The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1857-02-05

ana uht me ADbcvliie Bdnnrr, indrpcnd"Ht
Press and E'lgefird Advertiser be furnished with
n copy for publication.
N. McCANTS Prcs't
J. W. CALHOUN, Scc'y.
CLINTON, January 90.
AT half past three o'clock to day we received
the mournful Intelligence of the death of the
Hon. p. S. BRooxs, one of Cnrola's nobIrst
sons, and beloved Representative of the 4th
Congressional District, who died suddenly at tho
City of Washington, Tuesday the 9th inst
at o'clock, T. NJ.
After u brief but brilliant career in Congress-
he has been called from our midst by un ali-wise
| Providence.
And us a mark of respect to the memory of
the lamented deceased, ull business was mcusura-
lily suspended, and meeting Of tile citizens of
| Clinton was called.
At tho appointed hour, Tmo's Craig, Esq. was
called to the Chair, and JAS A. DEEM request. to
act ns Sc cretary.
The meeting was called to order by the Chur-
man, with few appropriate rcmurks expressing
the object Of the meeting. a committee of five
was appointed to report Preamble and Rcsalu-
tons expressive of the sentiments of those as.
W. r.
| Metts, &. Z. Copeland, JUS. McCrury and Ma;
Z. Bcardcn.
Through their Chairman, the committee after
u short absence reported the following Preamble
| and Rcsolutions:-
Whereas, it has pleased Almighty God, in the
dispcnsaton Of his Providence to cut off, in the
midst of his usefulness, one Of Carona's most
gifted and most noble si,is. onc whose towering
intellect and noble, chvalrous bcaring has ell
dcared him TO every citizen of the Southern
States, nnd made him respected everywhere, and
beloved hy his constituents. Therefore be it
lst. Rcso!rcd, That in the death of PnIsroN
5. DEooKs, South Carolina has sustained an ire
parable loss, the fourth Congressional District dc
pr'ved OF II Representative of whom she was
justly proud, aud u sinc2rc friend und neiyhbor,
whose kind and noble nuture could only he uppre-
ciatcd by those who knew him best.
End Rrsotsr.i, That we cannot fnd langunge
to express the derp hcart-rending grief we feel
i'll the loss Of one much loved and admired.
3r.l. Rssof'"d, That while we meckly submit
to the dispensations Of all all wise Providence, we
cunnOt hut feel, and our hearts would say
"w"uld that any one had died but thee
1th. Rcsotrrd, That we offer our cordolencr
TO the family of the deceased in their ufllict,ons,
and that copy of these proceedings be sent to
the family Of the deceased
Of mourning OH the left arm for thirty days.
9Th. Resoired That the proceedings OF this
meeting br published in the papers of this Con-
gressional District, and in the Curolinn Times.
Mr. N. S. HARRIS, in presenting the report of
the Committee nude un able, and impressive
speech. He said:
feel tliat any effsion OF elo1uence would ut
this timo be inappropriate. We hnve met to ex-
press our deep aud heartfelt grief ut the death
Of one whose muny virtues do not feel pre-
pared to attempt to portray; one, who for his
| devotion 10 the rights OF his constituents, and
honor of our beloved State, has brought down
| upon him tho bitter anathemns of almost one ell
tire sectional division Of our Coufe,leracy. And
for his unflinchipg devotion to the honor of the
home Of his birth: has lie ever been threatened
with that most dreaded Of all enenies-thc dag.
| ger of the assassin. But true TO his trust, and
his State. he stood faithful and fearless ,ratch-
! man at his post. Possessed of the highest order
| Of intellect, with will that knew difficulty
| that lie could not overcome, combined with n
blind devotion to the interest, and the honor of
! his constituents, it is not strange that we feel
deeply his loss. Truly, then, may we feel that
calamity is upon us, and truly, in the language
hearts, "would that any one had died but thee"
But enough, pause to drop silent tear at
! the unexpected death Of one we so much de-
lighted to honor.
But We fear we are doing TOO much injustice
toeven synopsis of the speech. We would on.
ly say, while honoring the dead, the speaker re-
fected much credit upon himself
Thomas II. Pitts, Esq, wns then loudly called
| Tor, who arose, and i'll solemn, dignifed, and
burnibg eioquence portrayed the magnanimity
| Of his character, who SO nobly defended our in.
| stitutions in the cabinet and in the field
He said: But a few days since, and we reioiccd
in the gl'ttering pearl we Possessed in him, who
| now lives only in memory; that the solemn toll
Of the funeral song has already told US that ma
tonul calamity has befallen our mighty Repub.
lie. South CaroIiuas most brilliant lowell 10 now
wrapt in the soinding sheet. Hon. PREsrox s.
Books is dead. One of our beacon lights has
been extinguished; he whose chivaIry and patri.
otism knew no superior, is gone, aud our whole
country Is in mourning. What shall I sayi-
Shall tel! you Of tho magnificent laurels which
entwned his brow when no stood but q short
time since upon the plains of "a. distant country
battling most nobiy and gloiously for the rights
and libsfties Of his country7 Shall say his un-
dnunted courage and enthusiastic zesi made him
i 1T suhjectstosiaee tie cannon's mouthi sbal
Itelt you that IN tho halls of our Nationsl Conn
Gil he stood eminent Nc statesman, and az y DO
lticiapss whoses opinion was respected and sd-
n.irsdi Or shall I tell you that he was placid,
calm and deiigh htfoi in the home circle, endeassd
70 an and Beloved by his friendsi I consider al
.fll-s