Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-08-20
THIRTY-sECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
WAsHINGroN, Aug. ., 1852.
SENATE.

FIRST SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Aug0, 1852.
SENATE
The Senate was called to order at twenty
minutes before ,.
A message was received from the House,
announcing MIR. Rantoul's death.
Mr.. Sumner rose, and sad:-
By formal message Of the House Of Repre-
senatives, we now learn that one Of our asso-
ciates in the public councils has died. ,Onlv
brief day, had almost said hour, has pa: sed
since he was in his accustomed seat-now he
has gone from US forever. lie was my col
league and friend, and yet so sudden has been
the change that no tdings of his illness even
bad reached me before | learned that lie was
alrealy beyond the reach of mortal aid, and
| that the shadows Of the grave had already de-
scended upon him lie died here in Washing
ton, late on Saturday evening, and his earthly
remains, accompanied by the boreaved cOmpan-
ion OF his life, aud Committee OF the House
are now far on their way to Massachusetts,
there to minge his dust with his native SOIL
The occasion does not permit me to speak at
| length OF the character or services Of Mr.. r.
a few words will suffice Nor will the lar
guage of eulogy be required.
lie was born August l3th, 1905, at Beverly,
in the comfy Of Essex, the home of Nathan
| Dane, author OF that imm0ttal ordinance bv
which freedom was made perpetual hairoom
in the broad region OF the northwest. Here
under happy auspices of family and neighboro
hood he commenced life His excellent faith
er, honored for his public services, venerable
also with years and flowing silver locks vet
| lives to mourn his last surviving son; the sad
fortune Of Burke is renewed. lie who shou
! Lave been posterily is now to this father sin
the place of ancestry. Mr.. Rantoul was early
a member of the Legislature of Massachusetts,
and there won mis- first tame. Fol many years
he occupied place in the Board of Education
in that State. lie was also for time Colec-
tor OF the Port of Boston, and afterwards AIT
torney of the United States for Massachusetts
During a briet period lie held seat in this
body, and finally, in 1881, by the choice of his
native district, remarkable for its intelligence
and pubic spirit, he became representative in
the other branch of the National Legislature.
| tn all these spheres he performed most accep.
table service, and the future promised oppor-
tunties of q higher character, to which his
abilities, industry and fidelity would have am-
| ply responded.
| Massachusetts has many arrows in her WELL
stocked quiver, but few could she as Ill spare
/ n,
| Bv original fitness, by study, knowledge and
experience he was formed for public service
but he was no stranger to other pursuits. Ear
| " devoted to the profession of the law, he fol-
/ lowed it with assduty and success. In the
antiquities of our jurisprudence few were more
learned lis arguments at the par were thor
ougn nor was his intelligence, or promptness,
in the emergencies of a trial. easily surpassed
Literature, neglected by many under the pres
sure of professional life, was aways,cuItivated
by him. HIS taste for books was enduring =
he was a constant student. Amidst his mani
fold labors, professional and public. he cher
ished the honorable aspiration OF adding to the
historical productions of his country. A work
On the History Of France, wherein the annals
and character Of that great nation should be
portrayed by an American, had occupied much
of his thoughts. know not If any part was
matured for publication.
The practice of the aw while il sharpen.
the intellect, is too apt to cramp the faculties
within the narrow limits of the form, and re-
strain the genial currents Of the soul. IL had
no such influence on hm. He was reform
er. In the warfare with evil, he was enlisted
early and openly as a soldier for life AS such
he did not hesitate to encounter opposition, ant
to brave obloquy. lis conscience, pure as
goodness, sustained him in every trial, even tina
sharpest Of all, the desertion of friends ant
yet, while earnest in his cause, his zeal was
tempered beyond that Of tue common retormer
He knew the difference between the ideal anC
the actual, and sought, by practical means, il
harmony with the existing public sentiment, l'
promote the public interest, which he had a
heart. tie saw clearly that reform could no
prevail at once, in an hour or day, but that i
would be The slow and certain result of contin
ued labor, testimony, and faith
Determined and tranquil in his own convic
tionS, he had the grace % respect the convic
tions OF others, recognizing in the social ant
political system the essential elements of sta
bilty and progress. lie dscerned at once th
office of the conservative aud the reformer )
but he saw also that blind conservatism wa
not less destructive than blind reform. b
the mingled caution, moderation and earnest
ness oi nlo labor, be seemed often 10 blend tw