The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-09
THIRTY--FIFTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.

NJ HAMMOND addressed the Senate as follows
Mr. President it is my painful duty To announce
- tbn senate the death OF my venerable friend and
llsao,s JeelAu j. EVANS who died most unex-
elly on the evening of the 9th instant of disease of
The heart He IN the Senate during the entire sss
Ion Of that day He Afterwards dned with me, and sat
i table by your side He before the appointed
I,r to avoid the storm that threatened and through
n The evening very cheerful and seemed more than
nualy disposed to join in conversation and when
sisel him with his overcoat and attended him to his
arriage thought that he entirely recovered from
niulisposon from which he had suffered less
during the winter and that many years of green old age
remained for him yet Scarcely however had an hour
alsed before stunned by the intelligence that he
was no more and fastening to Ibis residence found
him dead Never before in my experience, have 80
Nly realized that Sin the midst Of life are in DEATH
MIR EVANS was born In South Carolina, and WAS one Of
the earliest graduates of her then infant college He
was of the class OF 1903 He educated To tho bar
where he to emincnce At early age he was
sent to TIE legislature, and shortly after made solicit
Tor Of his circuit which post he held until 1880, whom
he was elevated to the bench lie continued there until
he was in 1852 chosen by the State OF South Carolina to
nprcscnt her on this floor He has filled every station
he has occupied with unrng industry, scrpuions tde
y and dstng ability, and to the entire satisfac
ton of his State.
without any pretcnsons to brlalcy of parts, he had
a strong and clear intellect full mind, and a sound
discriminating judgment and these capacities, joined
with seaness of purpose and the most conscientious in
ity, made him. in my opinion one Of the wseest and
fed were tempered by polished ,rbanity an unvary
inc cheeriuncss and unaffected kndlnes to concili
ate the thorough respect and the devoted attachment of
those who knew him well
Mr.. EVANS was born on the 27tl OF November
1856 and therefore than seventyone years Of
age and had been, until recently blessed with uniform
and robust health Hc had lived his full three
years and ten and few have lived them better enjoyed
them more for with fond family and ample fortune
he was in all his private we'll public relations
without bemsh reproach, and in South Carolina had
cyev only TO indicate the position he desired to occupy
whether in society in his profession or in affairs to have
haccoidcd TO him MT once.
/ have known Mr.. EVANS long, and have known him
intimately aud since have been in this Senate rela
ons have been close and cordial that his sudden loss
makes dsconsolae. In this feeling AN, snrc that
have the sympathy of every senator. believe may
say with perfect truth, that senator enjoyed to y
greater extent than my lanened colleague the respect
the esteem, the confidence and may add the affection
Of this body, and Of all who connected with it, He
was a man who though full of manincss, never had an
enemy and throughout the length and breadth Of our
little STATE, into whose high places tho arrows of death
have of late flown frequent, every heart will bc sud
dene,l by this dispensation of Providence.
Allow me, Mr.. President to offer the following reso-
Iutions
Resap unanimously That the members Of the Senate, from
sincere desire Of showing every mark Of respect to the memory q
sm Carolina will into mourning for the residue the present
Rs,ssd unaniasou.i
deceased from tho Senate chamber at o'clock to-day and
Fon, TocAn uaowS, and BRou superintend the same
Ordered That the Secretary these proceedings TO the
House Of Representatives,
Mr. BENJAMIN. The feeling and eloquent tribute
that has just been rendered to the memory Of de-
parted brother has awakened sensbilities which fear
will be Jared by anything can hope to say yet sir,
having been thought worthy OF an invitation to join in
these sad rites pray you for moments Indulgence
whilst lay humble offering ON tho grave around
which we gathered
It literally but yesterday that the seat before me
ator to-day Carolina his loss tho electric
ngor has done its work. and the friends Of his home
minging their grief with ours: recalling as
are, the affecting words with which 80 lately he Ia
meed the death of his late colleague, that the in
exoable fiat had stricken down the vigorous tree, and
left unscathcd the withcred remnants Of the decayng
trunk
Sad indeed have been the recent bcrcavcmcnts which
has pleased Providence to inct upon the native State
of him The stricken heart Of the nation
still throbbing heavily in unison with hers for the
loss of her preemnent son, when on my taking my seat
in This body learned to know and to love- both the col
league and the almost Immediate OF John G.
Calhoun few short years have elapsed, and where is
now the beanng eye Of Andrew Pckens Butlerf Where
his genial presence, his ringing voice. his manly bearing
h whole being stamped rs it was with the seal OF honor
the impress Of true nobility OF soul2 Broken hearted at
the loss of his gallant kinsman he has sunk into the
tomb to which, with shaken frame, and streaming eyes,
he had followed the ainented Brooks Hamilton, too
the chivarons the warm hearted the eloquent Hamilton
now, now EVANS the crudite judge the honored senator
the soul of truth, who loved justice for the sake of
uce truth for the sake Of TRUTH he too is to be borne
To the last common resting place of and amongst
us, the place that has known him shall know him no
more.
This not the time the place for calm and meas
ured analysis Of those intellectual and moral qualities
which won for JOSIAH j Evans tire proud distinction of
being selected by his native State worthy to fill the
scat occupied by her Calhoun. Yet IL is not alien
10 the feelings natural such occasion that affection
houeye to the traits peculiarly characteristic Of tho
deceased and fonlly seek to stamp upon the memory all
that preserve q vivid image of him who has left
us forever.
Whence, thcn that respectful and afectionate
reverence with which his presence greeted by
us all2 Judge EVANS no orator. Not his were amy
olhoe impasioncd appeals to the national heart with
which the genius of Clay carried captive in his train all
within reach of the magic of his voice lie has left for
the admiration and instruction of posclity of those
magnificent orations which for the great senator
from Massachusetts, the title of the American Demos
themes did he bring into the councils of the nation
That profound and philosophical insight into the science
government that marvellous capacity Cor analysis,
That acute discrimination that vigorous logic that
gaous almost prophetic statcsmanship which greatly
distinguished Carclinas illustrious son. Yet in
other and though humber, perhaps not less useful
sphere, he fully mcrtcd the honor with which lie had
been crowned by his State
Born at period when triumphant fortune
ing the heroes Of the Revolution with the acls Of vic
lorious batc nurtcd in the nIst of those convnlsve
roes that preceded the birth OF the institutions ulder
which we live; surrounded by men whose are IL
ustrted in history not more by tlci value in the
held than by their virtues patriots and their merits
statesmen he carly nbhed those lefty principles Of yir
Tue and of honor which he cnincnty exhibited ia his
public career. These first impressions Of his childhood