Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-02-11

and having returned to the Senate chamber,
On motiou of Mr.. Toombs, the Senate adj
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Rev. DANIEL WALDO, chaplain to the House,
offered an appropriate prayer, when the journal
of yesterday was reaG.
Mr. KEITT, of South Carolina then rose and
addressed the House as follows:
Mr.. Speaker, it is my mournful duty to otti-
cially announce to the House the death OF the
Hon. Preston S. Brooks, one OF its members
from the State of South Carolina.
Mr.. Brooks died at his residence, in this city,
OH Tuesday evening, the 9th instant, at I
o'clock His disease was acute Inflammation OF
tue throat; and so swiftly fatal was it, that not
even his medical advisers believed him to be in
danger, until within the bricfcst possible period
before his decease. Science availed not; skill
araied not delicate, assiduous attentions avail
cd not Yondcr vacant seat, badges OF mour-
ming, and sorrowing friends, attest that lie is
gone from among us.
Mr.. Brooks was born in Edgefcld district,
South Carolina, in August, 1919. His father
was Whitfield Brooks, SON of Il. 5. Brooks,
who had gone through the suilerings, and gath
cred some of the honors, of our Revolutionary
struggle His mother was Mary p. Carroll
He was educated at the South Carolina Col
lesc which he left in 1899, receiving one of its
distinctions In May, 1913, he was admitted
to its bar, and in November, lSl4, was elected
to the General Assembly Of the State. In
1916, when troops were called for by the Fed
cral Government to repcl the invasion Of Mexico
upon our soil, his native district (Edgetield)
furnished company to the Palmetto regiment,
of which he was unanimously elected captain,
and was mustered into the service in December
of that year. lie shared the earlier and later
events 0f the campaign between Vera Cruz and
the city of Mexico, having in the mcan time
been recalled home by 4 severe and exhaustng
attack of illness.
After the close of the war lie withdrew from
the bar, and devoted himself diligently to the
pursuits of agriculture. As a planter he was
eminently successful. While engaged OH his
plantation, Mr. Burt, the then Representative
of the Ninety-six district voluntarily retired
from the trust, and Mr.. Brooks was elected his
successor in February, 1858.
lie came here the Representative OF proud
and gallant constituency constituency whose
history had been illustrated by the virtues, the
craftsmanship, and the eloqucnce Of Robert
Goodloc Harper, John c. Calhoun, and Geo.
McDutfic.
will not speak Of his services here. In the
archives of the country are the monuments of
his reputation in the hearts Of those who
served with him upon this floor, are the teSti-
monies to his character.
In fancy, Mr.. Brook, was chaste, and in
Judgment solid and discriminating; i'll diction
4 f., tos f1 n
direction marked him either mentally or mor.
ally.
In his bearing lie was manly, and in inter
course generous; in dispute he was sincere, and
in friendship tenacious. Failings he had. for
they arc the allotment of humanity; but long
may the country mourn ere 1T mourn better
patriot or npbler spirit.
Mr. Speaker, had he fallen III the evening OF
life, or had he even sunk down under the gradu-
al inroads OF disease, l could have realized his
extinction i'll death. But for his sun to set
while in its MONDAY blaze, it is hard to feel
that it will rise no more. For years we have
been on terms Of extreme intimacy, and he Is
still to me presence. Even now the living
man, in the glory Of his intellect and manhood,
and the dead man in his dreary shroud, strug-
gle for the mastery. Alas the struggle can
he but brief one; for death has its victims,
and, though its stings may be taken away, on
earth it has no conqueror
Sharp however, as may be onr pangS, sharper
far will be the pangs in yondcr sheltered home.
/. There q stricken wife and four orphan children
will be smittcn with the awful tidings to-day
announced. Within the sanctities of that home
| will not intrude, but supplicate Heaven for
balm to their crushed and bleeding hearts.
Mr.. Speaker, let there be reverence to the
memory and peace to the ashes of the dead,
and let us mingle our tributes with the funeral
offerings which others will pour around his
grave. a confdng constituency will sob over it,
and a State which honorcd him will be choked
with sorrow, for earth has never pilIowel upon
her bosom Il truer son, nor Heaven opened wide
its gates to receive a manlicr spirit.
In conclusion, Mr.. KEIrT submitted the fol-
lowing resolutions:
Resolved, That this House has received with
deep sensibility the announcement of the death
of the Hon. Preston S. Brooks, a member Of
this House from the State of South Carolina.
Resolved, That this House tender to the
family of the deceased the expression OF its
sympathy on this affecting event; and, as a
testimony of respect for his memory, the mcnl-
bcrS and OfflcerS OF tl1s llouSe VIII wal Liz
| usual badge of mourning for thirty days.
\ Resolved, That the Senate be invited to at.
l|tend the funeral of the deceased this day, at
toue o'clock, P. NJ.
Resolved, That the Clerk Of the House be
directed to communicate copy of these pro-
ceedings to the family of the deceased.
Mr.. QrITMAx, of Mississippi, said | cannot
permit this sad occasion to pass without addin!
a few words to the eloquent, just, and appro
pirate tribute which has been paid to the memo
ry of the lamcntcd deceased by his friend ant
colleague.
lie whose sudden and untimely death w
now mourn, was also my friend Years ago
when the first dawn of manhood was upon hi
cheeks, knew linn. I had seen Inn at Ver
Cruz sharing with is men the privations, TIL
dangers, and the triumphs of that famous siege
Whether marching through the scorching sand
Ct tropical shore, or traversing the frost.