The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-02-02

Jan. ID, 1868.
Mr.. Presidcnt--In funeral ceremonies il
is not any Of those who were the compan.
ions at the hearthstone of the dead, but
some one who sustained only public rela-
tions to him that is expected to pronounce
the customary pancgyric. On this ground,
should claim the privilege Of being 81
lent on this occasion il ! thought that my
connection with the late Mr.. Rusk was
rightly understood. 1t is true that was
not his kinsman, nor neighbor, nor even
bis political associate. I was, neverthe-
less, attached to him by bonds strong as
the charity that consecrates even those 70
lations. But they were peculiar bonds
was his captive, and adversary overpow-
cred, overcome, and conquered by his gen.
erosity in my first encounter with him here
in this field of sectional strife, released on
parole, a prisoner at large, but devoted to
him by gratitude for the period Of my
whole life. In that character / follow the
hearso which is bearing him away from our
sight. Since I must speak, nature shall
have its way, and my ulteranccs, proceed
ing not from study but from feeling, shall
tell less Of his great worth than Of my own
great loss.
All the world knows that Thomas ].
Rusk was brave and heroic, and yet pru-
dent and patient in the camp and in the
field. These were the virtues which dis
tinguishcd him here, and they were chief
ly tho means of his success in the Senate.
Hc know no fear of opposition, raised BY
either prejudice or passion. He undertook
nothing without first balancing all the
chances of success, and gathering in and
combining all the available agencies neccs.
sary to secure it; and he maintained per.
feet equanimity until all resistance was
overcome. As he was without fear, SO he
was also free from jealousy and from envy.
Thus happily constituted, he tolerated in
all others tho same fidelity to their own
characters and the same loyalty TO the in.
terests they represented which he bore 10
his own instincts and to tho interests con.
fided to his care. He dcspised art, trick,
and cunning, and advanced always directly
towards his appointed end. If ho was
sometimes irritated at seeming injustice, or
misapprehension, he corrected his error
without even waiting for complaint or cx
planation. I doubt whether any acting
sun, during his whole life, ever witnessed
his anger.
AS he was manifestly unassuming and
unaffected, SO, for. aught that I could ever
see or hear, he was altogether ambitious.
He practiccd no nattery. l am sure that
no sensible man ever offered him adulation
He was not, in any degree, sectional in
his policy; but he aimed always at the ad-
vancc.ncnt and aggrandixcment of his
whole country. Hcnce, Notifications, i'm
provement Of roads, rivers, and lake navi-
gati,n, everywhere within our national
| jurisdiction, and explorations and extend.
cd navigation, and telegraph communica
tion with all accessible regions without it,
in every part Of the globe-thcse wcro the
achievements he made, these aro the mon
umcnts Of wisdom and patriotism which
he has left among us. II WIS in the stud
les connected with these measures that my
acquaintance with him ripencd into an nr
dent friendship. Each Of us deplored his
ignorance Of the regions concerning which
we werc lcgislating, and ms they seemed
to us TO be growing world wide, we spoke,
half seriously and half imaginativcly, Of
| going together TO enlarge our knowledge,
IN voyage around the world. But it was
thing easier to conceive than 10 execute !;
and though it might never be executed, il
was still pleasant to contemplate.
! Isaw him last at the late special session
Of the Senate, called to inaugurate q new
administration. demanded Of him that
he should cause one personal and political
friend Of minc, but who was inofcnsivc,
and competent and faithful officer, to bo
retained in subordinate post under the
new Administration. He promptly respon-
ded, pleasantly adding, that ho would
make the granting of my request condi-
ton Of his own loyalty TO the new powers.
We separated. Ho went to bis own sun
ny land, and 10 my home under the &c
nial north star.
On the last day Of August, was re-
entering the por, Of Quebec, after a voy-
age Of thirty days, in search Of health a
long the inhospitablc coasts Of Labrador.
The sympathies of home and country, so
long suppressed, were revived within me,
and WAS even meditating new labors and
studies here, when pilot, who came on
board, handed me newspaper which M
nounced the death Of the Senator Of Texas.
Ny first emotions were those Of sadness
and sorrow oyer this bereavement Of per-
sonal friend. When these had had their
time, / tried 10 divine why it was, that
he, among all the associates whom hon
ored, esteemed, and loved here, was thus
suddenly and prematurely Withdrawn from
the scene Of our common labors; he, for
whom thought higher honors were pre-
pairing, and fuller wreath was being wo-
ven; he, who seemed to mo TO stand
monument against which the waves of fac-
tion must break, if ever they should be
stirred up from their lowest depths; he, in
shor, with whom I thought / might do
so much, and without whom / could do
almost nothing, to magnify and honor tho
Republic. That question could not solve.
l cannot solve it now. 1t il only another
occasion in which am required to trust,
where am not permitted to know, the
WAYS OF the Great Disposer.