The daily union., 1854-01-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
TUESDAY. JANUARY 10, 1854.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
The House met al IL O'Clock. IN.
Prayer by the chaplain TO The Senate.
The Journal OF Friday read and approved
DEATH OF HENRY MUHLKNBERG.
Ar. DRUM rose and said
With heart profoundly afflicted with the cad event
which has Just betailen rise 10 occupy for aew mo
Inenis The attention OF this House. The melancholy
duty has been imposed upon ms TO announce to you the
death Of Hon. HENRY A. MuHLEkBERG, a representative
~ Congress from the State OF Penney vania. He died
about halp ten o'clock last night, after illness OF
four or live weeks.
Death, sir, is lhe common lo Of all mankind. We
are taught 10 expect IL Iom the time our leet begin 10
tread The path way o life until mental vision expands
upon NE great mysteries q eternity Al mat We ea,
and beautiful 10 as, alike pass away under the nexoIa-
ole touch OF decay And not alore is this stern lesson
Taught in the material world around u.s. Upon every
neaiaent oil moral being is 10 be seen the never
c~esng element OF change. The fresh feelings Of The
heat with which youth begins 70 cline the bull OF the
future. are chilled before the SUNNI! is halt gained the
hopes eagerly form in early ile before middle age
become delusionsaecuonst twne themselves around us
and rent awaythe heart becomes scared by dissp
polnimen and ahicon, until It's early sensbililes are
crushed and most 60 their graves in advanced
age feeling that they realize the solemn truth that change
and decay are written everywhere. And yeti sir, not
whsanding tins. although we know and feel i to be
the universal law, death is most solemn event Though
surrounds everywhere, and is ever presenthongh
comes TO upon The wings OF the gentes breeze. and
lies hidden in the fragrance Of the loyeliesl flower
and prepare ourselves 10 meet its stern demandsyet sir
without speaking 10 the souls oil the living
its tones OF terrible instruction Oh, Sir, there no eo
qaence like that OF death.
s I: nc ns
warning few short days ago, and he was glowing
with JOY. with youth, and the ygor OF health; be
lies wrapped in the last cold garment Of mortality, and
stand here around his grave. Then there few on
earth whose existence radiant with brighter pros
pecs OF fame and happiness. The Of charmed
circle that beamsd with intelligence and love, be
dered himself al the a!iuemenis Of affection, and all
tue destinations Of feaned intellectual enjoyment He
was firmly seated il the attachment OF noble constu-
ency, and he 10 Washington buoyan with The hon.
esl hope Of faithfully serving them, and Of writing his
own name upon The historical records OF his country.
He irarlessly with his liked upon the sun, but,
alas il only TO be exliagntshed m lis blaze Now
The that holds his sacred dust s all Of mortality that
remains. The illusion past and the hope that anHla-
ted and sustained him is qnenched forever.
Among Other pecuiarlues oil Mr.. MUHLENBERG's situ-
alton IN life was the clrcumstance that he sprung from
an ancestry whose familiar words in the his
tory OF this country When the vast field OF beneyoen,
eaerpfise opened in the New World and learning and
meiy from the clolstered cells OF Europe re-
claim and i.rize the barren waste of humanity in the
western hemisphere there were they 10 be found, zeal
ously and faithfully laborng 10 inst into the hearts OF
the humble settlers the great truths OF eternal e and 10
teach them in what 10 assert the dignity oil i'm
mortal manhood TO which God has predesined them.
When The pathway OF the desertfull Of PERIL and
buscade, and deahwas 10 be explored, that the chill
dten OF the forest migni be brought know and as-
knowledge The dominion o race, there still
other OF that same great ancestry faithful 10 the high
trust eiosed 10 his fidelity, and fearless OF dangers
that might appa the stoutesl heart tolnx steadily for
wad ip The path Of duly When. Aasan, the hand Of OPP
pressed heavily upon the infant colonies, and
men appealed, with stern resolution, 10 the sword 10
dress their wrongs the last array himself in the
ranks OF patriotism was stil one more OF this ustrious
name who abandoned the sacred desk to grid ais sword
upon his ihgh-who gathered from his congregation the
material for regiment aud who served throughout the
OF the revolution with character most eminent for
fidelity aud gallantry. One of Mr. MUHLEsBERGs an
tcsors among the first members OF Congress from
Pennsy vana, and occupied for many years the position
Of speaker OF that body His father also occupied very
high position public man In the State oil PennsyIva-
MIA. He represented in Congress- for series OF Terms
friend During the administration OF General Jackson be
held the situation abroad of minister 10 the court OF Aus
tra; and at the period OF his death he was the nOm-
mated candidate OF the democracy OF Pennsylvania for
governor of that State Death sudden and unlocked for.
snatcbed from bis grasp the crownng honor of we'll
spent life, il has Just now arrested the brilliant
of this, his promising son.
But although Mr. MUM rN BERo's pathway in life was
surrounded with the lus,re OF distinguished ancestry.
he ys lived long enough prove that in has own true.
noble and intellectual character was contained the germ
Of high distinction and usefulness. Elected in 1850 by
the people of Berks county, Pennsylvania, 10 the
ATE OF that State, he occupied Tor three years seat
that body and upon the expiration Of his term Of Office.
elected BY them to the present Congress. During
portion OF his term IN the senate was associated with
him. and testify 10 the ability fearlessness and truth
with which he served his constituents and the State
With clear and ehensive intellect sound, eau
tous. and cultivated judgment, devotion 10 business,
and aiaste for public Affairs, he united the high quality
Of fearessnens the discharge OF what he besved be
bis duty and the ray Of light that from yonder
sun was not direct than be in all his inien-
tons and purposes Though but short time in the
senate be able, as have 10 know, to inn
press hs character ndeliby upon the legislation of his
native Stale.
Ia the loss OF my lamented friend and colleague Penn
sylvsnia has suffered what will be to her gevous loss
Talent be had, but that may be easily repaired but his
high honor hs chvaTous OF public integrity, and
his devotion 10 the best interests OF the State he loved
WE'LL qualities much too TO be losi without tbe
deepsst regret II ahords much qualification 10 believe
that Congress will regret the loss has sustained his
death. To his sudden and unmey decease comes
with the most sincere, heartfelt and poignant sorrow
blood stood IN closer relationship TO him we now de.
plore than Tor the last few years ] stood None knew
him, believe, so well and surely, surely loved
him better But were II within the bounds OF proprety
to ohtrude in this place the sorrow feel, must yet
member there others whose grief sacred than
nine. Dear and anxious relatives waited and watched
around his bed o DEATH and received his parting sigh
In the nnermost ecesses OF their aeciionate hearts
he eDshned He their idol and their pride, and the
terrible blow thar struck him from existence has crushed
them too. And she whose comfort and whose JOY he
was through so many hours OF happiness that mourner
who is without sympahy because none can enter into
the dephs OF her she whose lie but yesterday
one unbroken scene OF gladness. and oday filled with
gloom. without light, without hope, desolae and reary
oh may there be given TO her from above the only
balm that restore the bowed and wounded heart 10
bear her sp and sustain her through this sad trial. until
time, the great hysic,en shall have aeviaed her
rows and soobet her bitter woes
As for him, Mr.. Speaker, departed friend and
brnther, who, in the full hish OF early manhood. has