Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-24

Also bin to supply deficiencies In appropriations for
the service Of the fiscal year ending 3Oth June, 1854
Also bill making appropriations FOR the payment OF
invalid and other pensions of the United States for the
year ending 30th June, 1855.
These bills severaly read twice and committed to
the Committee of the Whole the state OF the Union
| Mr.. DISNEY, from the Committee Public Lands,
reported the following resolution;
Resoced, That the COMMITTEES ON Public Lands be autho-
rined to employ clerk compensation not exceeding four
dollars per day.
| Debate ensued when
Mr.. D. modified his resolution to authorize the
committee to employ clerk only during the present SEES
sion, and it was then adopted.
DEATH OF SENATOR ATHERToN.
message was received from the Senate announcing
the proceedings thereof the death of Mr. ATHERToN
Mr.. HUBBARD, of New Hampshire, then rose and ad-
dressed the House follows:
Mr.. Speaker, the of eloquent eulogy which
nounced the death Of the usrious statesman Of Aaba
ma have hardly ceased to nger in these halls ere the
message from the Senate reminds Of the decease Of
eminent member of that body-the Hon. CHARLES g.
ATTENTION, of New Hampshire. And while am glad TO
pay my humble tribute to his ory the duty is yet
sad and painful 1t awakes recolecons of the
public bereavement. 1t thrills alas but keenly in
many hearts, the freshly sundered ties of domestic aec
] ton and pers' nal friendship.
1t said by of the gifted Of ancient days
mans life should be accounted happy until it had ended
for we know what clouds may darken the setting Of
the most brilliant meridian Tried by this rule,
the life of Anterior must be deemed prosperous
Learning intellect wealth, and distinction all
his. His public career ascending series of hon
ors, fairly and worthly sustained Quiet and
enatous in private life he enjoyed the respect and good
win of all while those so frrtunatc to be numbered
among his familiar friends were bound to him with
hooks of steel lie gentleman of unsuled probity
and high of personal honor No serious illness
is known to hare afflicted him. until that fearful
stroke which consigned him suddenly, though with
little apparent agony to an untimey grave retaining his
entire consciousness for most Of the time until the final
mon He he firsta hat his anlw
nigh. He me. it like prepared. Calmly, and WITH
! out fear,
"-h he sank to rest,
| By all his countrys wishes best
The family Of Anterior has long been noted in New
Hampshire for talent and accomplishment; but has be-
extinct in the direct line with the subject of these
II remarks
/ Mr. HIBBARD then gave brief biography of the de-
! ceased, and concluded as follows:
i shall not Mr. Speaker, dwell in detail upon the
of the public life OF Mr. Atherton They part and
parcel Of the records of the legislative bodies in which
he served AS said the other day of the lamented
King, he party With his earnesness of
vicon and decided habits of action he could not have
been otherwise But he free from that spirit acri-
mony which often adds asperty to the discussions and
struggles of political life. He slow to censure, and
dealt not in harsh invective The general character of
his speech clear terse and convincing rather than
imprisoned fervidly eloquent But there times
when his lips seemed touched with coal from the
very altar of truth, and poured forth thoughts that
breathe and words that burn" He statesman Of
faith to which State has been for q long period of
years, firmly and uniformly devoted. He wasa rigid
economist of public finance, strict observer of the pro-
visions of the Constitution strictly construed stern and
unhnching defender of the righ f the States. No fea-
ture of his political life distinctly marked than
his active and incorporating opposition to all assaults
upon the rights and institutions Of the several States
from what source soever they came and to whatever
quarter they directed Reproach and oboquy were
literally showered upon him for this in times of
excited sectional controversy But it moved him not
Cool and sefreian confident of the future and regard
less of present consequences he steadily pursued the
path his judgment had marked out.
| The tmid good might stand aloof,
/ The sage might frown, yet blenched he not
His straghtforwardness of conduct commanded respect
if it did always produce agreement He trusted to
time to make manifest the purity of his motives and the
proprety Of his acts If would not too much of
partisan scusso for this OCCASION would say thatthe
day of clear and triumphant vndicaton to which he look
ed forward ALREADY
But few weeks ago saw Mr. Atherton in the scene
of his last professional labors OF all those present
who would not have been selected the first
probable victim Of the great Destroyer he Alb
sorbed in professional engagements, his mind yet found
time to dwell upon the anticipated duties of his Senate
rial station, to which he proposing to repair
the chosen representative of his beloved State largely
honored with the friendship and confidence of the Chief
Magistrate Of the nation few days. and the tidngs
that death had touched him with his pasyng hand
Another interval Of painful suspense and knew that
he slept the sleep which knows waking The silver
cord oosed the golden bowl broken the pitcher
was broken at the fountain" The mourners had gone
about the Streets and he had gone to his long home
"Can stored urn or animated bust
Back to its mansion call the fleeing breath
Can honor's voice provoke the silent dust,
Or fattery soothe the dull cold ear Of death 7"
1t was not Mr. Atherons fate to waste by slow decay
No gradualy advancing decreptude torturing
lady, faterng of the outworn faculties gave premo
milton of his approaching end. Suddenly and without
warning, "ere his eye dimmed his natural force
abated he stricken down in the maturity of his in
teec the vgor OF his manhood and the pride Of place
and power. His voice will be heard in yonder
hall His familiar presence will longer adorn the
cal circle, nor gladden. again the bereayed one who
his loss in the pleasant home his departure has
made desolate But his name will live among in
the recoections Of his well-spent life. His cherished
memory will beam and brighten with efugence not
soon 10 fade away.
In conclusion, Mr. HIBBARD offered the following
solutions
Resored unanimously That testimonial Of respect for
the memory Of CHARLES g. ATHERT0s late member of the
United States Senate, deceased the mebeIs and off,
Of this House will into mourning and Grape
the left arm for thirty days,
Resored That the Clerk be directed TO communicate
copy Of this resolution TO the widow Of the deceased
Resoed As further mark Of respect that this House do
adjourn.
Mr.. ORR, of South Carolina rose to second the
lutons. have been participant said he) in the elci-
tations resulting from the political trumphs Of New
Hampshires sons; and now, when the heavy hand Of
affection sorely Expresses them, to mingle my
tears with theirs, and to soohe their grief by heartfelt
sympathy in their sorrow
The death Of Mr.. Atherton, so sudden and untimey,
is well calculated to arrest attention and teaches
how precarious and evanesoent life and its pursuits
When the heart, with oil its glowing aectonsthe in
tall oil afa al K,,t