The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-17
THIRTY-SECOND. CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
SATURDAY, January Is, 1853.
SENATE.
DEATH OF THE HON. WIN. upHAM.

SENATE.
DEATH OF THE HON. WIN. uPHAM.
Mr.. FOOT. Nh. PREslDENr: rise to perform
melancholy duty this morning in formally an
nouncng to the Senate the sad intelligence OF the
decease of one Of the elder members of this BODY.
My colleague, the Hon. VIM. UPHAM, expired at
his lodgings in this city at about the hour OF two
O'Clock yesterday evening, after distressing
liness of some days, at the age OF sixty years
This is the first instance that Senator from YER
mont has deceased during his official term sNa
Mr. UPHAM was a native of the town of Leices.
ter, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
whence he removed at an early age to the State of
Vermont. He settled and commenced the practice
of the profession of law at Montpelier, the capital
of the State, which has been the place of his resi-
dence and the home of his family to the present
time. An extensive and succ essul business at the
bar OF his own and the adjoining counties coon re
warded his professional labors By his ability his
energy, and his perseyering devotion to the pro-
fesson of his choice and hs pride, he attained an
envlabie distinction upon forum which counted
upon the list of it's champions the name of Pren-
tiss, Chase, Mattocks, and others of high emf
nence as advocates and jursts In addition to care
full and laborous research, he was accustomed in
a remarkable degree to bring the utmost energies
OF his mind and the enthusiasm OF bis spirit to the
cause of his clients. His legal counsels and aid
were especially sought by those upon whom the
hand of adversely and want had fallen, and with
equal readiness and zeal he espoused the cause OF
the friendless and penniless sutton as Of him who
could count him down rich reward. NO man
who sought his advice and assistance in a just
cause ever turned aside from considerations
of his pecuniary indulgence. He adopted his cause
and made it his own. His reward was in the CON
sciousness Of duty done, OF rights yindicated, Of
wrongs redressed. ~.
ME-. UPHAM repeatedly represented the town of
Montpelier in the popular branch of the State LIE
gisature. There he always took prominent and
leading part in the discussions upon the various
questions Of public or private interest which were
brought to the consideration of that body. In
1912 Mr.. UPHAM was elected by the Legislature
of his adopted State to scat in the Senate of the
United States In lS4S he received the endorsement
of the approval of his constituency q faithful
public servant, by re election for an additional
term Of six years, scarcely half of which is passed
away when he is summoned to another and higher
and more awful tribunal. His impaired state Of
health for some years past has restrained him from
participating so generally and 30 actively in the
discussions of this body as his inclination might
otherwise haveinduced him to do, his ability as
spublic debater might perhaps have demanded of
him. Nevertheless, his speeches upon several i'm
portant and exciting public questions bear the pc
cnar impress Of his earnestness, his research, his
ability, and his patriotic devotion to the best inter
ests of his constituents striking illustration 10
furnished of his fidelity to The trust committed to
him, and of his constant and patient attention to
his public duties. here in the fact which have
from his own mouth, that, during the ten years of
his service in this body, he has never absented
himself from the city of Washington for single
day while Congress was in session, and has never
failed, when the condition of his health would per-
during the sttings of the Senate. And may add
that he has often Gene here when prudent regard
for his physical condition would have detained
him at his private lodgings. -,.. L. Do. ..,-.
Mr. UPHAM was emphatlcaily the artificer Of
his own fortunes. He owed nothing to the facti-
tous circumstances of wealth or patronage. He
rose to his high position by his own energies, his
own unaded efforts; thus furnishing another and
beautiful illustration of the operation of the ge-
Mus of our institutions in that they open the path
way 10 station end honor alike to all, and no favor
ties recognised other than the votaries at the
shrine of justice, of honor, and of patriotism. rr
During the illness OF my late colleague, the esh-
mabe companion of his youth summoned
from her distant home to attend at his sick bed
eide. His last and dying hours were solaced by
the presence and by the watchfdl and affectionate
of Der who had been the lace OF his life, and
which none but such an one knows how to be-
stow Bot not care, tears, nor affection; not
pending blow. 1t has fallen suddenly; it has fall
in unexpected hour; it has fallen heavily
upon all of u.s. but most of all upon, an interest
ing, and till row cheerful and hopeful and happy
domestic circle. What hearts it has crushed,
what ties of iond affection it has severed, what
hopes it has bhghted, cannot, may not attempt
to depict may not draw aside the veil which
conceals in sacred secIusion the outpourings Of
private grief. May He who has dec AIRED that He
will be the widows God and father to the father
less, show mercy and forget not kindness in this
time of his severe cbastisementt 80 ~ r,..-
And Mr.. President, while one and another,
and yet another of cur associates in this ceun.il
chamber of the nation is stricken from our midst
by the hand of death, we are all impressively ad-
Inonished of the fraitylof human honors and the
vanity of human hopes w e are solemnly admon
ished to be also ready when the master calls And
happy will it be for us if hopes of acceptance
shall prove as sure and eteadfast anchor to our
souls in that dread hour hch must come upon
ALL when the world and it's worthessness shall
recede from our sinking views 49, III
He submitted the following resolutions: ]
RESOLVED, That the members of the Senate, from
a sincere desire to show every mark of respect to
the memory Of the Hon. WILLIAM UrHAN, late
Senator from Vermont, will go into mourning for
one month by the usual mode OF wearing crapeo on
the left arm. l5-- = ga --.4" ,.E- gs.-.s-.
Resolped, That when she relatives of the de-
ceased may desire to remove bis remains to the
State of Vermont, they be attended by the ser
geant-at- arms and committee of Senator's to be
appointed By the President of the Senate. II
ResOlUea, That further mark. of respect the |
Senate do now adjourn. g.-g-s--. s5J 10 zl29l. n
Ordered, That the Secretary communicate these |
proceedings to the House of Representatives. 81
MIR. SEWARD. Mr. PREsIDEHT: How true it |
ia that every day we spend here brings some fresh
event to impress upon our minds the fraternity OF
the States and the OF the Repcb,
nc. we began the week with surveying our inter-
ests in the Caribbean sea-; we went from thence to
ZaEline the defenco5 Of the youngest member OF
the Union on the Pacific coast ind now, at the
end, we are a Welt Of coincidence to the eldest
of the adopted States in her eastern mountain
home. 0a- II --.--- se4z Il-ss.s s---1 sE-a
Last Summer stood beside the grave2of Ethan
Allen the shore OF Lake Champlaln Ihe ilght-s
Ming had desCended-and riven the native marble
slab which covered it, nature herself had been
willing TO mark her appreciation of the free yet
turbulent character of the founder ofVermont and
captor OF Fconderoga. But sherudeness and tor. 4
buIenee fthe earlier age of Vermont have passed
away, while her intelligence and love of freedom
remain, inefeased and refined by art and lesrn
ing. SI-as &@f- 5s.--s ,s.-5,i.o2 ,-- ,-s.3-2 1E.a
WILLIAM UPHAM was of Vermont-a consistent
exponent of her insttutions-the most equal insh
tutions enjoyed by man in this country and in the
world. He was man of strong and vigorous
Judgment, which acted always by process OF sound
inductive reasoning, and all Of his comPeers here
will bear witness that he was equal to the varied
and vast responsibilities of the Senatorial trust.
He plain, unazsuming, unosentatious man.
He never spoke for display, but always for con-
viction. He was honest and Just man. He had 4
gotten nothing by fraud or guile; and SO he lived
without any fear of losing whatever of fortune or
position he had obtained. No gate was so strong, 1
no lock SO fast firm the watch he kept against
the approach of corruption, even undue influ-
spce or persuasion He exacted little for his own
State but like her he was liberal to all Others
His national policy wac the increase Of industry,
the cultivation of peace and the patronage of i'm
provements. He adopted his opinions without re-
gard to their popularity, and he never stlfed his
Convictions Of truth suppressed their utterance
fear oil action from below nor mower