The daily comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1850-1856, 1854-08-24
Official journal OF ,tnis City.
Gbr Daily Gu1l1et,
BATON ROUGE,::""AUGUST "a, "a.

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BATON ROUGE,:::AUGUST24, IS
DEATH OF GENERAL DowNs.-
Through the politcness Of Col. Rho
dus, We have before us the Delta of til
I'D inst, announcing the death of Sol
omon W. Downs, late collector for tn
Port Of New Orleans. It's somcwha
extraordinary as the editor of the Del
ia remarks, that the appointment o
n successor to fiji his Office, followed
Immediately after tho telegraph an
nounccd tho fact ut Washington. Tho
apology for this hasty action on the
part Of the President will no doub,
meet the comments of the press
throughout the country, and cannot b
dwclt upon in terms sufficiently rcpri.
hensible. Certainly it would be no
detrIment to the pecuniary affairs of
the nation 10 await the Intelligence
that the last mortal remains of one
who has had the esteem (of his person
ol and political friends at least), has
been consigned to the tomb. There
should be some little time to pant i'm
time enough to let the people learn the
intelligence Of tho death of their SER
vant-timc enough to lay away his
body for tie worms to feed on, before
successor should be named. But
we marvel at neutrality-suspicious. the
place was spoken for and promised
before death had sealed the eyc-lids of
the uuburied General-perhaps-but
no it would not be we'll to speculate
thus-perhaps the Thanc of Cawdrr
lives prosperous gentleman. Well,
let US turn from the consideration of
successor. to say word over the |
body of the succeeded" General
Downs died at "Crab Orchard" in
Kentucky. He was in bad health
when be left New Orleans; his condi-
ton was attributed to wound rcc,iv-
ed in duel several years ago. Mr..
Downs was born in Tennessee. When
he came to Louisiana he located in
Bayou Sara TO- practice bis profession
1.-THE receiving a legacy from
bis father he removed to Ouchata
parish where be lately resided. His
Err; appearance in public life was as
Senator from that district. He was
q member Of the Convention Iof 1916,
and was the leader of the radical Dem
ocrats in that body. He held an ap-
pointment as district attorney under
President Polk.
AT the expiration Of this Office, he s
was elected to the United States Sem f.,
At. Here he was soon recognized as i
'ne of the most ardent and jealous of
he friends Of the South, Identifying ,
himself with Clemens, Foote, and 9TH
FRS, then Of the ultra Southern party. i
With the same gentlemen he subse.
lucntly coopcratcd in Mr.. Clay's s
Compromise. 1t was on this subject
General Downs was brought into con-
lict with his colleague, Mr.. Sorle,
With large number Of his friends in t
his State. To heal those disscns:ons, s
$ we'll as to testify his confidence in 4
iencral Downs personal and official
apacity, President Pierce appointed Z
lin Collector of this Port, which Office
le filled until his death. Fl
General Downs was about fifty-Gve J,
ears Of age. He was q kindly, anna -
le gentleman, rather reserved in gen. Il
raj intercourse, but true and steady n
his attachments. His intellect was
old and practical, without being bril-
ant or extraordinary. d
From WHENCE CANE IT? "A W
alloon measuring fifteen feet in cir. g