Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1857-08-21
Senator Rusk Dead!

All in Washington were horror stricken this morn.
ing by the announcement, per telegraph, of the sui
eide of Senator Thomas j. Rusk, of Texas by shoot
ing himself through the head with rifle which
occurred at his home on the 29th of July ultimo. AS
yet no particulars of the circumstances under which
this awful event took place known to the public
OF the Atlantic States. Those who knew him inti-
mately-and none knew him thus except to love and
revere him-will alone fail 10 be surprised at the
event. Previous to his advent in the United States
Senate, in 1916, he distinguished almost alone
as pioneer soldier, in which capacity his courage
good sense am unvarying urbanty won him univer.
sal popularity in Texas, where the remarkable pow
ers OF his expansive mind were thus as unknown to
the public as elsewhere, except TO the few who wit
messed the proceedings of the (Texas) Convention of
l845 to form State Convention. In the Senate of
the United States his acquisition of the great fame as
Statesman was as slow and regular, as sure Dan
lel Webs er, shortly before ms death, repeatedly
pronounced his be the greatest intellect among the
members of that body, an such was the opinion of
him held by the leading minds in this city from that
day to this. He had as great antpahy to oratorical
display as TO parzan Ioltics, which induced him at
all lines 10 eschew 0ratorcal demonstrations upon
mere political subjects, though always firm, and
faithful as the most faithful, to the princpes and
measures OF the Democratic party. Among the lead
ing politicians OF the party, more especially in public
ite 1t was generally conceded that in case of protrct.
ed contest in the next Democratic National Conven
tlon over the Presidential nomination, the choice
"oulu udVe Ueeh mIsI likely 60 fall upon hIm, as
being obnoxious to interest in the party and most
confded in by all.
We knew him we'll throughout the last nineteen
years, and never knew any other public man to be
more entirely unselfsh, Conscientious in ali his
thoughts and acts, public and private or to possess
moe traits OF character such win for their posses
sor the confidence and esteem, and, indeed, the ar
dent affection of men of mind and abiding personal
character. AS father, husband and neghbor, he
was loved as few.men are.
In early life he frequently gave way 10 ungoverna-
BILE temporary spells of dissipation, wherein he lost
his usual command himself. Later, 3wes er, he
gradually gained control over his passion for such
ontbursts until they had become very rare with him.
While in them his friends often fealed that he would
inure himself with weapons and were careful as far
as possible to keep them out of his reach
His wife died some eighteen months ago. and thus
the strongest chord binding him to life was snapped
He grieVed over her death like a child for its
mother. 1t Preyed upon him at all times affecting
him daily more and more, though few, indeed, were
aware that the loss of the sharer of all his early
tolls-the best and truest friend he ever had the
smoother of all his troubled moments the object of
his puest and most devoted affections for twenty five
years or morehad broken his heart; for he loathed
parade in such matters, as in all things else That
in tit OF undue excitement under such crcumstan-
ces, he should have committed suicide, does not
prise US. He leaves no ADLER American statesma n
behind him, and the world will never behold more
conscientious and upright public man.
WASHINGTON Star