Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-14

judicial than forensic Logic predomnated over rhetoric
Words were his counters not his coin. The spectator
less struck by the glitter Of his bate-axe than
by the precision Of its blow. He was of too kindly
nature TO generate much satire yet against oppression
and fraud he could be Either consciously
consciously he recognised the great truth that moral
being can see virtue and vice they are and the eternal
antagonism between them, and love the former without
hating the latter He who thinks il his duty look
placenty upon wrong mistakes orpidy of conscience
for charity.
his original cast of mndnot snowy but solid ga
thered for ostentation but for There depth
enough IN his stream OF thought make Of braw
ing ryuets In promiscuous company while the
saon roamed and oated over the evties Of literature
the iyoties of history have known him to sit by the
hour almost dumb but when the conversation struck
into the depth and heart of things when it discussed the
great events that join and artculate the history and for
tunes of mankind then suddenly it became his turn to
shine and he would set forth his principles and march
up his close battaa of facts and arguments for their
port till the rash disputant who encountered him would
require library OF books and months Of time to study
up to his positions
So far my knowledge extends, am not aware that
any mputation of personal dishonor dishonesty
rested for an hour upon his name which, for
extensively engaged in business and in politics he was
is the highest certificate of his being that "noblest work
of God y honest For years knew him WELL and
him frequently, and, though differing from him on
many points yet have said to his opponents thousand
times, and say it to the world believed him to
be honest and sincere. political man should not be
condemned without some great, rreragable, luminous
proof Of his blameworthness; and surely such can
be alleged against Mr. Rantoul.
But sir will pursue these remarks each sentence
Of which is fresh remembrancer of loss. In the
vgor of his manhood his disciplined faculties all ready
and eager for effort his stores of knowledge wonderfully
full his fame already bright and high, though not yet
eliminated, he has been suddenly stricken down. do not
say that this procams to the vanity and
of e for that is doctrine do not believe; but do not
its admontons strike with voice loud the heart
as ne ear.
acts Of duty and beneyoence which survive the actor and
whose effects 60 widening and deepening in an unend
ing progression of benecence after have departed that
give true dignity and beauty and nobeness to our
transtory existence upon earth? IT, believe, death
is but event in life Book of Judgment, our
wards and penalties in another world may at least partly
consist in behodng the consequences then ated and
memorable, of our former conduct
While remembering the widow and the orphan sons of
the deceased there venerable form in that group of
family mourners who must not be forgotten Mr. Rantoul
the senior is gentleman Of than three and
ten years. of great worth and excellence of private cha
racter for many years n member of branch the
other of State Legislature and universally respected
Of his eight children six have gone before him. Our
friend, my colleague, his only surviving In
such truly may be said, It's the survivor dies
lone and solitary parent bereft of his children, has
been compared to aged tree stripped of its foliage
and its limbs and casting its shade by its trunk and not
by its branches
"Trunco, non frondibus efHcit umbram."
Oh may the spirit of God descend with healing when
this last perces that aged heart!
Mr.. Speaker, the adoption of the following
solutions
Resoced That this House has received with deep sensib
the of the death of the Hon. ROBERT RAN
TouL , member of this House from the State of Massa
chusetts.
esooed That this House tenders to the family the
ceased the expression of its sympathy this affecting
and testimony Of respect for his memory the members
and officers of this House will the usual badge of mourn
ing for thirty days.
Resoed That the Clerk Of this House be directed
municate copy of these proceedings the family Of the
deceased, and also to the Senate
Resored That further testimony of respect for the de-
ceased, this House do adjourn.
Messrs. FOWLER, McLANAHAN, MACE, and CLARKE
severay addressed the House in euogstc of the
private character and public services of the deceased
The question taken upon the several resolutions,
and they unanimously adopted.
The House then adjourned.