Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-08-19
g s.asEp Congress, s s':'5
WASHINGTON, Monday, Aug.9.

Treasury, in reply to the resolution Of the
Senate, transmitteiUg a statement Of the
amount of Trust funds remaining in the
Treasury at the close of the last four years,
Also. a communication from the Secretary
of War, in reply to the resolution OF the
Senate, with statement of the cost Of Col.
slructing certain military defences.
Mr.. Butler read a letter from the Secre.
tary of the Interior, correcting some state.
ments made by him (Butler) in the debate
on the subject of the salary Of the Census
Superintendent.
Mr.. Walker presented the petition of the
Mechanics Mutual Protection Society of
New York, in favor Of the Homestead bill.
Mr.. Hamlin offered resolution calling
for copies of all the correspondence with
the Government of Peru, regarding The Lo-
hos Islands, and copy Of the instructions
to the Commander of the U. S. squadron in
that quarter, OIL the subject of vessels load
ing with Guanno at those Islands. Agreed
10.
A message was received from the House,
with resolutions and proceedings on the
death of Mr.. Rantoul.
Mr. Sumner rose and said BY formal
message Of the House Of Representatives,
we now learn that one Of our associates in
public councils has died Only few brief
days, had almost said hours, have passed
since he was in his accustomed seat, now
he is gone from US for ever. He was my
colleague AID friend, and yet so sudden
has been his change, that no tldngs of his
illness even had reached me, before learn.
ed that he was already beyond the reach of
mortal aid or consolation, and that the shad-
ows of the grave had already decended up
on him. He died here in Washington late
on Saturday evening, August 7th, aud his
earthly remains, accompanied by the be-
reaved companion Of his life, with a Com.
mttee of the other House, are now far on
the way to Massachusetts, there to mingle,
dust with dust, with his native soil. The
occasion does not permit Inc to speak at
length of the character or services OF Mr..
Rantoul. A few words will suffice, nor will
the language of eulogy be required. lie
was born August 10, 1915, at Beverly, in
the County Of Essex, the home OF Nathan
Dane, author of the mortal ordinance by
which freedom was made a perpetual heir
loom in the broad region Of the North
West. There under happy auspices Of
family and neighborhood, commenced life:
there his excellent father, honored for his
public services, venerable also with years
aud flowing silver locks, yet lives 10 mourn
his last surviving son, the sad fortune Of
Burke is renewed. He who should have
been as posterity, is now to his Father in
the place Of Ancestry. Mr. Rantonl was
early Member of the Legislature of Mass
achusetts, and there won his first fame. For
many years he occupied a place in the
Board of Education in that State. He was
also for time Collector of the port of Bos-
o1,-and afterwards Attorney of the Uni.
led States, for Massachusetts; during a
short time he held seat in this body, and f.
naIly in 1851 by the choice of his native Dis
lrct, remarkable for its intelligence and
public spirit, he became a Representative
IN the other branch of the National Legs
lature. In all these spheres he performed
most acceptable service, and the future
promised opportunities Of higher character,
to which his abilities, industry and fidelity,
would have amply responded. Massachu,
sets has many arrows in her wel!-stocked
culver, but few cou d she SO i'll spare at this
moment as the servant we now mourn. By
original fitness, by study, knowIed.e and
experience he was formed for public service,
but he was no stranger TO other pursuits
EARLY davnieI IN thn t,P,(asSt,,u ,I ,i,a 7
he followed it with asslduty and success
in the antiquities OF our Jurisprudence, few
were more learned his arguments at the
Bar were thorough nor was his intelleclu-
al promptness in all emergencies of a trial
easily surpassed Literature, NEGLECTED
by many under the pressure Of professional
lte,-was always cultivated by him His
taste for books endurlng-he was con-
slant student. Amidst his manifold labors;
professional and public, he cherished the
honorable aspiration Of adding to the his
torical productions CT his country. A
work on the history of France, wherein tho
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 ever matured for publ
cation.
The practice Of the law, while it sharp
enes the intellect, is too apt to cramp the
faculties within the narrow limits of form,
and to restrain the genial currents of The
soul. 1t had no such influence on him. He
was returmer-n warfare with evil he Ell.
listed early and open as a soldier for life
AS such he did not hesitate to encounter
opposition, to fear obloquy, and to bravo
enmty. His conscience, pure as goodness
sustained him in every trial, even that
sharpcst OF all-the desertion of friends
and yet, while wIrmest in his cause, his
zeal was tempered beyond that ur the COM
mon reformer. He knew well the differ
ence between the ideal and actual, aud
sought by practical means, in harmony with
the existing public sentiment, to promote
the interest which he had at heart. lie saw
clearly that reform could not prevail at once,
IN an hour, or day; but that it would be
the slow and certain result of constant
labor, testimony and faith determined
and Tranquil in his own convictions, he
mad tho grace to respect the convictions of
others Recognizing in the social and POI
itIcaI system, the essential elements OF sta
b'lty and progress, he discerned at once
the office of conservative and the reGormer
out he saw also that blind conservatism
was not less destructive than blind reform.
ny the mingled caution, moderation, and
earnestnesS OF his labors, he seemed often
TO blend two characters in one, and to be
at the same time Reforming Conservative
ana Conservative Reformer. | might
speak OF his devotion to public improve
men' OF all kinds particularly to the .ys-
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