The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1857-08-19
Death of Senator Rusk.

Death of Senator Rusk.
The Washington Star, in noticing the
death of Senator Rusk, of Texas, says:
"SENAToR RUsk DEAD!-All in Wash
ington were horror stricken this morning
by the announcement, per telegraph; Of
the suicide of Senator Thomas J. Rusk,
of Texas, by shooting himself through the
head with rife, which occurred at his
home on the 29th of July, ult., As yet no
particulars of the circumstance under
which this awful circumstance took place
are known to the public of the Atlantic
States. Those who knew him intimately
and none knew him thus except to love
him and revere him will alone fail
to be surprised at the event. Previ-
GUS to his advent in. the United States
Senate in 1916 he was distinguished al
most alone as pioneer soldier, in which
capacity his courege, good sense and un-
varying urbanity won him universal popu-
larity in Texas, where the remarkable
powers of his expansive mind were then
as unknown to the public as elsewhere,
except to the few who witnessed the pro-
|ceedings of the (Texas) Convention of
lS45 to form State constitution. In
the Senate of the United States his ac-
quisition of great fame as statesman was
as slow and as regular as sure Daniel
Webster, shortly before his death, repeat
edly pronounced his to be the greatest in
tellect among the members of that body,
and such was the opinion of him held by
the leading minds of this city from that
day to this. He had great antipathy to
oratorical display as to partisan politics,
which induced him, at all times, to es-
chew oratorical demonstrations upon mere
political subjects, though always firm, and
faithful as the most faithful, to the princi-
Piles and measures of the Democratic par
ty. Among the leading politicians of the
lparty, more especially in public life, it was
generally conceded that in case of pro-
tracted contest in the next Democratic
National Convention over the Presidential
nomination, the choice would have been
most likely to fall upon him, as being OBJ
noxious to no interest in the party, and
most confided in by all. !
"We knew him well throughout the last
nineteen years, and never knew any other
public man to be more entirely unselish,
SO conscientious in all his thoughts and
acts, public and private, or to possess
more traits of character such as win for
| their possessor the confidence and esteem,
and, indeed, the ardent affection Of men
of mind aud abiding personal character.
As father husband neighbor he was
loved as few men are.
"In early life he frequently gave way
to ungovernable temporary spells of dis.
! sipation, wherein he lost his usual com.
mand over himself: Later, however, be
gradually gained control over his passion
for such outbursts, until they, had become
very rare with him. While in them, his
friends often feared he would injure him
self with weapons, and were careful, as fal
as possible, to keep them out of his reach
ellis wife died some eighteen month,
ago, and thusthe strongest chord bindins
/ him to life was snapped. He grievet
over her death like child for its mother
1t preyed upon him at all times, affecting
him daily more and more. though few, in
deed, were aware that the loss of th,
] sharer of all his early toils-the best ant
truest friend he ever had, the soother o
all his troubled moments, the object of hi
purest and most devoted affections TO
nty-fve years or more had broken hi
heart; for he loathed parade in such mat
Iters, as in all things else. That in fit o
undue excitement, under such circum
stances, he should have committed suicide
Idoes not surprise US. He leaves no able
American statesman behind him, and th,
world will never behold more oonscien
tious and upright public man.''