The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-02-12
EulOgieS on P, s. Brooks.

lect those Of Messrs. KEIrT in the House.
and HUNTER in the Senate, as containing
complete biography and perfect sentiment:
Mr.. KEIrr, Of South Carolina, then rose
and addressed the House AS follows:
Mr. Speaker, it is my mournful duty 10
officially 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, on Tuesday evening, the 9th instant,
at Z o'clock. His disease was acute inAarn.
nation OF the throat; and so swiftly fatal
was it that not even his medical advisors
believed him to be in danger until within
the biiefest possible period before his de.
cease. Science availed not; skill avaied
not; delicate assduous attentions ayaied
not fonder vacant seat, badges Of mourn.
ing, and sorrowing friends, attest that he is
gone from among us.
MIR. Brooks was born in Edgefeld district,
South Carolina, in August, 1919. His "a.
ther was Whitfield Brooks, son Of L. S.
Brooks, who bad gone through the suffer.
ings and gathered some of the honors Of
our Revolutionary struggle. His mother
was Miss Mary Z. Carroll.
lie was educated at the South Carolina
College, which he left in 1889, receiving
ono OF its distinctions. In May, lsi3, he
was admitted to its bar, and in November,
1874, was elected to the General Assembly
OF the State. In lS46, when troops were
called for by the Federal Government to
repe tile invasion of Mexico upon our soil.
his native district (Edgetield) furnished "a
company TO the Palmetto regiment, oil which
lie was unanimously elected captain, and
was mustered into the service in Decern Der
OF that year. lie shared the earlier and la
ter events OF the campaign between Vera
Cruz and the city of Mexico, having in the
mean time been recalled home by severe
and exhausting attack Of illness.
! After the close of the war he withdrew
from the bar, and devoted himself diligent-
ly the pursuits Of agriculture. AS plan
ter he was eminently successful. While
engaged on his plantation, Mr.. Burt the
then Representative Of the "ninety.six dis
trict," voluntarily retired from the trust,
and Mr.. Brooks was elected his successor
in February, 1853.
lie came here the Representative Of a
proud and gallant constituency constit-
uency whose history had been illustrated
by the virtues, the craftsmanship, and the
e!oquence Of Robert Goodloe Harper ] Ohm
Z. Calhoun, and George McDuffie.
will not speak of his services here. In
the archives of The country are the monu.
menls 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
judgment solid and discriminating; in die
tion he was simple, and in taste refined
No indrecton marked him either mentally
or morally.
IN his bearing he was manly aud in in
tercourse generous; in dispute he was sim
cere and in friendship tenacious. Faiings
he had, for they are the allotment of hu-
manity; but long may the country mourn
ere 1t mourn better patriot or nobIer
spirit.
Mr.. Speaker, had he fallen in the even
ing of life, or had he even sunk down un.
der the gradual inroads of disease, could
have realized his extinction in death. But
for his sun 10 set while in It's 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 10 ME presence.
Even now the living man, in the glory OF
his intellect and manhood, and the dead
man In his dreary shroud, struggle for the
mastery. Alas! the struggle can be but a
brief one; for death has its victims, and,
though Its stings may be taken away, on
earth 1t has no conqueror.
Sharp, however, as may be our pangs.
sharper far will be the pangs in Wonder
/ sheltered home. There n stricken wife and
four orphan children will be smit.en with
the awful tidings 10 day announced. With.
In the sanctities of that home will not in.
trude, but suppIicate Heaven for balm 10
their crushed and bleeding hearts.
Mr.. Speaker, let there be reverence 70
the memory and peace to TIE ashes of the
/ dead. and let us mingle our tributes with
the funeral offerings which others will pour
a:ound his grave. A confding constituen.
| cy will sob over it, and State which hon
! ored him will be choked with sorrow. for
earth has ne'er pIlowed upon her bosom a
tuer son, nor Heaven opened wide lis
gates to receive "a manlier spirit.
Mr.. HUNTER, of Virginia, said rise Ia
| second win all my heart, the resolutions
which the Senator from South Carolina has
offered as token Of respect to his deceased
colleague, whose character and high quail
ties he has portrayed with so much of truth
and feeling. As we gather around the
grave of departed brother, not only is
friendship eager TO present the tribute OF its
affection, but even enmity, If it be the en-.
NIFTY OF generous mind, is ready to bury
with him Its bitter recolIections and ami
mosities as an offering to the common bro.
therhood OF humanity. Who of us does
not feel that when one has paid the last
debt Of nature he has settled his account.
with mani Who, too, could stand by the
last resting place Of fellow being, ard
deepen ITS gloom by casting upon 1.-THE dark
er shadows Of his mortal hatel Here, sir
at the threshold, rs it were, of these portal,
! thTOuph which tho sni-it of q hro,L y. l. q.