The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-10
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at IL o'clock a. m. Prayer by
the Rev G. NJ. BurLER. Chaplain OF the Senate.
The Journa! OF Saturday was read and approved.
Mr.. MANN said: Mr.. Speaker, rise to perform
the melancholy service Of announcing the death
OF the Hon. RoBERr RANroUL, IT,, late q member
of the Massachu sets delegation in this House, who
expired at his lodgings in this city on Saturday
evening last, at half past ten O'Clock.
Mr.. RANTouL's illness very brief; his death,
until short time before he breathcd his last,
wholly unexpected. He in his seat here on
Tuesday last, and though the death mark of his
disease was then upon him, yet he walked home
as usual, forebodng no ill. No prophetic glimpse
was vouchsafed to him that his final hour was so
near at hand. When he returned home and shut
the door Of his dwelling he little thought he bad
looked upon this fair and beautiful outward world
FOR the last time; when he retired to his chamber
he little dreamed that he should never walk forth
from it again; but the stern enemy pursued him
and now the narrower door and the closer apart.
ment of the coffin and the tomb have hidden him
from US forever.
The disease of which Mr.. RANroUL died was the
erysIpeas-often, us in this case, a terrible form
OF death, for it disturbs and deranges the opera
tions Of the mind before it subdues the body The
malady had not made great advances with him
before 1t attacked his brain, accompanied by the
usual consequences Of an inflammation and de-
rangement Of that organ. Death seems armed
with sufficient terrurs when we can meet it with
unc!ouded intellect. and with q heart resigned to
the will Of God; but certainly those terrurs are
inconceivaby magnihed when, az one of the con-
comitants OF the disease, the mind losCs is erect.
meas and equipose and the laws of its action and
motion are suspended; when the thoughts and
memories, and the images of external objects
which the senses convey to the brain are mingled
in wild confusion together, and the soul has no
home but TO wander up and dow amid this chaos.
How different from that state Of peace and Joy and
trust in which every man hopes to meet the final
hour; and does every truly cane man take
measures for the realizat ton OF his hopes9
Yet Mr.. RANrouL, even amid the agones of his
disease, had lucid intervals. There were convic
ti"ns in his mind 80 deep seated, and affections in
his heart 60 strong, as to stand upmoved by any
tempest of delirium. On being telegraphed re-
specting the illness of her husband, his devoted and
excellent lady, then in Massachusetts, FASTENED to
his succor. She arrived here at six o'clock on the
morning of the day be died. Instantly her voice
wooed back consciousness and reason. He seized
her hand in his, and held it TIL he brea thed his last
Even when this mind wandered bis grasp of aff.c
ton was unclcnchcd. Death only relaxed it,
The swelling Of the disease had closed his eyes
and il was beyond the power of muscular contrac.
ton to open them. He desired to have them open.
ed by mechanical means, that he nigh once more
behold the features and the face whence, for more
than twenty years, the light Of love had shone
down into his heart. Thank God sir, that, amid all
the attentions and strifes and hostilit,cs which
seem sometimes to flow out Of the human boom as
though II were their natural fountain, there are
also affections, sympathes tendernesses and loves
which are inseparable from il; allied to it by a
more congenal affinity; and which always
may md there, g close, as green to the verdant
Mr.. RANroUL was born in Beverly, Massachu.
setts, August 1905. Had he lived until next Friday
he would then be forty seven years old. He en-.
tered Harvard University at the age of eighteen,
and was graduated in 1926, Hc studied Ia at fret
with Mr.. John Pickering, OF Salem, who exempli.
fed in his profession the largest meaning OF the
word laD lie did not consider the law arbi.
trary or artificial scheme vi forms and precedents,
but as great system OF justice and truth-of God
ordained principles on which alone and by which
alone human society and human welfare can be
Upheld and advanced; nor az an art or device
by which To get living, but a science by " hich
to guide all life. After Mr.. Pickerine's removal
to Boston Mr.. RANToUL was in the office Of the
Hon. Levereu Saonstall, who once a member
Of this House He was admitted to the bar in 1929.
MIR. RA NToC soon became man of mark. In
1894 he was elected to the Massachusetts, House of
Represt ntItivcs, from the town or gloucester,
where he then resided; and from that time till bis
death he filled many pubic offices, both Of politi
cal and Of an honorary nature. In lS43 he was
made collector OF the port Of Boston. In 1915 he
was appointed United States District Attorney for
Massac husets. the responsible duties OF which Of
fce be performed in avery able manner for about
four years. In 1851 he was erected a Senator OF
the United States, by the Legislature of Mas1achu
scts, to complete an unexpired term; and he was
chorrn, 10y very large ma 'rity OF the people
among whom he had always lived, and who knew
him beet, To the scat in this House now 80 sudden
ly and az nourntuily made vacant
But MIR RAsroUL found time, and possessed taste
and aptitude for other serviCes besides those Of
e'"hJ poht''"i Ut pfolesslonai CnaTaceT. Eis
natural instincts anu moral culture led him to
engage in worthier and nobler occupations. He
wac, certainly for very many years, and be-
lievc during all the active part Of his life,
earnest, devoted temperance man, a temperance
advocate and lecturer, leaving home and the
einoluments Of his profession to visit and
traverse distant parts Of the State to preach the
gospel Of this great reformation. To him, among
others, is Massachusetts indebted for her present
advanced position in this world. renovatyng enter.
prise-an enterprise which, If successful, will en-
large the Imprisoned angels Of joy whose home