Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-03-04
REMARKS OF HON. H. soUTHER,

on the announcement of the death Of DR.. Kane.
Mr. SPEAKER There are times and occa-
sions when words fail to express the emotions
of the heaIt-when the breath fails to convey
the emotions that struggle within. One of
those occasions now presents itself upon the
reso luton just offered by the Senator from
| York, and the matter therein contained and
the touching tribute paid to the memory of the
subject of the resolution, finds response in
! the heart of every Senator upon this floor
ELISHA X. KANE, in the prime of manhood and
| usefulness, has been stricken down by death,
and as mark of respect to his memory it is
| right that the Senate of his nativeState shonld
| show. by all the outward sign it can manifest,
| the reverence and respect that the State at
large entertains for his memory. His name
and fame are not, however, confined to Penn
| sylyania,or to the common country they have
travelled across the waters of the Atlantic,
and find the same response in the hearts of
our ancestors they have here. His useful
ness was appropriated to no cline or country;
1t was worldwide, for the general good of hu-
manity.
| The disease which terminated his earthly
career was contracted in the frozen regions of
| the north, and although in that desolate and
uninhabited region, where the foot of man
had scarcely ever trod. far away from family
and friends, laboring under vicIssitudes and
trials which would have caused heart less
brave to faltcr, with death looking him and
his gallant party in the face, exposed to the
most terrible sufferings and exposure that man
| ever combatted against--struggling ,as it were,
| against the DEGREES of nature, in the long
darkness OF the arctic winter, he manifested
| the most indomitable traits of character, and
showed that he possessed mind and viii
which nothing earthly could subdue. At an
earlier period of his life he served his country
in the war with Mexico, and aided, in his way,
to carry success with our flag. But, sir, had
| he died upon the battlefield in the hour of
victory, his death could not have been more
noble and distinguished than it now is. He
| has erected for himself a monument unlike,
it is true, that which rests over the grave of
the warrior; but one designated by his own
hands, and bearing inscription of his own
delineation. 1t is erected upon the field of his
labors and efforts for the cause of humanity.
| The intrepid mariner, who follows his foot
steps to the-higher latitude Of the north, and
will there read, high upon a rock which lifts
its huge head above the icy desert that sur
rounds its base, the simple inscription--esAD-
VANCE, 1S53-'54, ,"-and when he reads it. sim
| pie and short it is, his mind will recur to
the circumstances under which it was inscrib-
ed there, and it win remind him of the brave
navigator who sacrificed his life to mark bea-
con that others might be guided by and give
| those who might go after him information OF
their position that would enable them to some
! extent to avoid the dangers and difficulties that
| be had encountered.
The touching allusion made by the Senator
from York upon the gentle qualities ofthe de-
ceased, struck me as peculiarly appropriate.
He was as gentle as woman. For a few DAYS
past l have been engaged in reading his late
| narrative of exploration. his account of the
sufferngs of his gallant band, his gentle minis
tration to all those sufferings, the tender and
| gentle care with which he nursed them and at
tended to their every want, foregoing for HIM
self the ordinary rest which he required under
the trying circumstances in which he and his
comrades were placed, his personal attention
to matters of the most trivial nature for their re-
| lief, shows conclusively that with the sterner
qualities of man he combined the gentle quail
| itIes Of woman. But few moments ago the
| Senate chamber was the scene of a most ex-
citing debate, personal feelings for the views
which each entertained upon the matter then
under consideration, stood forth prominently:
but the announcement that the remains of one
! of the distinguished citizens Of the State was
being removed from land of strangers, to find
his last resting place among his friends and
| kindred, has caused q silence almost like
death itself to pervade this Hall. Let us pro-
| lit by the lesson taught, and remember that in
the conflict of mind and words in which we en-
| gage here, in the yigor of manhood, as many
of us are who occupy places here the sum-
mons may come soon to us--sBe We also ready
| MUNIFICENT DoNArIoS.-George Peabody
has donated 100000, to be increased here
after to half million dollars, for the establish
ment of an Institute in Baltimore, the details
| OF which are given in a letter, published in the
| Baltimore papers, from him addressed to a
number of the leading citizens of Baltimo ore,
whom he requests TO act as trustees of the
| fund. First, there must be All extensive libra
| ry, well furnished in every department of
knowledge, and of the most approved ltera-
ture, the books of which are not, except in spe-
cial cases, to be taken out of fhe building-a
| library, in fact for students and persons enga-
| ged in researches. Second, arrangements
must be made for the regular periodical deliv-
| cry. at the proper season Of each wear of lee