Washington sentinel., 1853-12-09

gressional proceedings and that urbanity Of man
ner, which are required in presiding officer. No
claiming, although an acute and forcible debater
/ 10 rank with his illustrious contemporaries, whom
| now, alas we can mention only TO deplore-witl
| Calhoun, with Clay, and with Webster, Il nam,
| them alphabetically. and who will presume 10 ar
! range them on any other principle,) whose un
matched eloquence so often shook the walls o
thus Senate, the late Vice President possessed tn,
rare and the highly important talent of controlling
with impartiality, the storm Of debate, and moder
ating between mighty spirits, whose ardent con
fiicts at times seemed to threaten the stability o
the republic.
In fact, sir, he was highly endowed with wha
Cicero beautifully commends as the 5oni sena
toris prnds,nia the ''wisdom of good senator :
and In his accurate study and ready application o
the rules of parliamentary law, he rendered ser
wee to the country not perhaps of the most bril-
liant kind but assuredly of no secondary import
ance. There is nothing which more dstinguishe.
the great national race 10 which we belong thar
its aptitude for government by deberative as
sembles; its willingness, while il asserts the larg
est liberty OF parliamentary right, TO respect wha
the senator from Virginia in another connection
has called the sefimposed restrictions of parlia
| mentary order; and do not think il an exagera
ton 10 say that there is trait in their character
which has proved more conducive to the dispatch
of the public business-to the freedom of debate
Ito the honor of the country-I will saw even
| which has done more TO establish and perpetuate
| constitutional liberty.
The long and faithful senatorial career of the
late Vice President received at last its appropriate
reward The people Of the United States, having
often witnessed the disposition of the Senate 10
| place him at their head, and the dgnfed and ac.
ceptabe manner in which he bore himself in that
capacity, conferred upon him. a twelve month
since, that office, which is shown by repeated and
| recent experience TO be above the second if moi
actually the first. in their giit-the office which
placed him constituiionaly and permanently, dur
ling It's continuance, in the chair of the Senate
A mysterious dispensaton of Providence has
nlpped these crowning honors in the bud. A dis
ease, tor which the perpetual summer and per-
tuned breezes Of the tropics afforded no balm
overlook HIM at an age when he might, in the
course OF nature have reasonably looked forward
to still many years of active service Clothed by
! special and remarkable act of Congress, even
while under foreign jurisdiction with the consti.
tutional qualifications TO enter upon the high Office
to which he had been elected, he returned not to
exercise Its functions, but to seek his much-loved
home, and there to die.
Thus, sir, he has left TO chase for little while
longer the shadows which he has exchanged for
unntterable realities He has left us, sir. prema-
turely for everything but his spotess name, and
his entrance on the well-earned honors of his nm
ambitious career. And we, senator's for all the
interchange of kindness-for all the intercourse OF
private fefor all the acts of co-operation in the
public service to which for at least four years the
Senate was looking forward in its connection with
hm-have nothing left to offer TO his friends and
his memory but the unavailing tribute of this last
mournful farewell.
| second the resolutions of the senator from
Virginia. :
Mr.. CASS. Mr.. President Again has death
invaded the high places of our land and has taken
from us citizen distinguished by his talents,
his worth, and his services and enioying the con-
ndence and affection OF his conntrymen. In the
providence OF God, these vislatons come TO warn
us, that none are exempt from the decree that in
lie we are in the midst of DEATH and that be We
also ready is a solemn admontion announced to
us from the cradle TO the grave, by the mighty and
the owiy, as they successively fall before the great
destroyer. The lesson is the more imp ressiye the
higher is the position, and the more eminent the
character him, whose departure we may be called
upon TO mourn. And when one who occupied
the second station in our country, is summoned
from the duties of this life TO the responsibility of
that which is 10 come, as the loss is national
one, the manifestation Of public sympathy, and
the acknowledgment of the public grief should
be national Also Our lamented friend the late
Vice Presidents has been taken from us, full of
years indeed, and OF honors, but in the midst of
his usefulness, and when he was lust prepared 10
enter upon the high career to which he had been
called by the American people Upon this occa-
sion, desire 10 do little more than 10 express
those sentiments of affectionate regard with which
an acquaintance OF many years had inspired me,
leaving to others, who have this day well fulfilled
the task 10 present those features Of his character
and services which endeared him to his country
men in life, and will endear to them his memory
now that the scenes Of life are forever closed upon
him.
His career was eminently useful and fortunate.
and IN the whole range Of American statesmen
there are few, indeed, to whom our youth can bet
ter look, when seeking models of imitation and
encouragement, than to WILLIAM R. KING.
Firm but courteous, frank and fearless, of high
honor and irreproachable morals he broupbt
vigorous intellect, and varied and extensive Infor
nation, TO the public councils and the ripe fruit
OF his experience, joined to these endowments
gave conviction TO his opinion, and authority 10
MS example. We always heard him with atten-
ton, for he elucidated every subject he investi
gated, and brought TO our discussions the stores
OF MS knowledge and experience, with manner
as unassuming as II was captivating While low
ing the State in which he so long resided. and
which had given him so many proofs of confidence
and affection, he loved also our common country
and at home and abroad proved himself the trne
patriot, the able and faithful citizen. Tn all the
relations of private life he was loved and bonored
as well from the amenity of his manner as from
the Kindness OF his heart and in the social circle
he was the very model Of the ACCOMPLISHED gen
tleman. For almost half century he was in the
pubic service, and was intimately connected with
many OIL the great events which marked that long
and stirring period, and he proved himself equal
10 all the circumstances in which he was placed
sustaining himself with signal ability among men
whose renown is written in imperishabIe charac-
ters upon the history of our country
But better than all this, and above all this. he
was sincere Christian; adding another to the
long list OF eminent men who have searched the
Gospel OF Jesus, and have found il the will and
word OF God. In his last illness, when the world
and the things ofthe world were fast fading before
him, he found hope and consolation in the prom
ises of the Saviour; and, calmly surveying the ap
proach Of death, he looked beyond it's power 10
the glorious Immortality promised to the believer.
The places that knew him will know him no more
but, though dead his memory is embalmed in the
hearts of his countrymen, and there it will live.
honored and cherished, long after all those who
are now taking part in this tribute to his worth
shall have followed him in the journey where. for
brief space, he has preceded us through the dark
valley of the shadow of death.
Mr. DOUGLAS. | can scarcely hope 10 add
anything of value TO what has been SO well said
by others. For the last eight months the mourn
tul event, which is now officially announced to the
Senate, has been known, felt and lalnented by ms
all. In the meantime, we have passed through
scenes well calculated to engross our thoughts
and divert our attention, if to obscure the fresh
ness of the first impression, or assuage the keen.
ness of that sorrow which filed every heart. But
hat ~. l. 80