The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-08-13
THE DEATH OF SENATOR RusK.


The extra which follows, from the Nacogdoches
Texas) Chronicle of July 80, confirms the mean.
choly news of the death of Senator Rusk:
GEN, RusK is DEAD.A great calamity has befalen
the State of Texas One of her most distinguished and
noblest has fallen. Thomas ]. Rusk is no more
A gloom hangs people, mystery, thus far
is connected with the matter. We only give the
cts and mourn the sad stroke which has thus deprived
Texas and the South of valued and useful champion
Gen Rsk has, since the death of his lady, suffer.
ed under mental depression which at times bore him
down beneath it's weight He has to great extent 50.
cuded himself from society," and lately that desponden
has been more marked and apparent to those familiar
with him. severe Illness from which he was Just re.
covering had Frustrated him for weeks and he su
fering greatly from rising on the back Of his neck
On yesterday evening, about o'clock, his family,
hearing the report of gun and the fall Of body
the spot and found him lying dead upon the ground be-
hind the gallery at the back of the house. with rifle
under him A ooroner's jury summoned, from whose
verdict we extract the following
.The cause of his death was gun-shot riHe) wound
on the forepart of the head inflicted from rifle gun
held in his own hands and discharged by himself =
No further clue can be given to this mystery. No
papers writings Of the same day have been found
cept letter addressed to gentleman in New Orleans,
ordering tombstone for his wife, with this inscription
Blessed the pure IN heart they shall God"
Let the people mourn the loss of man who on the
field of BATTLE and in the councils OF the State and
already accorded him in the affections OF the people
A duplicate of this extra, (says the New Orleans
Picayune,) sent us by correspondent in Nacog-
doches, contains the following hasty postscript:
San inventory Of all his property found in port
folio, and the value of the divided by the number
of his children. He buried this evening with
sonic honors An obituary address delivered by the
Hon. w. b. Ochiltree, which will appear in the next
Chronicle, along with the full evidence in the matter
The Picayune adds:
These comprise all the circumstances that have reach
ed US Of Gen Russ death They betoken reconciliation.
and show disturbed and disordered condition of mind
Great indeed, must have been the Affections, and
the trials which could drive into such state of despair
of heart brave and understanding solid and
temper serene as those Of Senator Rusk.
We have not at hand materials for extended notice
of his and career These will doubtless be ty
mcmorated by those who have to authentic docu
mcnts. and it is not likely that which has grown
up steadily into such wide and well-mered POPULAR
ity and increasing in greatness and influence will
be permitted to fade away for the want of record.
We may, however, state in brief from memory, that
Senator Rusk was native of South Carolina and early
cmigrant to Texas He there before independence,
and Of the carly patriots who took up arms to
resist the Mexican expressions He held the rank Of col
onel in the revolutionary army and the declaration
independence and the organization of the republic
Texas the first Secretary of War His energy in the
management of that department. of infinite value to
the of the State and is spoken Of in the high
est terms of eulogy by of all parties, who en-
gagged in the great conflict and it must be noted that
there is theme upon which partsshp has been more
erccy manifested than the history Of the Texas revolt
ton All men, Of oil sides, however, have conceded the
most uninching courage and patriotism, and the most
Jealous and successful labors 10 Gen. Rusk.
He was with the army at San Jacinto, and Houstons
opponents that to Rsk is due the greater credit as
the hero of the day. BE that it may, his fame con
nued to grow, unsullied by rcproach. He had sutse
quently temporary command of the army, from which he
transferred to scat in the cabinet OF President Hous
ton. This place he resigned, in order to attend to bis
private affairs, but not long permitted to remain in
retirement He called out to suppress the Mexican
revolt Nacogdoches in 1888 led regiment from East
ern Texas against the Ccrokees in 1889 In 1843 when
the law passed for the protection of the western from
tier creating the Office of major general for that special
purpose it vetoed by the President mconsttution
al because the command Of the army made ndepend
emit of the Executive The legislature passed the law
the veto and elected General Rusk to the high Of
fee.
On the annexation of Texas 10 the United States
and her admission into the Union Gen Rus chosen
one of the first senators and in the drawing for terms with
his colleague, Gen. Houston, he drew the long term
which expired in 1851. He reelected unanimous
~, believe and had been just elected again. with
out opposition, for third term
What has been Gen Rusk career in the Senate is well
known to the whole country 1t has not been marked
by detached acts of high craftsmanship by brilliant
oratory special occasions, much by steady per-
ormance OF his whole duty on all occasions, with an ADJ
y fully up to the mark and directncss and integrity OF
purpose which for him frequent admiration and UNI
versa confidence In the Senate Of the United states
there has been senator for years to whom more I'M
sweving respect paid all sides for the soidy Oh
his judgment, the purity of his patriotism, and INC
strength of will and capacity with which he adhered
his convictions He trusted leader OF his own
party-one they delighted to honor yet its adversaIes
honored him. and vented upon him the repoache
which they heaped upon his party.
He was southern born-true to his section, and even
Had p.
grsions upon the rights of the South yet he abored
with energy with hope and with faith for the prcscra
ton of the Union.