The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-09
Tribute Of Respect 10 Tie Memory Of Lisutenant
Commanding Wm- r. Macarthur, Uaiied

OF the death al Panama, on the 23d December
last, Of Lieutenant Commanding VIM. p McAk-
rHuR, U: s. ~, Assistant in the Coast Survey,
the civilians aud officers of the Army and NAVY
met at the Office, on Wednesday, the 9Th instant
to pay the tribute OF respect due to his memory
The meeting being called to order,
On motion Of Lieut.. CHAs. III. McBLArR, u. s. N.
seconded by Lieut.. maxwell Woodruff, u s
NJ, ALExASDER Dallas BAcHE, L. l.. D., Su
perntendant, was called TO the Chair, and Lieut.
THoRNros JENKINS, U. s. N, appointed Secre
rotary.
Professor BAonr addressed the meeting as fol
lows:
i We are met here, as you all know, to pay
melancholy tribute Of friendship and respect tc
one who dear to US ALL dear as brother tl
many of us. Instead ofgreeiing his arrival among
us, as we had fondly hoped, IN health, ir the full
Hush OF success, We meet TO mourn over his loss
from our band.
The work which he accomplished will live for
ever. Surrounded by circumstances the most diff
hcult perhaps which ever tried the constancy, the
Judgment, the resources Of any photographer, he
/ vanquished circumstances. His reconnaissance
OF the western coast, from Monterey to Colunl-
bla river, and his preliminary survey there, were
made IN spite of desertion and even mutiny, n de-
spite OF the madequacy of means to meet the truly
! extraordinary circumstances of the country. Hap
py that in his officers he had friends devoted to
him and to their duties; especially happy in the
officer next to him in the responsibilities Of the
work.
Frustrated by an attack OF fever of malignant
type, contracted while preparing his vessel for
Lieut.. Macarthur, nevertheless, persisted in vol
unteerng for the charge Of the photographic party
| on the western coast. A subsequent relapse did
not abate his determination to enter as pioneer
upon this arduous service, trying alike to his
powers of mind and body. Steady in the midst
of excitement, he laid his plans in the way to
command success. Selling the peculiar wants Of
the photography Of that coast, he applied all his
energies to supply them. The gratitude Of his
fellow-ctizens, them is already his, the praise Of
| new country, the resources Of which he has
aided in developing.
| He has been called away just his wishes
were realized ample means furnished, and the
first and worst difficulties overcome. In his letter
and report, he urged strongly the necessity for
largsd appropriations, and for steam vessel for
the photography. This last letter from this Office,
brought ihim news that both his wishes were
grathed, and called him home to make the
larged arrangements for continuing his work.
The arrival of Mr.. Cults, with instructions as
late as the beginning Of October, confirmed the
necessity of his return, and he took passage in
the steamer Oregon, commanded by his friend,
| Lieut.. Patterson.
| An attack Of dysentery Frustrated him COM
pletey, and from this, in spite of the best medical
attendance, of such nursing and attendance as
only the circumstances TO which have referred
could insure, he rallied but for time, and sunk
to his final rest before he could be landed at Pa
| mama His remains were consigned to foreign
| soil, to be brought, let us hope, 10 his country,
where all his affection centred.
He has not lived in vain. His name will ever
be bright in the annals Of our survey, whether in
the more usual labors on the Atlantic Coast or as
the pioneer on the shores Of the Pacific always
advancing as life advanced the last his browning
| work.
PRorEsseR BAcHE having concluded his re-
marks, Lieut.. Washington A. Bartlett, U. s. N.
| arose and said I:
Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen After the appro-
pirate and feeling remarks of the chairman, it is
unnecessary for me to add more than to say that
when left Capt. Macarthur on the western coast,
he was in excellent health and buoyant spirits in
view ofwhat had been and what he hoped yet to
| accomplish. II was my good fortune to be long
associated with him, and that association caused
me TO love him as brother. Twill not detain you,
but offer the following resolutions for your con-
sideraton
| /. RrsoIued, That the civilians and officers Of
the army and navy engaged in the U. S. Coast
Survey, now assembled in Washington, have re-
ceved with feelings of deep emotion the mean-
choly intelligence ofthe death Of Lieut.. Command
ing, WV. P. MACARTHUR, U. s. Navy, assistant
in the Coast Survey, and that in his sudden and
unexpected decease, the Navy has lost one of il
most gallant and accomplished officers and tho
Coast Survey one of its most jealous and efficient
laborers.
| g. RESOLVED, That the successful reconnaissance
Of the Western Coast of the United States from
Monterey to Columbia river, and the preliminary
survey Of the entrance to the Columbia, &C
complished under the most peculiar and extraor-
binary difficulties, while they proofs Of his un-
conquerable energy, determination and skill, have
forever identified the name of VIM. P. Macarthur
with the progress of the Republic in the West
| 3. Resolred, That we most sincerely sympha-
thise with the bereaved and afflicted family Of our
generous and warm-hearted friend, in their ire
parable loss, and commend the widow and or
phans to the gratitude of the Republic, to whose
service the husband and father was 80 ardentIy
devoted throughouthi his life.
! A. Resolved, That Prof. A. D. Bache, Supt. u.
s. Coast Survey, Brevet Major ]. J. Stevens, u.
s. Eng, Lieut.. M. Woodruff, U. S. NJ, Mr.. J.
J. Ricketts,, U. s. Coast Survey, and Pass d. Mid.
r. M. CuyIer, u. s. NJ, be committee to take the
necessary measures to have erected in the Congres
sional burying ground, a suitable monument, CON-
memoratiye of the services and virtues Of the de-
| ceased.
| 5. Resolrsd, That copy Of these resolutions
| be communicated to the Navy and Treasury De-
partments, with request that they be placed on
the files, and also to the family of the deceased,
and that they be published.
| g. Resolved, That the officers Of the Coast
Survey will wear badge Of mourning for thirty
days, in further testimony of their regard for the
memory Of the late Lieut.. Cong, WIN. p.
McARTHuR.
Major STEVENS, IN seconding the resolutions,
addressed the meeting as follows
rise, Mr.. Chairman, in the name Of one ofthe
coordinate services associated on duty here, to
pay tribute to thememory of Lieut.. MACARTHUR.
can add nothing to the remarks that have al
ready been made. simply propose to pay a
tribute of feeling and respect.
II was not my fortune to know Lieut.. McARTH
UR personally. But feel that know him through
his works. They hold up his character as worthy
Of all respect md admiration. In prosecuting his
labors on the Pacific shore, he exhibited con
stancy, an energy and rare force of command
I which enabled him to triumph over almost insult
ferable difficulties. These qualities would have
made him conspicuous in any career He pos
sesscd all the elements Of the heroic spirit. Trials
which bowed down the strength Of strong men,
give his feeble frame almost super human strength.
And he accomplished in the midst Of sickness and
physical depression, Of mutiny and desertion, la
bors that those most highly favored by health
and appliances, would have shrunk from. His
example appeals to us with irresistible force
How can we yield to despondencv, witnessing his
lion heart accomplishing its great purposes, Civ
ing vigor to worn out frame, and snatching sue