Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-10

a respect me
ory q the deceased the members Of the Senate viii go
mourning by wearing their left for thirty days.
Ordered That the Secretary of the Senate communicate
TINS resolution to the House of Representatives.
Mr.. EVERETT. Mr. President have been request
ed to second the motion which has just been made by the
Senator from Virginia do with great cheerfulness
IL was my good fortune enjoy the acquaintance of the
late Vice President hope some portion of his
friendly regard-for longer period probably than most
OF those within the sound my yoicea period Of nearly
thirty years Such being the case feel if ought
not to remain silent at this last moment when our rea
tons TO him members of this Senate are by the per-
ormance of this days melancholy duty about to be clos
ed forever.
There is ancient maxim sir founded at once in ms
ce and right feeling which bids us saw nothing but
what is good of the dead" obey this rule in re-
ference to the late Vice President without violating the
most scrupuious dictates Of sincerity say nothing
but what IS good of him, for have heard
any thing but good of him for thirty years that have
known him personally and by reputation.
would hardly be expected of me to attempt to detail
the incidents OF the private life the public of the
late Vice President That duty belongs to Others by whom
II has been or will doubt be appropriately performed
regret, particularly this occasion, the unavoidable
absence OF our colleagues from Alabama 1t is the pro-
vince OF those OF not connected with him by political
associations especially of those nhabtng remote parts
OF our common country to express their cordial concur
renee IN the aeconate praises which have been may
be pronounced by his fellow citizens and neighbors.
Few of the public Of the day had been so init
mately associated with the Senate the late Vice Pres
dent. think he had been a member of the body for
years imam person now belonging TO Besides
this relation of different kind had grown up between
him and the Senate. The Federal Constitution devoves
upon the people, through the medium of the Electoral
Colleges the choice of the presiding officer of this body
But whenever the Senate called to supply the place
temporarily for long of years. and till he ceased
to belong to it, it turned spontaneously to him.
He undoubtedly owed this honor to distinguished quail
hcations for the chair He possessed eminent de-
gree, that quckness of perception that prompness of
decision that familiarity with the now somewhat compli-
rules of Congressional proceedings and that urban
ity of manner which required in presiding officer.
Not claiming although acute and forcble debater
rank with his ustrous contemporaries whom now alas
mention only to deplorewth Calhoun, with Clay
and with Webster, them alphabetically, and who
Will presume to arrange them any other principle
whose unmatched eloquence often shook the walls of
this Senaethe late Vice President possessed
and the highly important talent of controlling with i'm
paraty the storm of debate and moderating between
mighty spirits whose ardent conflicts times to
threaten the stability of the Republic.
In fact, SIR he highly endowed with what Cicero
beautifully commends the boa Senator's prudential the
wisdom of good SENATOR and in his accurate study
and ready application of the rules of parliamentary law
rendered service the country perhaps of the
most brilliant kind but assuredy of secondary mpor
lance There is nothing which distinguishes the great
national to which belong than its aptitude for
government by deliberative assemblies; its willingness
while it asserts the largest liberty of parliamentary right
respect what the Senator from Virginia in another
connexon has called the semposed restrictions of par
iamentary order and do not think it exaggeration
to say that there trait in their character which has
public
ness to the freedom of debate to the honor of the
try will say which has done more to establish
and perpetuate constitutional liberty
The long and faithful Senatorial of the late Vice
President received at last its appropriate reward The
people of the United States having often witnessed the
disposition Of the Senate place him their head and
the dignifed and acceptable in which he bore
himself in that capacity conferred upon him twelve
month since that Office which is shown by repeated and
recent experience to be above the second if actually
the first in their giftthe Office which placed him con-
additionally and permanently during it's continuance in
the chair of the Senate.
mysterious dispensation of Providence has nipped
these browning honors in the bud disease which
the perpetual summer and perumed breeze of the tropics
afforded balm, overlook him at age when he might
in the of nature, have reasonably looked
to still many years of active service Clothed by spe
cial and remarkable act of Congress- while under
foreign Jurisdiction with tho
to enter upon the high office to which he had been elected
he returned not to exercise its functions but seek his
much-loved home, and there die
Thus SIR he has left chase for little while longer
the shadows which he has exchanged for unuterabe
ates. He has left prematurely for every thing
but his spotess name and his entrance the weearn
ed honors of his unambitious And We Senators
for all the interchange of kindness for all the intercourse
Of private e for all the acts of cooperation in pub
lie service to which for at least four years Senate
looking forward in its connexon with him. have nothing
left to offer to his friends and his memory but the
yailng tribute Of this last mournful farewell
second the resolutions Of the Senator from Virginia
Mr. CASS. Mr. President, again has death invaded the
high places Of our land and has taken from us citizen
distinguished by his talents his worth and his services
and enjoying the confidence and affection Of his country
In the providence of God these vsitaons come TO
that exempt from the decree that in life
in the midst of DEATH and that We also ready
is solemn admonon announced to from the cradle
10 the grave by the mighty and the owy they success
svey fall before the great destroyer The lesson the
impressive the higher the position and the more
eminent the character Of him whose departure we may be
called upon to mourn. And when who occupied the
second station in country is summoned from the du
ties Of this life to the responsibility Of that which is to
come the loss is national one the manifestation of
public sympathy and the acknowledgment Of the public
grief should be national also Our amented friend the
late Vice President has been taken from US full of years
indeed and Of honors but in the midst of his usefulness
and when he was just prepared to upon the high
TO which he had been called by the American peo
pie Upon this occasion desire TO do little more than
to express those sentiments Of aectionae regard with
which an acquaintance of many years had inspired me-
leaving TO others, who have this day well fulfilled the
task present those features Of his character and
vices which endeared him his countrymen in f and
will endear to them his memory that the scenes of
life are forever closed upon him.
His career eminently useful and fortunate and in
the whole range OF American statesmen there few
indeed to whom youth better look when seeking
models Of imitation and encouragement, than VIM r. KING
Firm but courteous frank and fearless of high honor
and irreproachable morals he brought vigorous intel
ec and varied and extensive information to the public
councils and the ripe fruit Of his experience Joined to
these endownents gave conviction his opinion and au-
thority to his example We always heard him with at
tenton, for he eucdated every subject he
and brought to discussions the Of his
and experience with manner uDassumnq il was
captivating While loving the State in which he so long
resided and which had given him many proofs Of