Washington sentinel., 1853-12-20
Gonqrtssi0nal.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
Dec cember l9, 1883.

"
Senate--Monday, December 10, 1853.
j Mr.. CLAY presented the credentials of the Hon.
Benjamin Fitzpatrick, Senator elect from Alabama.
| for the unexpired term of the Hon. WILLIAM X.
4 KING, resigned which were read.
1 Mr.. FITZPATRICK appeared and was sworn.
/ DEATH OF THE HON. G. G. ATHERToN.
I Mr.. NORRIS. Mr.. President, ask the unani-
nous consent Of the Senate TO introduce resolu-
tons in relation TO the death OF my late colleague,
| the Hon. CHARLES c. ATuERToN.
/ Unanimous consent was given
/ Mr.. NORRIS. MIR. President before offering
the resolutions, which, by the kind indulgence OF
\ will submit few remarks in connection with the
!, subject.
1 During the four years have been honored with
seat in this chamber, often has the attention OF
the Senate been arrested from its ordinary busi-
ness 10 the contemplation of the solemn scenes OF
death. Of those who have been associated with
us here during that brief period, no less than nine
have passed toi their final account The most dis
/ tingushed minds of the land-I might well say OF
| the world-have been removed from us by the
hand of death. Their wisdom to counse--ther
eloquence TO inspire-live only in,t the history OF
the past. II seems 10 me that il ever there was a
body Of men taught by the admonitons Of an all
wise Providence the utter emptiness ofthe highest
earthly places Of honor and trust, that body is the
Senate OF the United States. While the pathway
| of death has been thronged by our feow-country-
men who have conferred upon us the high places
/ we occupy, that dark pathway has also been tfod
by an unprecedented number of our associates all
| Fastening to, and mngling together in the same
common restng-place-the grave.
The last on the catalogue of the fated number
OF our associates was my esteemed and amented
friend and colleague, CHARLES GORDON ATHERToN,
! who, at the time of his recent death, was mem
ber of this body from the State ofNew Hampshire.
He died suddenly at Manchester, in that State, ON
the 10th OF November last, of paralysis on the
morning Of the 10th, he came into the courtroom
in that city, where he had been actively and abo-
riously engaged some two or three weeks in the
discharge OF professional dulies apparently as full
| of health and spirits any of us now enjoy, and
| with the brightest prospects of useful and dis
/ tinguished future. Soon after coming into the
/ court, while conversing with member of the bar,
his countenance suddenly changed, and his tongue
refused its utterance. His left side was paralyzed.
| He was Immediately removed to his lodgings, and
the ablest medical aid procured. During the re-
mainder Of that day Thursday and the next he
i seemed fully conscious of his condition, and COM
muncated with his friends; but on Saturday he
sunk into a state of unconsciousness, from which
! he never awoke, but continued 10 sink gradually
! under the force of the attack until Tuesday, the
9Th, at one o'clock, p. NJ, when he breathed his
| last.
| Thus, abruptly, has been stricken down in an
unexpected moment, our late esteemed associate,
! in the meridian of physical and intellectual man
4 hood.
us at the ciOSe Ol the last spcclal session
/ with as well-founded expectations of being here
/ to-day as any member of this body; but, alas,
| that seat has been vacated. How suddenly does
Providence, by his inscrutable DEGREES, blast our
ondest anticipations, and teach the true tenure
/ of mans estate-the true yet irail tenure of all
earthly honor and station, and of life itself In
deed, what are all these but an empty inheritance
except so far as they are made subservient to nd-
vidnal and the public prosperity-to the happiness
and permanent good of the race?
4 MIR an ,hl
! indeed the whole of his fathers family-had gone
before him 10 the tomb Nevertheless, he died
amid large circle of ardent and cherished
friends, who sincerely mourn his death, He was
descended from ancestors distinguished in the his
tory Of his State. His grandfather, Joshua Ather-
ton, was lawyer of much eminence, and settled
early at Amherst, shire town in Hillsborough
county-was member the convention which
ratified the Constitution of the United States,
and subsequently senator and attorney gen.
eral of New Hampshire. His father, Charles
II. Atherton, was also thoroughly-read and
accomplished lawyer, man Of brilliant ge-
MUS. and a fine orator. He was frequently a
member of the State Legislature, and a member Of
the House OF Representatives in the fourteenth
Congress.
The subject Of my present remarks was born
at Amherst, Hillsborough county, New Hamp-
shire the residence Of his father and grandfather,
on the 4th day Of July, 1904 He exhibited, al a
very early age, strong taste for classic literature
and capacity to master, with remarkable quick
ness. and ease, the fundamental elements Of a
classic and liberal education. He entered Cam
bridge University in 1915, being then only four
teen years OF age, and was graduated in 1922, be-
loved and esteemed both by the faculty and his
fellow-stndents. His college life was exemplary,
and his standing as scholar was among the first
Of his class. 1919:
After leaving college, he studied law in the
Office OF his father, and was admitted to the bar
at the age OF twenty-one years, and established
himself in his profession at Nashua, in his native
county, where he resided until his recent DEATH
Mr. ATHERToN had been much in public liie a
circumstances showing better, perhaps, than any
other test, the high estimation in which he was
held for fidelity and capacity, by the people of his
State. In 1880 he was chosen a member Of the
legislature, and in 1881 he was elected secretary
Of the Senate. He was again chosen member
OF the Legislature in 1888, and continued mem
Der until 1886, and was the Speaker of the House
OF Representatives for three successive years.
he was member Of the House of Represent
atives of the United States, for the twenty
fifth, twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh Con-
crosses. In lS42 he was chosen by the legs-
lature Of New Hampshire member Of this
body for the term Of six years After having
served out his term, he retired from public life
and resumed the practice of his profession. In
1000 he was elected to the convention called 10
revise the constitution of New Hampshire. In
1902 he was again clectedto represent bis State in
the Senate of the United States for six years and
took his seat here on the fourth of March last. |
From the tasks of the school-room 10 the high |
duties of Senator, he well and ably acted his |
part As a scholar, he was thorough, enthusiastic,
and accomplished. As lawyer master in the
profession, quick Of perception, yet always safe !
and Judlcious in counsel. As an advocate, forci-
BILE and logical, ofentmes soaring into the highest
regions Of forensic eloquence. As statesman, he |
was fearless AID just, enlightened and able. While |
tenacious of the interest Of his own immediate |
constituents, he was always liberal and just to-
wards the interests of every other section Of the
country, taking the Constitution the great chart
to guide and limit his action. As patriot his |
views were as broad as the confederacy, adhering
with infexible frmness 70 those conservative and |
constitutional principles which secure to every
section OF our common country the rights peculiar
to each. He acknowledged no political law higher
or more sacred for his rule of conduct here than
that sacred instrument which we are all sworn TO
support. As friend, he was ever faithful and
true.
The death Of such man is not merely sad
bereavement to the State whose immediate repre-
sentative he was but calamity coextensve with
the Union, reaching as deep as the foundation of