The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-07-01

truth is al once our proper duty and our best cosso-
ation Born during the revolutionary struggle, our de-
ceased associate was ot the few remaining puo'
lie men who connect the present generation with the
actors in the trying OF that eyentiu pefioo ana
whose and deeds will soon be known only IN
the history OF their country He was another nsuaioh
and noble one too, OF the glorious equality OF our m
which freely offer all their rewards 10 all VINO
Justly seek them for he was the architect oi nis owl.
fortune, having made his way ia life by sell aeion, ana
he was an early advenurer IN the great iofesl o. me
West, then world of primitive vegetation, but now me
abode OF intelligence and religion, OF prosperity ana CIVIL
zaon But he possessed that intellectual superiority
which overcomes surrounding obstacles, and which local
secusion cannot long withhold from general knowledge
and appreciation Is almost hali century since nc
ment Of Ohio, where was a member OF the iegisla-
uTe, on his way take his place in this very body,
which is now listening 10 this "reminiscences, and 10
feeble tribute Of regard from one who then saw him
for the first me bni who can never forget the impress
he produced by the charms OF his conversation, The
rankness Of his manner and the high qualities with
which he was endowed Since then he has belonged 10
bis country aud has taken part, and prominent part
both in peace and war; in all the great questions affecting
her interest and ber honor and though II has been my
fortune often TO differ from him, yet believe he was as
pure patriot participated IN the councils OF a
nationanxous for the public good, and seeking TO po
mote it during all the vlc,situdes Of long and eventnl
life. That he exercised powerful influence within the
sphere OF his action-and the whole country, indeed
we all feel and know; and we know, too, Inc eminent
endowments which gave him this high distinction.
Frank and fearless in the expression Of his opinions
and in the performance Of his duties; with rare powers OF
eloqueDce, which failed to nvet the attention oil
his auditory, and which always commanded admiration,
when they did not carry conviction prompt ~ de-
cison, and firm in action and with vigorous intellect,
trained in the contests o stirring e and strengthened
by enlarged experience and observations joined wilhal
ardent love OF country and TO great purity oil pur-
posehese The elements OF his power and success
and we dwell upon them with mournill gTai'hcation
now when we shall follow him to the cold and 81
lent tomb where shall commit earth to earth, ashes
ashes, dust TO dust; but with the blessed conviction
of the truth OF that Divine revelation which teaches us
/ III ia and hp
where we shall leave him alone to the mercy o his God
and ours.
He has passed beyond the reach Of human praise or
but the judgment of his contemporaries has pre-
ceded and pronounced the judgment OF history and his
name and fame will shed luslre upon his country, and
will be proudly cherished in the hearts ot his country
and foTciby remembered when these marble columns
that surround us, often the witnesses OF his triumph,
but, in few brief hours, when his mortal frame, des-
poiled OF the immortal spirit, shall rest under this dome
tor the last me become the witnesses OF bis defeat
in that final battle where the mghest fall before the
great Desroycrwhen these marble columns shall them
selves have fallen. like all the works OF man, leaving
their broken fragments tell the story OF former mag
ncence, amid the very ruins which announce decay and
desolaion
| was often with him during his las, Illness when
the world and the things of the world fast fading
away before him. He knew that the silver cord was
almost loosened and that the golden bowl was breaking
at the fountain, but he resigned 10 the will OF
Providence, feeling that He who gave had The right
TO take away IN his own good time and manner Alter
|
ily his first for his country, and bis first
wish for the preservation and perpetuaiion OF the
constitution and the Union, dear TO bim IN the hour
OF death they bad ever been In the veor OF
life-of that constitution and Union whose defence,
the last and greatest Crisis oil their perl, had called
forth all his energies, and had stimulated those memo
rable and powerful exeriions which be who witnessed
can ne forget and which doubt FASTENED the hnal
catastrophe nation now deploes with sincerity and
unanmiy not less honorable TO themselves than 10 the
memory OF the object OF their affections And when we
shall enter that valley through which he has
passed before u.s. and which leads 10 the Judgment seat OF
(iod may be able 10 say through faith in bis Son,
Saviour and 10 the beautiful language oil The hymn
Of the dying Christian-dyng but ever living and Il-
| umphanl--
/" The world recedes-it disappears
Heaven opens my eyesl My ears
Sweet sounds seraphic ring
Oh. Grave, where is Thy victory
Oh, Death, where is thy sting ]"
lie, die the death OF the righteous, and lei my last
end be like his
Mr. HUNTER Mr. President, we have heard, with
deep sensbiity what has Just fallen from the senators
who have preceded We have heard sir the voice
OF kenucky-a upon this occasion she had right 10
speak-n mingled accents OF pride and sorrow; for II
has rarely fallen 10 the lot OF any State to lament the loss
OF such But sir, Virginia, too Is entitled to her
place in this procession for che cannot be supposed to
be unmindul OF the lie which bound her TO The dead.
When the earth opens to receive the mortal part which
she gave man. is then that affection is eager TO bury
in its bosom every recollection but those OF love and
kindness And, sir, when the last sensible tie is about
TO be severed IL s then that we look with anxious in.
tees TO the deeds OF the life and 10 the emanatons OF
the heart and the mind, for those endurW mona.
menis which are the creation OF an immortal nature.
In this instance be al no loss for these This
land, sir is full OF the monuments OF his genius His
memory is mperishable American history ITSELF for
he one Of those who made it. Sir, he belonged TO
that marked class who the men OF their century
Tor il bis good fortune not only To have been
endowed with the capacity do great things but TO have
enjoyed the opportunities OF achieving them ! know,
SIR II has been said and depored that he wanted OF
the advantages OF early education but H. perhaps, has
not been remembered that, in many respects he enjoyed
such opportunities for mental training as can rarely fall TO
the lot OF man. lie had not chance 10 learn much from
books but he had such opportunities Of learning from
men few men have ever enjoyed Sir, IT - TO be
membered that he reared at lime when there was
state OF society in the Commonwealth which gave him
birth such has been there before since
II his early privilege 10 how justice admin
isered by Pendeton and Wythe, with the last OF
whom be in the daily habit OF familiar intercourse
lie had constant opportunities to observe how forensic
questions were managed by Marshall and Wickham
He was old enough, too, to have heard and 10 have
appreciated The eloquence OF Patrick Henry, and o
George Keith Taylor In short, sir, he lived in so
ceiy IN which the examples OF Jefferson, and Madi.
son, and Monroe, living influences, and on which
the setting OF Washington cast the mild eHulgencs
| of IT'S departing rays.
He trained loo, has been well said by the sen
aior from Michigan, LMr. CAss, at period when the
recent revolutionary struggle had given more elevated
tone TO patriotism, and impaired higher public
feeling and 10 public character Such lessons worth
perhaps, more 10 him than the whole encyclopedia o
scholastic learning Not only the circumstance
OF bis early training favorable TO the development OF his
genius, but the theatre upon which he thrown
emneniy propious for It's exercise The circumstance