The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-15

ne WAS not engaged The power OF his eloquence was
spoke the courthouse often thronged and none Il
tened without tribute OF admiration.
Inc oar Of Rhode Island about that time In proportion
us members was as eminent 81 any in the United State
David Howell, afterwards District Judge of the Unit
States Court, was among the number. Mr. Howell was
thorough lawyer, fine scholar and well versed in Il
liberal sciences. James BurIi Jr WAS member of n
same bar, and was acknowledged to be at its hes
The members of the Providence bar requested Mr. Barg
in January, 1871, to pronounce his eulogy. II
complied, and his production that occasion
a choice specimen of peculiar kind OF writiu
aectionate and fully cSmprehensi " IN It's views
friend. In its delivery, Mr. Burgess was, perhaps, md
successful in exciting delicate feeling than he had e
been on any previous OCCASION This may be attrbutd
in part to the theme and the grief pervading that o6
nunity of which Mr. Burr had SO lately been the pr
and ornament.
Besides the two eminent lawyers above mention(
who aouri he'd at the Rhode Island bar when Burd
commenced his legal career may add, as able pr}
titioners the names of Asher Robbins, William Hunt
and Nathaniel searle. With such men Mr.. Burgess ss|
ciated and side by sde they contended for profession
honor.
During the latter part of Jeffersons adminstrati
Mr. Burgess began to take active part in polit|
discussion. 1t was about the time of the enactment
the celebrated embargo law, and the conspiI
and opponent of the measures of Mr. JefY rson were Id
afterwards in the memory Of those who listened to
eoquence in those times. He was generally present
public meetings called by the federalists ard on md
occasions made enthusiastic and successful address,
He was usually requested to draw up resolutions
memorials upon the political topics Of the day. T,
were remarka Die for racy sentences and spirited appel
But his attention not confined to law and poltl
The ordinary business of the day finished he was acc
ture and the study Of the great models of ancient
| tory. Besides his professional abors he contrbu|
argely to the periodical press, and by essays
| qured considerable reputation He also delivered I
ions before various societies, which were highly q
mended anf widely circulated
Having been elected of the Representa-
l in Inn raf d..
| ook his seat in the General Assembly of Ri
| lslard and eeleeted for the following
ion. But the calls of his profession, and the pecu
state of parties at that time compelled him to retire
the Legislature. From this period until 1917 he purs
| with diligence the practice of his profession. In
month Of Nay of that year he e., was appointed Chief
Burril who had been elected United States Senator
| the discharge Of his duties as judge, Mr.. Burgess
i learned prompt and courteOus-commanding pee
his talents and adjoining the judicial annals of the st
This Office, however, he held but one year. for the de
cratic party gained the ascendancy, and removed
| from the bench; afording q striking illustration Of
fslly and insecurity Of annual appointments Of judges
then practised in Rhode Island. He immediately
suned his practice, and year after year aded to his
At that time growing interest in oratory and b
lettres felt in Brown University. The popularity
Mr.. Burgess. orator and writer induced the fac
to elect him Professor of Oratory and Bellies Lettr
that ancient institution The duties of the professorshi
he had performed with the same ability and enthus
| displayed in other matters. During the period Of
l
that the commencement exercises at Providence wer
puted to be superior to those Of any university in
country. The lectures which he delivered were ext
poraneous and were fine specimens Of the art whic
teaching His election to Congress, and law ena
by the corporation obliged him to abandon the Profe
ship after having devoted several years TO his duties
The friends Of Mr.. Burgess desired to see him in
Congress Of the United States, that his great abi
might be extended in wider sphere, and the
| known. But they could not with any confidence of
solicit the sufirages of the people, account Of
spirit Of partzanshp, and the prejudces felt agains
prominent men Of the federal party, after the q
guishment of it's power in Rhode island. Preju|
which had survived for long period at last
gan to abate, and the attention Of many
| forward Mr. Burgess for Representative in Cong
| In July, 1925, the personal friends of Mr. BIZ
nominated him Q candidate against Mr.. Eddy,
had been several years in Congress. violent col
vcrsy arose. which continued until the day of
| ton Every frivolous objection was urged against
| claims of Mr.. Burgess, but he trumphed over all,
chosen by q considerable majority. At the
time Mr.. Dutee J. Pearce elected as his colleague
they served together the Representatives from r
Island being continued ten years. by five successive
| tons by the people,
In December 1925, Mr. Burgess first took his Sc
| Congress- He had accepted the honorable trust wi
new, enlarged and important sphere Of duty. He
surrounded by the talent, patriotism, and experen
statesmen and legislators. The House of Representa-
| individuals Webster there, and Sergeant,
| ingston McDunie, and Everett. 1t no con
effort to meet such men in debate, in the contests
/ triotsm and in all measures to promote the nat
veal Mr.. Burgess conscious that perseverance,
dustry and ambition must be actively exercised in
extensive field of intellectual trial, and well aware
i no man of limited capacity excel in the Congr{
| the United States. How well the distinguished
| Islander acquitted himself the annals of Congress
| during period of ten years He took the hi
rank debater, and on all questions of important
| participated with zeal and entt usasm. He q
supporter of the administration of John Quincy Ad
| and afterwards most decided opponent of that of
i Congress- q
| Buren, as President
In January, 1888, Mr.. Burgess submitted bill al
| port, chairman of the Committee Pensions,
| claims Of the surviving officers of the Revoluti(
army. He addressed the House in a brilliant spec
that subject He desired that law should be pass
| the Revolutionary soldiers considerable in am
| and more extensive in application, than that
| finally prevailed. He wished to provide not only fo
| surviving officers and soldiers of the Revolution, b.
| the widows of those who had died before the pass
| the law.
On the subject of the tariff, in which his constit
were deeply interested, Mr.. Burgess WAS always res
| debate and argument, being decided advocate TO
| tecting duties on imports. He made many speech
reply to the opponents Of protection, among whom
/ Messrs McDufie, Wickiffe, and Daniel Some of
speeches remarkable for their sarcastic wit,
nuity, and SPICY eloquence In 1879 he made pov
speech on the question of the claim of NJ. D'Auteri
louisiana for pay for injury done to slave, and for
| ical attendance upon him. This slave was
| ed at the defence Of New Orleans, in Jan
1915. Mr. Burgess opposed the claim,
| most of the members from the Northern s
| Mr.. Everett, however, acted with the Southern me
on this OCCASION and made an able argument in ia
| the claim. When Mr. Bruges concluded the argument
claim ofD'Auterive admiration pervaded the hole
| bly, Although men Of commanding talents mingled
debate, yet Mr.. Barges was among the first in the
OF oratory the ence of government and varied lea
The South had been vi, lent the North endeavored
suage the angry elements by argument and persu
1t was then Mr.. Burgess spoke, and invoked the sp
patriotism o come the House and dwell there
the sanctuary Of freedom might be protected II
element on the occasion orig nated in misapprehd
OF Southern members with regard to the opinions Of
| from the North but nothing important grew out
| discussion in Congress.
John Randolph, Of Virginia, having been
United States Senator returned to the House of Rep
tatives in lie cmbor, 1927 In the of the 50
he interrupted Mr. Burgess in speech the tariff
made use of some very sarcastic remarks him
New England Randolph was accustomed in his speec
ridicule New England men and measures, and it wa
often that member found who was willing d
| the risk OF replying to him. He than met wi
match in Mr.. Burgess on the occasion referred to- al
retort of the latter Is fresh the memory of
| at this Cay. The concluding part of i. was in
words -
Sir Divine Providence takes care of his own uni
Moral monsters cannot pro pagate. Impotent of
thing but malevoence of purpose, they 9th
multiply miseries than by blasphcmng oil that IL pu
prosperous, and happy Gould demon propagate
the universe might become Pandemonium; but
ioice that the father Of lies never become the
Of liars One adversary OF God and man il enough
universe. Too much Oh how too much 70
nationp
Mr.. Randolph could not withstand the unpsrallel
~ l-FA