Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-02-05

tive district (Edge6eld) furnished a company to
the Palmetto regiment, Of which he ives unsni-
mousyl elected captain, and was mustered into
the service in December of that year. He shared
the earlier and later events Of the, campaign be-
tween Vera Cruz and the city of Mexico, having
in the mean time been recalled home by severe
and exhausting attack Of illness. at..
After the close of the war he Withdrew from the
bar, and devoted himself diligently to the pur-
suits Of agriculture. AS planter he was eminent
ly successful. While engaged on his plantation,
Mr. Burt, the then Representative OF the "Nlnety-
Six district" voluntarily retired from the trust,
and Mr.. Brooks was elected his successor in Feb.
ruary 1853.
He came here the Representative of proud
and gallant constituency whose history had been
illustrated by the virtues, the craftsmanship, and
the eloquence Of Robert Goodloe Harper, John G..
Calhoun, and Geo. McDufhe.
1 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 testimonies to
his character.
In fancy Mr.. Brooks was chaste and in judge
ment solid and discriminating; in diction he was
simple, and in taste refined. No indirec ton
marked him either mentally or morally.
In his bearing he was manly, and in intercourse
generous; in dispute he was sincere, and in
friendship tenacious. Failngs he had, for they
are the allotment of humanity; but long may the
country mourn ere it mourn d better pratrio. or a
nobler spirit. 3
Mr.. Speaker, had he fallen in the evening of
life, or had lie even sunk down under the gradual
inroads of disease, could have realized his ex-
tinction in death. But for his sun to set while in
its MONDAY blaze, it is hard to feel that it will
rio hoa IN Torn
Of extreme intimacy, and he is still to me pres
ence. Even now tbs living man, in the glory of
his intellect and manhood and the dead man in
his dreary sbroud, struggle for the mastery Alas
the struggle can be but brief one for death has
it victims, and, though its stings may be taken
away, on earth it has no conqueror.
Sharp, however, as may be our pnngs, sharper
far will be the pangs in yondor sheltered home.
There is stricken wife and four orphan children
will be smitten with the awful tidipgs to day an
nounced Within the sanctities of that home
will not intrude, but Isupplicate Heaven for balm
to their crushed and bleeding hearts.
Mr.. Speaker, let there be reverence to the mem
ory and peace to the ashes Of the dead and let us
minge our tributes with the funeral offerings
which others will pour around his grave. A con-
fiding constituency will sob over it, and State
which honored him will be choked with sorrow,
for earth has never pilowed upon her bosom
truer son, nor Heaven opened wide its gates to
receive manlier spirit.
In conclusion, Mr. Keitt submitted the follow
ing resolutons :
Resoiped That this House has received with
deep sensbiity the announcement of the death of
the Hon. Preston s. Brooks member Of this
House from the State Of South Carolina. =
Resolped, That this House tender to the family
of the deceased the expression of its sympathy on
this affecting event; and as testimony ofres-
pect for his memory, the members and officers OF
this House will wear the usual badge of mourning
for thirty days.
Resolved That the Senate be invited to attend
the funeral Of the deceased this day, atone o'clock,
P. NJ. - y
Resolved, That the Clerk ofthe House be direct
ed to communicate o copy Of these proceedings
to the family Of the deceased.
Mr.. Quitman, of Mississippi, said: cannot
permit this sad occasion to pass without adding o
few words to the eloquent, just, and appropriate
tribute which has been paid to the memory of the
lamented deceased by his friend and colleague.
He whose sudden and untimely death we now
mourn, was also my friend. Years ago, when the
first down of manhood was. upon his cheeks,
knew him. I had seen him at Vera Cruz, sharing
with his men the privations, the dangers, and the
triumphs of that famous siege. Whether march.
ing through the scorching sands of a tropical shore
or traversing the frosty mountain passes, he ever
exhibited the Serene, cheerful, and determined
bearing of the soldier and gentleman. In sum
shine and in rain, by day and by night, when
pinched by hunger and thirst, as we'll as when sur
rounded with plenty, he well performed his duty.
He was an officer of that gallant Palmetto regi.
ment, which, on bright day in March, formed
,of tb nd f,o hoo onh of lara
Cruz; and which, when, six months afterwards,
its flag, soiled by the smoke of battle, was planted
on the gates Of Mexico, could muster but three
hundred men fit for duty. It's brave and accom-
plished commander Col. Pierce Butler, who fell
on the CORY ield of Churubusco, was the blood
kinsman of the deceased. Its second field officer,
Lieut. Col. Dickinson, having fallen in the same
field, and its Major, GLADDEN., severely wounded
ut the Belen Gate, the command devolved on
Capt Dunovant the brother-in-law of thef de-
ceased. -. =,
On every battle field on which the standard of
that regiment foated, though bathed in Carolina's
best blood, it was ever borne to victory Such was
my confidence in the officers and men Of that regi-
ment that, had it ever been my lot to see that
proud flag laid low upon the bloody field, would
have looked to find beneath its tattered folds the
corpse of the last survivor Of that gallant band
Five of the relatives of the late Capt. Preston
S. Brooks fell in the last battles Of the valley OF
Mexico. He himself had been compelled, by Sc
yers illness, to return home, aid did not rejoin
his regiment until after the capture of the impe-
rial city.
At the commencement of this Congress, after
years of separation. again met my former COM
rade on this foor and received daily evidences of
his gentle and kind manner towards his friends.
His soul was the abode of integrity and honor
His intercourse with his fellow men was distin-
guished for simplicity, candor, and truth; and oil
will admit that he has left short as his career has
been, upon our records repeated evidences of his
talents and abilities.
- Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, said that Mr.. Brooks
merited the confidence of his constituents, be-
cause he was always the faithful advocate of their
political sentiments, and the jealous guardian OF
their rights, interest and honor.
His relations with the deceased were such as to
enable him to know and appreciate his virtues.
He was man of kind heart and most tender SEN
sibilities Mr.. Kett had we'll said that his friend
ship was of the most extraordinary tenacity. If
these elements, which are among the highest
characteristics Of true manhood ever led him to
acts which our judgments would decide to be
wrong, let us remember that "to err is human
to forgive divine"
Mr. Clingman remarked that his acquaintance
with the deceased commenced with the latter's
first term of service in the House, and from the
fact that they came from o district Of country
united in the past and present history-the peo-
pie entertaining similarity of feelings and VIEWS
made them warm personal friends With his own
immediate constituents his popularity was un-
bounded. Coming from State whose generosity
a odyoncaa tbe n,erits of ire sons he had already