Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-02-25
REMARKS OF GEN. MCGOWAN.

At large and highly prespectabIe meeling o.
the citizens of Abbevile District, held in the
Court House on Sales-day, The 2nd inst, tc
pay tribute Of respect to the memory OF The
Hon. Preston s. Brooks, appropriate Resolu
,ions were unanimously passed Mr. Thomson
the Chairman, addressed the meeting in II few
brief and feeling remarks.
Gen. MCGOWAN, in recording The Resolutions
rose and said, in substance -
second the resolutions and in doing so, beg
indulgence to say one word in reference to the
melancholy event.
Mr.. Chairman: There is nothing more true
than the solemn declaration in the midst OF
life we are in dr;lh" But whilst We know that
death is d.iiy sezing its victims in our mi.ls
and that We live hourly under the inex"rabIe
law that all men nre born ~ die, yet we are
| startled. the blood runs back with Il sudden
rush upon the heart, when one young IN Years
and in blooming hcallh-whrn one possessing
the confidence of his felIow.cizenS, and arlu-
ally in the enjoyment Of high seat of honor,
is suddenly cut down without warning or pre-
moni,ion, and far away from family and home
friends, is prrcpitaey hurried to the tomb. l.:
this world of sorrow, il Is difficult to conc, Fe
ANYTHING more sorrowful than this.
Mr. Brooks is dead We are informed that
he died suddenly in Washington City, on Tues
day evening the 9th uliimo. lie has been cut
down in the very morning Of life, aud in the
midst of his honors and usefulness. We can
scarcely realize an event so unexpected, so start
ling, and so overwhelming!
| have known Mr.. Brooks long, and the rela-
| tions in Which we have been associated cnnbed
me to know him well. We were in college to-
uetlipr, where the warlnest and most dlslnteresl.
ed friendships Of life are contracted Alter The
bunds of college brotherhood were sundered BY
our graduation, ard entrance upon The stern re.
ali,ies of life, similar inclinalions soon threw us
together again, that met him in the Mexican
war, as Captain of the Edgefeld Company, in
the glorious Palmetto Regiment. There is no
better lest of the qualities OF man Than The
hardshps of soldiers life. We endured To-
eethrr for eighteen months tie labors and prrilS
the privaiuns and sacrifices. OF that magllicen,
campaign, which caplur the Capital OF Mexico
occupied the heart Of the enrmlcs country, ana
conquered an honorable peace for the nation
Soon after his return from Mexico, Mr.
Brooks was elected 10 Congress, under clrcum-
stances lighly creditable to him. lie was re-
elected twice, and the last Time withou: opposl-
tiuu, and unanimously We can sny OF him, IN
the utmost truth, that he proved himself equal
10 any and 10 all the positions Of honor and
trust awarded TO him by his fsllow-cilizens. 1t
is unnecessary oven 10 alluic to his course in
Cunorrss-,hat is well known TO every citizen
of this Congressional District. He surpassed
the expectations of his most sanguine friends,
and has undoubtedly enrolled his name in the
long list of Carolna's distinguished orators and
statesmen, and impressed it upon the general
history OF the country.
But Lhc other day, the citizens Of this Con
eressiunal District received him back from Wash
inglon, with jubilee ut Ninety-six, III warm
rs cordial and rs grand, rs any triumph evel
; awarded to Roman General for victories won
over barbarian enemies of the Empire To-day
his cold and lif.less corpse may be, and most
probably ,cHl be, received at The same place III
deep humility, sorrow and mourning.
What an illustration of the instability of al
things mortal! How true the remark of tht
great orator upon an OCCASION somewhat similar
"This melancholy event pllinly reads US an aw
full lesson against being too much troubled abou
any of the objects of ordinary ambition. Ou
worthy friend, who has been suddenly snatchet
from us, whilst his desires were rs warm ant
his hopes MS eager as ours, has feeling Ply told u
what shadows VIC are, and what shadows W
pursue"