Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-02-05
DEATH OF PRESTON 8. BROOKS.

In our columns, this week, will be found the IN
nouncement of the death, and an extended account
Of the funeral obsequcs, of the distinguished Rep.
resentative of South Carolina, Preston S. Brooks
We may truly say that no ordinary calamity
could have thrown over the State pail of mourn
ing, so darklng and heavy as that which weighs
upon US now. 1t is meet that free people should
lament the loss of faithful public servant and
within limited experience, it has been the pro-
vince of the people Of South Carolina to bear up
such burdens of common sorrow, again and again.
But this event has in it that which awakeus
griefmore notwithstanding, all-pervadng pro-
found. We would not murmur that our beloved
Representative was not permitted, like Calhoun,
to take his place very high among the great of
earth "a star the more resplendent for the very
solitude of it's splendor-of the evening and of the
morning-to be admired and to guide. Such a
destiny would. indeed have been grateful. We
would not complain that noble life, young,
flushed with honors-glad and gladdening with
the prospect of higher and nobler triumphs-has
paused in mid career and dropped to earth, nerve
lessand dead This isisindeed thought of touching
bend to the blow with no word of complaint But
unlike all, PRESTON S. Brooks had touched n
chord deeper in the hearts Of the people, which
yet thrilled with intensest emotion at the men
ton of his name; and while they mourn as ma
tions lament the death of the great-while they
ore cast down with the burden of proud hope,
withered and sere-all the home .nurtured feelings
Of the soul are narrowed and wrung and we
grieve as the friend mourns his friend-the pro-
tector of his honor-his brother!
1t would be grateful task to portray, however
feebly, a character in which all the better attr-
butes of our nature were so nobly and beautifully
combined. 1t was our fortune to be permitted to
know him confidently and well and we shall look
back upon the instances Of our personal friendship
as the occasions, to be valued above all, which
taught us to admire, to appreciate and love those
rare and excellent traits of soul, and mind and per-
son, which at once constitute and adorn the al
most perfect model Of man. Had single quail
ty been sublimed to higher degree, he would
have been less man. Impulsive chivalrous,
quickly and strangely sensitive to the faintest
touch of dishonor he was kind, gentle generous to
a fault; and his heart was ever prompt to respond
to all the holier feelings which belong to the pat
riot, the son, the husband, the father and the
friend. If he erred, it was human; and as he was
quick to resent, he was the more ready to make
amende and to forgive. These qualities of his head
and heart were known; for the course of events
which gave direction to his career made them
prominent and seen of all men,. But it seemed to
have been reserved for the future to illustrate those
faculties of mind which, in their perfection, con-
stitute the highest order of intellect and states
manship. In these, too, those who knew him we'll
can testify that he was lavishly gifted He
was liberal, earnest, broad profound and prac-
teal thinker; with attainments of no ordinary
range, and purpose which was truthful and in
capable of indirection and had he lived to veri-
fy the hopes of those who knew him best, he would
have been foremost in the deliberations of the
council-hall aud the contests of the forum, as he
was and would have been the leader in action
But others have most truthfully and eloquently
pronounced his eulogy; be it ours to mingle, ST.
lently and profoundly, in the sorrow which per-
vades the State. .-
Those who now live will ere long, like their
gifted brother, find home in the grave; but the
great heart Of the people will beat on and forever;
and while South Carolina holds place in the
councils of earth-even as long as her history
may be found in the worlds alcove-so long, and
forever, will the memory of PRESTON S. Brooks
remain, bright and frightening to the end.