Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-01-22
senator sewnrd's Euiogy upon tho Late
Senator X usk, or Texas.

not apy of those who were the companions
of the hearthstone Of the dead, but some one
who sustained only public relations to him,
that is expected to pronounce the customary
panegyric. On this ground, | should claim
the privilege Of being silent on this occasion
if | thought that my connection with the late
Mr.. Rusk was rightly understood. 1t is true
that was not his kinsman, nor his neghbOr.
nor even his political associate. was, ner-
ertheless, attached TO him by bonds strong
as the charity that consecrates even those re-
lations. But they were peculiar bonds. L
was his captive, an adversary overpowered'
overcome, and conquered by his generosity
in my first encounter with him here IN tu's
field of sectional strife, released on parole,
prisoner at large, but devoted to him Gy
gratitude for the period Of my whole iite' Ia
that character follow the hearse which Is
bearing him away from our sight. Since
must SPEAK, nature shall have lis way, ana
nv u,terances, proceeding not from study
but from feeling, shall tell less OF his great
worth than ofny own great loss.
All the world Knows that Thomas j. Rusk
was brave and heroic, and yet prudent aud
patient in the camp and 10 the field. These
we're the virtues which distinguished him
here, and they were chiefly the means OF bis
success in the Senate He knew no fear of
opposition, raised by either prejudice or pas
sion. lie undertook nothing without trSt
balancing all the chances OF success, and
gathering in and combining all the aValla-
Die agencies necessary to secure 1t: and he
maintained perfect equanimity until all re-
sistance WAS overcome. As he was without
fear, 50 he was also free from jealousy and
from envy. Thus happily constituted, he
tolerated in oil others the same fidelity to
their own characters and the same loyalty u
the interests they represented, which he bore
10 his own instincts and to the interests con-
Il led to his care. lie despised ART, trick, and
cunning, and advanced always directly to-
wards his appointed end If he was some
times irritated at seeming injustice, or misap-
preheusion, he corrected his error without
even waiting for complaint or explanatIon.-
| doubt whether any setting sun, during his
whole life ever witnessed his anger.
As he was manifesty unassumlnS and
unaffected, so, for aught that | could ever
see or hear, be was altogether unambitious.
lie practised no fattery. am sure that no
sensible man ever offered him adulatiOn.-
He was not, in any degree, sectional 10 his
policy; but he aimed always at the advance
ment and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of hls whole coun-
try Hence fertilization, improvement OF
roads, rivers, and lake navigation, every
where within our national jurisdiction, and
explorations and extended navigation, and
telegraph communication with all accessible
regions without it, in every part oil the
rlObe-.hese were the achievements he made,
these are the monuments of wisdom and pa
triotism which he has left among US. TWAS
in the studies connected with these measures
that my acquaintance with him ripened into
an ardent friendship. Each of US deplored
his ignorance of the regions concerning which
we were legisla,ing, and as they seemed to
us to be growing world wide, we spoke, half
seriously and half imaginstively, of going
together to enlarge our knowledge in voyage
around the world. Bot 1t was thing easier
10 conceive than to execute; and though 1t
might never be executed, 1t was still pleas
ant to contemplate.
| saw him last at the late special session
of the Senate, called to inaugurate new ad'
ministration. | demanded of him that he
should cause one personal and political friend
of mine, but who was inotfensive, and a COT
petent and faithful officer, TO be retained in
a subordinate post under the new admins
ton. lie promptly responded, pleasantly
adding, that no would make the granting
Of nv request condition of his own loyalty
TO the new powers. We separated. lie went
to his own sunny land, and | to my home un
der the genial nOrth star.
On the last day Of August, was re-enter'ng
the port Of Quebec, after voyage OF thirty
davs in search of health along the inhospltal
bic coasts Of Labrador. The sympathies o
home and country, 80 long suppressed, were
revived within me, and was even medtatlne
new labors and studies here, when the pilot
who came on board, handed me a newspaper
which announced the death OF the senator
from Texas. NV first emotions were those
of sadness and sorrow over this bereavement
of a personal friend When these had had
their time, tried 20 divine why it was that
he, among all the associates whom honored
esteemed and loved here, was thus suddenly
aud prematurely withdraw n from the scene
of our commou labOrs; be, for whom thought
higher honOrs we're preparing and iuiiei
wreath was being woven; he, who seemed &c
me to stand n monument against which the
waves of faction must break, II ever they
should be stirred up from their lowest depths
be, in short, with whom thought | might dc
somuch. and without whom could do almost
nothing, to magnify and honor the republic"
Tnat question could not solve. | cann"'
solve it now. IL is only another occasion ir
which am required to trust, where | an
not permitted to know, the ways Of the Urea
Dlspuser.
Mr. President, the teeming thoughts Of
this solemn hour bring up once more before
me the manly form and beaming countenanct
Of my friend, Though it is but for that Tor
nal parting which has, until now, been deniec
me- Farewell, noble patriot; heroic soldier
faithful statesman, generous friend; loved by
no means the least, although among the las
Of friends secured. | little thought tina
our wbisperngs about travels over earth
iairest lands aud broadcast seas were only thu
suggestions of our inward natures to prepsI
for the sad journey that leads through tn
gates of death. do not doubt that tor your
self death is gain, since the event was az
pointed by him who doeth all things we'll
1t is best for me. also, for ii loosens anothe
one Of the bonds that bind me to the eartt
dives,s the common fate OF one more OF 1t
terrors, and creates. through the hope OF r.
union. another aspiration for better lile b'
ycnd the grave.
COMMUNICATED.
The most pleasant place to spend an agree