The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-01-26
Remarks OF MIR. Meacham,

~ tHc ffO"ot " htUFtStNtdttto, Jun
Is, 1853, on tic dcath Of nv. Upham.
Resolutions appropriate to the occa
sion having been offered by Mr.. MINER,
prefaced with suitable remarks, Mr..
MEAcHAM said
/ have just received q note from
my colleague, Mr.. BARTLETT the
immediate Representative of our de-
ceased Senator, stating that on ac-
count of sickness, he will not be able
to be present and take a part in these
exercises.
therefore rise TO second the mo-
ton which has been made, but not to
add anything in regard to the character
or history Of the deceased. My col
league, Mr.. MINER, ] from his person.
al and his professional intercourse at
home, and from his social intimacy
with the deceased Senator and his
family while here, has been peculiarly
qualified to discharge this duty, which
lie has done faithfully and fully.
The remark, in regard to the num-
Der of persons who have died during
the present Congress, has brought to
my mind comparison which l have
been accustomed to make, without any
detailed examination of facts, as to the
mortality Of eminent men in the first
two or three years of the decade COM
mencing in 1910, and the one COM
mencing in 1850 ; and especially of
the eminent men who have been con-
nected with the Government Of the
Unit.d States.
In the first of these there was the
loss of an unusual number of men,
bers of this House in the latter one,
an unusual number of the members
of the Senate, and of the most emil
nent men ever connected with that
body, following the general rule, which
| believe is an universal rule in the
history of the world, that great men
come and go in schools.
In both of these cases we have lost,
believe, two Judges Of the Supreme
Court. III each Of them VIC have lost
two eminent Secretaries Of State. In
both of them VIC have lost a President
of the United States. In the former
period we lost an acting Vice Presi-
dent. and | trust in God the parallel
will not be completed.
During both Of these periods there
has scarce been department of the
Government that has not sent on its
representative to the congregation Of
the dead and now in this latter peri
cd, while the dcath-knell is pealing all
over the land, it has reached and star.
tied the people of my own State, in
announcing the death, sudden and an
expected, of one of her Senators in
Congress.
do not propose, as | before stated,
to speak of the merits, the character,
or the history of the dead but !
would, if it were possible, convey to a
family, an esteemed and worthy fami-
ly-a worthy wife and worthy children
some consolation in this ocular and
trying affection.
l believe it is common for every one
when they are tried by affection, tc
say, "There are no sorrows like unto
my sorrows." But there are peculiar
circumstances connected with this case
which all will deem affective.
There have been very different SEN
timents among different nations in re-
gard to the treatment they should give
to the remains of the dead. At one
time an effort was made to embalm the
dead, in order to preserve every tca
ture, every lingering lineament of th'
countenancc, as it was when living
At another, the exact reverse Of Thu
was pursued, and instead of attemptin;
to preserve the feature or form, even
they have burned the body, and urnet
only the ashes for preservation.
The sentiment of our Saxon race il
entirely different from either. Thcil
sentiment and their wish is, that wheI
the family die, they may be gathereC
together in one group, in the SAM
graveyard and whether it may be il
a marble tomb above, in the peaceful
and powerful grave beneath tn
ground, that they may lie. side b,
side, where only " a few feet of sullel
earth divides each winding sheet"
1t is in accordance with sentiment
known to be universal, that Congress
has so often, and | believe so justly
sent an escort of its own members l.
the home of affectionate relatives wit
the remains of the departed associate
1t is for this cause that you see S
many of these mute and graveles
monuments in your Congressiona
burying-ground.
This, | deem it. is the educate,
craving of our nature. We need it
ard we must have it, and notwithstand
ing the disposition of the America
branch of this race to roam over tn
T world, they never lose, in any part G
that world, this strong feeling, as if j
were the instinct Of nature. l believ
al this hour that there is many a
American, smitten with disease on
foreign soil, who is lifting up his onl
prayer to the Eternal that he may re
! turn to his home. not simply to die i