
National independence, and more especially
7 act OF homage to the memory of ham whose example
he had ever revcrcd and followed, and who, as he
himself 80 well said, was, by 80 many ttles, the
Father Of his Country"
And now, Mr.. Speaker, let US hope that this
event may teach us all how vain is reliance
upon any of flesh, and may impress US with n
solemn sense of national IA well individual
dependence on Power higher than human. Let
Va remember sir, that % the Lord Is king, be the
people never 80 impatient; that he stitch between
The cheruDlIn, be the earth never unqulet.' Let
us-in language which Is now haowed to us, as
having been the closing and browning sentiment
Of the brief but admirable inaugural address with
which our illustrious friend opened his Presidential
- term, hardly more than year ago, and which il
is my privilege to read at this moment from the
very copy from which IL was originally read by
himself TO the American people on the lth day Of
March, ls49-let US, in language in which che, be-
ing dead, yet speaketh"-"Lef us inpoks a corAn-
uanee Of hs Protecting Care ,oheh has led us
from small beginnings 10 The eninence zoe his day
cupy and let s seek 10 dsserus that continuance by
pr,4dencf and moderation councils by tpeu-
directed attempts 10 assuage the bitterness coh too Of
ten marks unavoidable Differences Of opinion; by the
PRONUNCIATION and practice Of Just and liberal princ
pies; and by enlarged patriotism, ,ohich shall
knotoiedgs no iimits bat those Of pds spread
MIR. BAKER said:
Mr.. SPEAKER; 1t is often said of sorrow, that,
like death, II levels all distinctions. The humblest
heart can heave sigh deep the proudest; and
avail myself Qf this mourniu privilege TO swell
the accents Of grief which have been poured forth
to-day with larger though not more sincere ut
terance. second time since the formation Of
this Government, President Of the United States
has been stricken by death in tho performance Of
his great duties. The blow which strikes the man
falls upon nations heart, and the words Of sad
dencd praise which fall upon our cars to- day. and
here, are but echoes Of the thoughts that fhron x
in the hearts Of the millions that mourn him
ry'ohere. You have no doubt observed, sir, that
In the FIRST moments Of great Ioss the instincts
OF affection prompt us TO summon up the good
aud great qualities Of those for whom we weep
II u wise ordination Of Divine Providence;
generous pride empcrs aud Restraints the BIT
fsrn,ss Of grief, and noble deeds and heroic virtues
shed consoling light upon the tomb. II is in
this spirit that recur for an instant and for an
instant only 70 tire events Of n history fresh in
the remembrance Of the nation and The world
The late President Of the United States has dc
voted his whole life to the service Of his country
Ola nature singularly unambitious, he seems to
have combined the utmost gentlencss Of manner
with the greatest frmness OF purpose For more
than thirty years the duties of his station confined
him TO sphere where only those who knew him
most intimately could perceive the qualities which
danger quickened and frightened into sublimity
and grandeur In the late war with Great Britain
he was but a captain; yet the little band who de-
Tended Fort Harrison amid the smoke Of battle
that they were commanded by 6t for his
station. In the Florida campaign he commanded
but brigade; yet his leadership not only evinccd
courage and conduct, but inspired these qualities
in the meanest soldier in his ranks. He begun the
Mexican campaign at the head only Of division;
yet as the events Of the swelled that division
into army, the crisis kndlcd him into higher
resolves and nober actions, till the successive cps
Of advance became the assured march of victory
Mr. Sp,a ker uere thoh hill .,,I.