Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-01
TnuRTY.FUuRTm C0HGREs>-First se.sion
FRIDAY, JrsE 2i, 1876.
lr.x. ms

I lUt u'tlh w tiO uUlIt l ~ - b"e fN r.
ceedings of the House thereon.
Mr.. Mason, OF Virginia, rose and addressed the
Chair, saying
rise, Mr.. President, TO ask the usual respectful OIL
fetal notice by the Senate of the los sustained by
our common country in the death Of 1homas Henry
Bayly, my late colleague, Just announced 10 us from
tho House OF Representatives, a token of respect that
know carries with il the sincere regre; ard unfeigned
sympathy ut all in this body TO whom he was known
personally or officially, because 10 all such, whether
agreeing with or dissenting from the political cast al
opinions which actuated his public life, he wus known,
aud recognized, and valued as Il gentleman, u States
man. and II patriot.
Apparently of robust form and constitution, it would
seem that the seeds of dissolution were slowly gerni.
mating where, Ia tbs unsuspecting eye, there appear
ed only the promise Of life protracted TO more than
its usual span.
Gen. Bayly was born on the eastern shore of Yir.
giniu, in tho county of Accomac, on the llth day OF
December, in the year 1910, aud he departed this life q,
his home, in the county Of his birth, on the EI of
the present mouth, II the age nj torty-tiv- years and
six months. AZ the close of tue last Congress he LEI,
this city, for the first time, IL entrebled health, after
q service of eleven years. He was Reelected 10 the
present Congress, and though e:naciated and feeble,
took his seat at the commencement OF lis session. III
became su"n apparent, however, that his VIII 10 dis
charge the public trust committed 10 him was greater
than declining health would Justify, and, ut The ear.
nest instance of his family, he consented to abandon
his seat, las he thought for u time Only,j and. &C
companled by them, sought To recruit his health III
the mlider climate of the Island of Cuba. But from
there iIe returned only to die in his native land. at his
own ancestral home, and in the inidsi Of those whU
were denrer IN him in lie than all the word beside
his wife and infant children. a lstter addressed To
me on the morning Of his dealh. by Il near connection
Of bis family, speaks Of him in the las, scenes at life
~ ''cntIrcly sell. possessed, and frequently more calm
than any around his bed. lie was fully aware of his
approaching end, and met it with cahnness and
compOsure."
Before speaking Of the deceased, Mr.. President, as
] sIa .,,tptr fp-.r Linz, -. ,,n tpr.r ,...r, No. n ritsai
American stntesman: or a We knew him at home. in
nHae~t,s'ahnR|eattb lin in lnanhooI.
lie came to the bar in the year 1880, a graduate in
Jaw and III the collegiate schools Of the University Of
Virginia. AT The aye OF twcnty.six uhc first year OF
lbs eligibility he WIS chosen by his native county Il
member OF the General Assembly Of Virginia.
WHIST Il member OF The Legislature. and the year al.
ter he entered 1t, he was elected by thai body II briga.
dler-generai pt the militia of Eastern Virginia. He
remained Ii member uf the l. legislature, by successive
annual elections, for live years, when he resigned his
s'at ana was chosen a Judge of the circuit superior
court OF law-ano Office next in jurisdiction To the su.
premc court ut the Suite. In 1911 Gen. Bayly re.
-ignrd his seat on the bench ami WIS elected 70 the
linu'e OF Representatives from the Acconac district,
IN Virginia; and remained, by successive elections, u
i"e'io'r "i the House rom that period until his death,
a term OF twelve years.
Thus of the twenty years of his continuous pub i.
service |; was The fortune aud merit ri iuv di-tiI.
suIshed friend md colleague 10 preserve unimyaircd
me c"hhieiice oil his varied constituencv-at first Of
his naive county, th.R nf the Legislature Of hs
state; and Gsai; Of Il large arL enlightened Congress.
sinnal di s.r!ct.
IL hs= been strongly remarked Of the section Of
which the deceased was a Representative, that its
pubic men are seldom changed from caprice or other
insufficient cause by the constituent body. The re-.
mark Il Ju.t; and l." whatever cause il should be "a
crioea u marks StitIliy of purpose in the popular
ii!iid. From lie nature of their pursuits and their
institutions, society assumes there more of the char.
Meier OF q uliTIlrrhuls fufa Than in fIn ,,,rr NJ, ~
h'ions OF life which attend mure dense populations
Children pursue the paths worn by the tread Of pater-
nal feet, and friendships aud alliances become h-reti.
tary. Society thus superadds obligations to tLns. OF
law and ludicature, aad contributes much 10 form the
character of the citizen.
III this school my deceased colleague was BRED
lie lived end died on the same spot where his ances-
tors from Easlaud landed in ZOOS, amd whrr, they
established the family home. He commanded tn.
brigade which hs grandfather had commanded, and
he neld the seat in the General Assembly of his Stats
and IN the House o. Representatives which bis futlIcr
had occupied before him. Thus, with all the iucen-
yves OF all honorable mind, he came into public life,
under responsibilities a; home which To betray would
make that home no more. lie was a good cxenplar
vi slicl training; generous, frank, AMI liberal 10 the
"ufid; connCiDS an'! true IN friendship ; kind, riftc.
;Icna;", and %lniulgru. 10 ihos: who were of hin and
with h'Tl IN the walks of domestic lie; sIcru only 10
me obligations IT homo: aua duty e. Z iran AMI as Il
r.iriot. II $ mind was we'll stored by rea!ing, ubsrr
walton, and experience. AZ II tchu;ur, prompt, able
ana iC"!d' and with 81 elsy intellectual. grasp. which
save hun az once tue mastery al the subject in hand.
Az u Representative in the Federal councils, whilst
acknowledging that III. frs. duty was 10 his State, he
was yet always true and just 10 the enlarged Federal
Obligations which his State had assuIned. ruInprr-
heiinilE THEM with views of liberal craftsmanship,
and fulfilling them with loyalty Ia the be-, interests
OF this great Conieierary OF Republics. lie haa de-
rceild-h To the tomb ripe III y"hTs aud in fame, leav-
'ie behind nm, rs the richest legacy to his descend
ants' n name u%n.po;;ed rs C. man aud a patriot.
ask Inc adoption OF the following resolutions:
Resolved That the Senate receives with! sincere re-
gret il!- announcement of the ,leaI! Of Hon. Thomas
II. bay!y, late d InemLer of the House of Represent,
h'i'.s from the STAT" of Virginia, aud tenders 10 III,
'tlh'i''t "i the Deceased tho assurance of their sYn.
p"t'y VAN them Under the bereavement they have
bsen called To sustain.
Resolved, Tint the Secretary Of the Senate be d.
rectec 10 transmit 10 the family "t Mr.. Bayly a GER
titled copy OF the foregoing Resolutions.
Resolved As n mari: OF respect 10 the memory Of
me deceased, that the Senate DO now ADJOURN.
Mr.. Cass. Mr.. President, | have listened with deep
interest To the appropriate and affrc,ionnte tesiimo-
mails which have ju,: been offered by the Senator
from Fir:;!nia,,O tS; character nni services and worth
NJ his departed! colleague of TIE House ui Rrlrcseu.
,stivcs, aLi rise 10 Gdd my tribute cf sincere regard
To his memory. l enjoyed, during t.L.s ,eG,s, the
pleasure ol his acquaintance -irisnisliip | feel il WAS
and time, Gs II passed over u, served bat To cuutrm
my Impressions OF his uuble qualities OF head ard
heart. In my long experience OF the world have
met but few men gifted with equal vigor and grasp
at Intellect, guided by calm aud sound Judgn.n..-
tbs mind was disciplined by study and reelection, and
Win Iii"st .n:r:'ive sagaci;y he could separate truth
from error. iii- Gong IGG-iU.al Efforts in debate were
models gi enlarged yiewa aud Just ami i,hG..ai senti-
ments elnGuentIy expressed, aud when requiring Il
ot close ana clear reasoning. aul upon Questions of
constitutional! law. he exhibited rart. powers OF analy.
sIs. Ta;n:gh the representative OF a di.irict. he pos.
sessrd \ nationa, pa. ioii3E. which elevated him above
mere local considerations, ana wh;"h Ia. :ht hin that
while he was n Eirginian he wa. not less an Ameri-
can, and that both relations within their respective
spheres had equal claims upon lis duty mud his regHrd.
High principles, with Il refined sense of honor, ever
present md ever active, were 4 part of his moral
constitution. and tLas be went through lifs without
STAN ead without iapprooc!l. Errser:i.G oil It's amen.
tiles. aad with a kindness Of dispoSiiiGm std u warmth
OF attachment which those appreciated most who
knew hin best.
We hass h.sri his character eloquentiy portrayed
ny one more competent 10 lis TASK thHu ! am. but al
h. said was said with truth and fidelity, aud recalled
his distinctive traits wildly 10 my recollection.
| shnll not touch his work. | could not do il with
ont injury. lie placed Tie features Of our departed
friend upon the canvass. and there they are ftelike
and rs lie WA. But he Is gone; cone IN the midst os
his dsyn end his usefulness; gone at this dark hour
when PATRIOTIC Gs:ct!un, when experience and WIS
dom s'id knQgieise 2rd virtue Ere r.nre than ever
required in the councils OF our country He has left
his memory SHd his example |. i.rec,pl.. legacy
10 encourage others TO follow him in Ihn path OF duty
and OF honor. May II not pro"c a barren memorial.
MIR. Seward. Mr.. President, in 1910, before |
had personally met Thomas II. Bayly, aud " lille he
was Jet .nuny. | encountered him in n controversy
conducted Iy'.,.. III The Legislature Of Virginia. and
by myself as an Executive i,aaisi.ats Of New i"rk;
and | telt his ability and power willis ! wa. poTDEiied
also TO acknowledge his maniiness and dignin-d bear.
ing. In 1870 we me, here, prepared, | think, by mu.
tunl respect To be courteous aivcrsaries. We re-
manned ia that relation towards each other until las,
Decemtrr, when lie, then departing with q fOr!urn
hope TO Cuba, but Gesply impressed with n convic.
ton that his disease had already becor:e incurabls,
took his thoughts OF from earih and It's ambitions and
fixed them upon n higher sphere, it, mysteries and
its promises. ] then became HE friend. would not
iutruie I'll! .Le rolsnn Offices now performed her. with
so mucii ~prcpriciy and jisticl by ns INN ediate rs. /!
.,cirteg fnrti,er ,b,, IA aid H.. .s,;r- ,r -.