Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-04
TRIBUTES 10 MR.. CALHOUN.
In SENATE, Monday, April LIST, 1850

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TRIBUTES 10 MR.. CALHOUN.
In SENATE, Monday April LIST, 1850.
Mr. BUTLER having addressed the Senate and moved
the customary resolutions
Mr.. CLAY said MIR. President, prompted by my own
feelings of profound regret and requested at the
time by some highly esteemed friends, WISH in rising
to second the resolutions which have been offered and
which have just been read to add few words to what
has been well and justly said by the surviving col
| league OF the illustrious deceased.
| My personal acquaintance with him, Mr. President
| commenced upwards OF thirty-eght years ago. We
entered at the same time together the House OF Repre-
sentatves at the other end Of this building The Con-
| gress of which we thus became members was that
amongst whose deliberations and acts was the decara-
ton of war against the most powerful nation as it res
poets u.s. in the world During the preliminary discus
which in the preparation for that great event
as we'll during those which took place when the
solution finally adopted, no member displayed a
more lively and patriotic sensbity to the wrongs which
led to that momenous event than the deceased whose
death all now much depoe. Ever active ardent,
able no one was in advance OF him in advocating the
cause OF his country, and denouncing the foreign inus
ce which compelled us to appeal to arms ut all the
Congressea with which have had any acquaintance
since my entry into the service OF the Federal Govern
ment, in none, in my humble opinion has been assem-
bed such galaxy OF eminent and able were
in the House of Representatives of that Congress which
declared the war; and in that Immediately following the
peace; and amongst that splendid assemblage none
shone more bright and brilliant than the star which is
now Set
1t my happiness, sir, during large part of the
life OF the departed to concur with him all great ques
tons OF national policy And at later period, when
il my fortune to differ from him TO of
domestic policy, had the happiness to agree with him
generally to those which concerned foreign rea
ons and especially to the preservation of the peace
Of the country. During the long session at which the
declared, we were messmates, as were other
distinguished members OF Congress from his own pat
riotic State. was afforded by the intercourse which
resulted from that fact we'll the subsequent ntima
cy and intercourse which arose between us, oppor-
tunty to form estimate, not merely OF his public but
OF his private HE; and no man with whom have ever
been acquainted, exceeded him in habits of temperance
md regularity, and in all the freedom, trankness, and
aabty OF social intercourse, and in all the tenderness
and respect and affection which he manifested towards
that lady who now mouns more than any other the sad
event which has Just occurred. Such, Mr. President,
was the high estimate formed OF his transcendent ia
lents that, if at the end of his service in the executive
department under Mr.. Monroes administration he had
been called to the highest office in the Government,
should have felt perfectly assured that under his ausp
ces, the honor, the prosperity and the glory OF
try would have been safely placed.
Sir, he has gone! No more shall we witness from
yonder the flashes OF that keen and penetrating eye
of his darling through this chamber No more shall we
behold that torrent OF clear, concise, compact logic,
poured out from his lips which, it it did not always
carry conviction to Judgment, commanded our great
admiration. Those eyes and those lips are closed for
ever
And when, Mr.. President, will that great vacancy
which has been created by the event to which are
abiding, when will it be filled by an equal amount
OF ability PATRIOTISM and devotion, to what he conceived
10 be the best interests OF his country!
Sir, this is not the appropriate occasion, nor would
be the appropriate person to attempt deneaton OF his
character, the powers OF his enlightened mind will
only say, few words, that he possessed an elevated
genius OF the highest ORDER that in felicity Of genera
cation of the subjects of which his mind treated have
seen him surpassed by one and the charm and
captivating influence OF his coloqual powers have been
felt by all who have conversed with him. l was his
senior Mr.. President, in years-in nothing else. Ac-
cordng to the course OF nature, ought have preceded
him. 1t has been decreed otherwise but know that
shall lnger here only short time and shall follow
him.
And how brief how short is the period of human ex-
istence allotted even to the youngest amongst u.s. Sir,
ought not to profit by the contemplation Of this me-
lancholy occasion? Ought not to draw from the
conclusion how unwse is to indulge in the acerbty of
unbrided debate! how unwise yield ourselves to the
sway OF the animosites OF party feeling how wrong
it to indulge In those unhappy and hot strites which
often exasperae our feelings and mslead our iudg
ments the discharge OF the high and responsible duties
which we are called to performs How unbecoming,
if presumpous Is in u.s. who the tenants OF an
hour in this earthly abode to wrestle .and struggle to-
gether with violence which would not be justtiable
it were our perpetual home!
In conclusion, sir, while beg leave to express nv
cordial sympahies and sentiments of the deepest condo
lence towards all who stand near relation to him.
trust we shall all be instructed by the eminent virtues
and merits OF his exalted character and be taught by his
lights OF our judgment and the dictates of our own
consciences he did, according to his honest and best
conceptions OF those duties, faithfully and to the last
Mr. WEBSTER. hope the Senate will indulge me
in adding very few words to what has been said NV
apology for this presumption is the very long acquant-
ance which has subssted between Mr. Calhoun and my
self We are OF the same age. | made my first en-
trance into the House of Representatives in May, 1913
there found Mr. Calhoun. He had already been
member of that body for two three years | found
him then active and efficient member of the assem-
bly, 10 which he belonged taking decided part and ex
ercising decided influence in all its deliberations
From that day TO the day OF his death, amidst all
the stes of party and politics, there has subsisIed be-
tween u.s. always, and without interruption, great de-
gree OF personal kindness.
Differing widely on many great questions respecting
the institutions and government OF the country, those
differences never interrupted personal and social in
ercourse have been present at most of the distjn-
guished instances OF the exhibition OF his talents in de-
bate. | have always heard him with pleasure often
with much instruction, not unfrequeny with the highest
degree OF admiration.
Mr.. Calhoun was calculated to be leader in what
soeyer association Of political friends he was thrown
tie was man OF undoubted genius and OF command