Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-08-04

J.. - w alton. Jfs Esq, OF montpelier, was
called upon by the Chairman, and in his usual
brief and eloquent manner pronounced the fol-
loving appropriate eulogy upon the public and
private character of his departed friend;
Yesterday, shortly after receiving the inielli-
gence which has fallen with crushing weight up
on you all, learned that the friends and neigh
bors Of the late Gov. Prime would meet to-day
to express, in an humble manner, the respect for
his memory and the sorrow for his loss, which
they are debarred, by his death in far distant
state, from expressing in the accustomed mode (;
and it was kindly added, that as a personal
friend for many years of your friend, it would be
proper for me to Join with you. | cannot doubt
that the claims Of friendship, no less than the
injunction Of holy writ, enjoin me on this occa.
sion to "wcep with those that weep;" nor that
the confidence, which has often been reposed in
me by Gov. Paine, in matters of the highest i'm
portance to himself to the great oXtorprize in
which he had been long and ardently engaged,
and to the public, requires Of me tribute to his
memory.
need not speak to you Of your loss or your
sonow,--tor you all feel that there is no loss
like your loss, and no sorrow like your sorrow.
need not speak to you Of the personal char
acter Of Gov. Paine-of his integrity, and his
strict regard for what he conceived to be lust
and honorable and fit in all his relations public
and private; nor Of his reputation as man of
busiuess-promp, energetic, enlerpriz.ng in the
highest degree, aud never appalled, by any acci
dents however untoward, or any difficulties how
ever Formidable nor Of his relations to you az
a townsman-as, pre-emincu'ly, the source Of
your prosperity, the leader in every object for
your advancement, and the most ready and the
most hountlful contributor TO all your social, ed
ucational and religious institutions. lie was
born in your immediate neighborhood; be has
spent his life among you; aud though II has ad-
ded keener pang TO your grief that death has
stricken him down, far away from kindred, and
friends, and neghbors with no accustomed
hands TO smooth his dying bed-no accustomed
voice to soothe his dying hours no familiar
friend TO receive his last requests, and no famll-
lar faces TO meet the final beaming of the eye,
and be tn hun " the last of earth,"-it is yet
consolation to remember, that here is a multitude
Of friends, who will ever do Justice to his char
actor, cherish his reputation, and remember with
/ gratitude the services and sacrifices of an ac-
tive, useful and eyentiul life
| need not speak TO you of his character as a
public man--as Chief Magistrate for the brief
term which the late custom of our republican
State has required-or as a participant, out OF
official stations, in public affairs for that char
actor is known to the people, and his reputation
has long been established es one among our
most prominent and promising public men; a
reputation seldom achieved, as he achieved it, at
an early age, and without aspiring to the graces
Of oratory on the one hand, or on the other re-
sorting TO the articles of the demagogue.
will only say on this point what my familiar nc.
quaintance with his political character and course
requires me to say, that as politician he was
remarkably patriotic, pure, high minded and hon
t orable-that his policy ever embraced, as cardi
nal points, the reputation Of the State the pros
perty Of all its institutions, and the welfare OF the
people--and that he delighted to honor sound
principles, true wisdom, and personal integrity,
wherever he found them,-whether in his party,
or out OF il-whether among the old or the
young,-and unhestaungly ayailed himself of
all the advantages which free and genial in
tercourse with men Of such characteristics could
give him. The youngest man, think, in the
Gubernatorial office in the State, | am sure
there was never any man who more highly es-