The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-11

esrv romis OF rnoraipg no leetiug and transient!
wa invited 20 Boston 20 be present at the delivery
OF the sTeech of Mr.. Webster on the completion or
the Bunker / III monument The journey was co1-
me iced some days IN advance OF taat appointed for
the delivery of the ofation and Mr. Lesare was pre-
ven ca from accompanying me by some pressing
business IN he state Department, and only reached
Boston on the day set apart Tor the oralon. he
complained ii Icing too unwell 20 attend. IN emil
pent physician was called IN, who At hrst did not
regard the attack as of any serious moment. Fatal
error, which brief day served to dlssipase. Death
had seized upon IT'S victim, and the commonwealth
was called upon 70 mourn the loss OF one OF IT'S
purest AMI noblest sons That well stored mind,
which had she'd broad light over the country
upon many occasions, was now extngush-
ed; that calm and untmpassioned friend,
whose counsel had leaned in SO much conf
dcnce, and by whom ! was never deceived, was
stricken from my SIDE and an excursion commenced
in buoyancy and gladness, which had been accom-
panied on lis whole line by The greetin, g and hug
zas of unnumbered thousands, was terminated in
sorrow and mourning; that generous heart whose
every pulsation was chaste and holy had ceased to
beat. | saw him borne to his last resting place,
where he sleeps until the morning OF the res;lrrec
ton. So passed away Hugh Swinton Legare in the
morning of his prime and broad daylight OF his use
fuiness.
At the time Of Mr.. Legare's death there presided
over the Navy Department one who was competent
to I'll any Office under the government. He had
illustrated that department by jndic'cUs reforms
which are destined long 10 ne felt and acknoy-
lodged. A system OF rigid economy was practisei;
but while he limited the expenditures 20 the
actual necessities OF the service. new ehi-
cheney was impaired to the navy. To him
that department is greatly indebted for its
present organization, which places at the head o.
Bureaus veteran commanders, who from their in
tima.e acquaintance with the wants Of the service,
are best qualified TO provide for them.
Under him also, aeose that structure over when
was placed Lieutenant Marry, whose name has al
ready filed the scientific world, and who is des III
ed do not doubt, To win other aid still more i'm
portant trinmphs by future contributions 10 the
OF sciences and to him is also due the organi-
zation OF the nome squadron, which, While serving
as a costG gl.0rda, watches over and protects tae
commerce OF the country In neghboring waters.
There was hesitation IN ebtrusting 70 slch man
the Premiership, and Abel p. Upshr vas according
" placed at the head Of the STATE Department.
Our acquaintance had commenced in early life. wne
he vas a Law student ~ the Office OF William
Writ, and / in that OF Ed nund Randolph.
We became members OF a debating society
in Richmond, with Others OF or own age,
and there young Upshur took hls early les
sons in public speaking. It required but small
share OF the spirit Of prophecy 10 iortei the future
that awaited him. de bad brought TO che study q
the law mind richly stored with all rne learning OF
the acade mics, ana his information was SO arranged
that like well ordered arsenal, the various weapons
of attack and defence were readily seized upon as
the occasion required. He used with force and
power the broad axe Of Richard, or the keen seine
tar Of Saladin. He had but TO appear al the bar
and bis success was accomplished. The army Of
obstacles which often impede TIE way of The young
advocate vanished before him, and he might well
have exclaimed Yen ridi cci. IL is TO be regretted
that lasting memorial OF any OF big brilliant Ell
forts at the bar rserved. liz this ne has shared
the fate OF many others whose field OF forensic Ia
bors has teen the country. They whose eioquence
saniced 10 stir up OF allay the passions az Wiil,
10 rouse 10 Indignation or melt into teaes
courts and ures to rescue right and innocence
from the hands Of wrong and fraud, to cause
the earth 10 rcblc at every sep they made III their
terrible denuncatons OF fraud and crime, or. soar
ing on the wings Of truth, have like the eagle, APP
proacbed the heavens in their fight have had TO
stenograpbers in attendance to record Their efforts
which live only in the traditions OF then IN imme-
date neighbour )od. Such has been the fate OF the
many eloquent speeches OF Mr.. Upshur while al the
bar. He was soon elected by his native county TO
the House OF Delegates, where he played prom-
| nept and leading part, and his eminent abilities
caused him to be elected by the district In which
he resided. as member to the hrst convention
which met in Richmond to reform the State consti.
tuition. In that convention, composed as IT was OF
| the first Ken in the State--f not in the Union
Judge Upshur occupied a conspicuous position. IL
may be claimed for him, without dsparagement to
| Tiers, that his great speech which opened fully
the debates, stands almost. IL not qnite, unrlyaed
by any other delivered in that ,conren.on.
For thorough dsysi9e, ,s q sn' con
yerru ent should rest, and in which it may be said TO
have IFS origin or for power OF Illustration and Tor
logical scumen, that speech may be regarded as
constituting monumen. 70 the memory OF Abel p
UpshUr which will last as long as the language In
| which Il was uttered l. spoken. No man, however
extensive his reading on the science OF government,
can rise from it, pcusa with0u, decided benefit and
| Improvement. lie had previously been elected 10 a
seat on the bench Of tie General Court, and was in
the discharge o. the functions q jude Of that hsh
tribunal when he called 70 the head Of the Navy
Department, and vas, as h-ve stated from thence
| transferred 20 the Premiership OF the Cabinet.
Judge Upslur was succeeded in he Navy Depart
men. BY David Henshaw, Of Massachusetts,, gentle
/ man who had won a broad reputation in Ms native
State, and who. for the brief space during which
| he continued Ut tie head OF tie Department,
acquitted himself OF his duties with gre
ability ard 10 the entire satisfaction Of
he
state o. the times, and not his oyn dement's, he was
! rejected By the Scra'c, and Thsmis W. Glmer was
soon after Installed IN the vacant secretaryship.
4 had known him a. a leading member Of the Lcgis
| latme OF Virginia, in which body we had served
| together, and our acquaintance soon ripened into
close intimacy. Stern and iniexibe Ia his resolves,
1 no combination Of circumstances could drive hin
| from his purpose when once i became fxel.
whether the maintenance of his convictions placed
him on the crest Of the popular wave, or consigned
/ him 70 a smau minority, scanned ia 10 degree 70
Affect him. He esteemed truth the spriug Of hero
virtue and ne foioSed Il wherever i beckoncd, and
error " paled ia intellectual hre In order 70 mis-
| lead him. He was one, who had OCCASION offered
would readily have acted out the sayiog OF Metelas:
10 10 an IN action i base 70 10 good one which
/ involves you In no danger, j. nothing more than
common; hut II j. the property Of good man 70 d.
great and good things, though he risks everything
From tic 1oor Of the House he had risen to tie
SpeaEeNhip, tnd wa soon after elected 70 the Co
| vcrnorship OF the state OF Virginia. On subject
which has since under other phases assumed 4
| form dabe aud Threatening aspect 10 the peace and
harmony o. the Union, Il was Ms misfortune 10 dif
fer from the Legislature: aud he. considering i The
path OF honor. Voluntarily retired from the chair Of
state and threw himself once more, with increased
zeal and industry, gpon BIZ pro, sion. Sucil man
was not suffered long 70 remain IN private ife AMI
the people Of hs district soon after elected him %
4 Congress, and he had already won a high reputa-
/ ton that body when he va called 10 the head 81
\ The Navy Department
Thus were those two noble sons Of their blessed
| Commonwealth placed side by side q per-
\ foIm important parts On the great theatre Of tie
world TO win L. admiration and receive it, applause
| Endowed with the gift Of high intellect. governed
\ in their political actions by the same principles
controlled rs the lofty ambition Of rerorl lag their
names on The fair page Of history, and therefore
above al thing. intent upon acquting themselves
4 faithfully 81 their nigh duties the two might have
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