The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-01
THIRTY-sECoND CONGRESS.
MONDAY, January 81, 1858.
SENATE.
SECOND SESSION.

Also, report of the Secretary of the Navy, com
municating accounts of contracts, &c., made dur
ing the year 1852.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL
was received from the House, and on motion OF
HUNTER, referred to the Committee on Finance
CREDENTIALS.
Mr.. BORLAND presented the credentials OF the
Hon. w K. SEBASTIAN, Senator chosen by the Lee
gisaure of Arkansas for six years from the 4th OF
March next, when his present term will expire.
THE vorEs FOR pREsIDENr AND VICE PRESIDENT.
Mr.. HUNTER submitted the following resolu.
ton, which was agreed to:
Resolped, That committee be appointed to Join
such committee as may be appointed by the House
of Representatives, to ascertain and report mode
of examining the votes for President and Vice Pre-
sident OF the United States and of notifying the
persons elected of their election.
Messrs. HUNTER, BRIGHT, and PEARoE, were APP
pointed the committee.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW
MIR. HALE presented the memorial of the Penn
sylvania society for the aboliti IN of slavery and
the relief of free persons of color unawfully held
IN bondage, praying the repeal Of the Fugitive
Slave law, or its modification to accordance
with the spirit of the Constitution and common
law.
Grand River Free Will Baptists of Michigan,
praying the repeal of the Fugitive Slave law.
Both the petitions were laid On the table.
RAILWAY POST ROUTE TO NEW YORK.
MIR. COOPER presented the petition of citizens
of Philadelphia, praying the establishment. by
Congress, of railway post route between New
York and Philadelphia.
FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE.
Mr.. CASS presented eight petitions of citizens of
New York, praying that measures be taken to
secure American citizens abroad the enjoyment of
the rights of conscience and of public worship.
DEATH OF HON. A. H.
A message received from the House an
l,z4 I, 81 l,.oI II
Mr.. SEWARD said: Scarcely two weeks ago We
arrested the debates of the House of Representa-
tiyes by message announcing the death of a
Senator from Vermont. To day, when we have
not yet reached the subject assigned for discus
sion, the House OF Representatives appeals to US
for coincidence in its bereavement of delegate
from New York. So frequent the monitions
we receive teaching Us that although are the
legislators of great nation, we nevertheless
also subjects of King who is not of this world
and of whose kingdom there shall be end.
New York has thirty four Congressional dis
tricts, according to the constitution of the present
Congress. The seventeenth of these districts in
CLUBS that part of the valley of the Mohawk river
which in the revolutionary age was the western
border, but which is now the middle region of the
State. At early stage in the war of indepen
dence Herkimer, plebeian patriot general, fell in
repelling British force from that beautiful val
ley; and Montgomery, one OF higher connexions,
gave up his life in the attempt to scale the heights
of Abraham, which were the stronghold of the in
vaders. The Continental Congress decreed
monument TO the memory oil herklrner, but the
decree yet remains uneXecuted. New York,
more Just, erased from the valley of the Mo
hawk the political name of Ryon, With it
bore in honor of British governor, and dividing
the region into two counties, bestowed the name of
Herkimer upon that one within whose limits he
had fallen, and the other the name of the chiv-
alrous hero of Quebec. These counties as they
now are, alter many civil changes, constitute the
seventeenth district, of which the deceased, ALEX
AMBER II. BUELL., was the Representative. In the
contest of organic principles which attended the
establishment of the Federal Constitution the PEG
pie of that part of New York followed the safe lead
and guidance of Schuyler, Jay, and Hamilton.
But when, without change of party organization,
that contest followed by new one, involving
the principles OF political action, that people came
generally to the adoption OF the bengnant and
comprehensive philosophy of Jefferson, and they
still adhere to it as it was taughtby himself. No
where, not even in that great statesmans native
Commonwealth, his principles more highly |
cherished and more firmly maintained than in the
region which have mentioned; and not only there,
but throughout the State of New York We do, |
indeed, break into parties and undergo changes of
combination, as the American people do every
where but it Is only religious bodies divide and
recomblne, each sect striving to get nearer to the
original and common standard of faith.
New York, so late as the beginning of the pre-
cent century, hab very few considerable institu-
tions Of learning. But it was the good fortune of
the deceased that he was born and reared in Fair
held, IN Herkimer county, where some settlers
from Connecticut had thus early founded acade-
my that has since given many eminent men to the
service of the State. Mr.. BUELL's father was
short-lived, and his sons patrimony exhaust
ed in his education. With mother and sisters |
thrown upon him for support, he engaged in tie |
mercantile profession at home. Afterwards. as |
capital and credit increased, he established from
time to time branches in adjacent towns and coun-
ties. Ultimately, when the gold coast on the Pa |
cihc ocean was opened to American commerce. |
Mr.. BUELL., without giving up any of his domestic
tootholds OF trade, extended his business into Cali
fornia; and the unpretendng merchant of Fair |
N had Ian doI
houses in San Francisco.
1t is almost needless to say that he was man of
Probity, OF assiduity directed by keen sagacity /
and of energy regulated by exemplary modera-
ton. Nevertheless, had these been his on y marked
qualities he would never have been among us here.
He cultivated all domestic and social and public
virtues, and 80 he won early, and he steadfasEly
retained, the respect and affection of the commu-
nifty IN which he lived They admired his for
tunes, but they still more admired the man.
"All who deserved esteem he made his own,
And to be lov'd himself but needed to be Known
He reached his high position, however, not in a
day, but through the exercise of care, activity l.
and energy for many years. In l645 he repre-
sented his fellow citizens in the Legislature of
New York, and in 1850 be was advanced to the
honors of Representative in the Congress of the
United States. He brought to the discharge of that
high trust the same faculties and virtues which
had distinguished him in the occupations of pri-
yate life. He was prompt, punctual, active, and
assiduous; conscientious in the votes he gave, with
fidelity to the principles of his constituents, and
yet tolerant of the opinions and charitable in his
construction of the motives of all Others He did |
not indeed debate. Debate in these halls either |
wins great influence, or utterly wastes the speak
er's power. He exercised that calmer influence, |
which is felt by all, and the manner of which is |
seen by no one
Two weeks ago he fastened back from his dis |
tant home by night, through inclement storm,
to assure his wife of the recovery of child whom
he had visited there. The disease which was to |
become mortal attended him to his chamber. He |
died yesterday morning; and, although ne had at |
tanned the ripe age Of fifty. years, yet he died
without having encountered an ebb of fortune, or
of public favor. On the contrary, growing pros
perity and higher honors seemed to be soliciting |
him to live on.
know, Mr.. President, that it Is customary on
occasions like this to speak of the touching scenes
of death and to offer consolation to the bereaved
survivors. And yet, sir, cannot do it, Those
subjects seem to me too sacred to be approached by
one who, like myself is habitually engaged in the
affairs of life, and not in the Contemplation of I
death; in the strifes of the world, and not in the
peaceful offices of religion. will say, therefore,
of the manner of the death of my late colleague |
only this that it showed that he had acquired the |
fortitude which enabled him to pay as became |
christian thu death which, in common with US all, |