The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1858-11-20
BY REV. ROBERT McLAIN.


our part in doing honor to the memory of
the illustrious and lamented dead. On
the 10th of July last, he whom we were
proudly wont to call oar QUITXAN was call
ed to grapple with his last enemy on
earth, and in the mighty struggle fell a
victim to that universal conqueror who
drives his triumphal car over every land,
enters every city, town, hamlet, neighbor-
hood and family circle, and when he en-
tiers fails not to do marked execution
Yes, our QUITNAN, the idol of the South
ern people, is dead. No more, as in days
gone by, shall we be permitted to point to
him in pride of heart, while he stands the
brave and intrepid general upon the battle
field, leading his men to certain victory,
nor vet as the statesman pleading his coun-
| try's cause in the councils of his nation
Already has this broad land wept from
| centre to circumference-alrea have the
| sad funeral professions moved-and al
ready have the virtues and services of this
| distinguished man been celebrated from
| the pulpit and the rOstrum, through the
| press of the nation, and in every freeman's
heart 1t is befitting, then, in us, now as
| sembled in the very town whose name
| proclaims the high estimate in which the
character of QUITMAE has been held by
this people, for many years past, to con.
| gregate and give some public expression
| Of our grief and our sorrow at the loss OF
| this favorite of our land.
We perceive, from the earliest record oi
time, that the practice has been common
in all ages, and in all nations, to honor
| those who had distinguished themselves
! as public benefactors, and who were es
teemed by the people as having been des
ignated as the agents for good. Trophies
have been decreed to them while living
| and at death their bodies have often beer
embalmed at the public expense; monu
| ments, elegies and funeral orations have
| perpetuated their illustrious names anC
told of their honorable deeds, long, Ions
after the actors themselves had faller
| asleep. Such a course is not without it,
benefit. 1t happily tends to induce noble
and virtuous conduct, and excite imitation
in others. The love of fame, when subor
dinate to the general good of mankind, i
| inseparable from him who is truly great
and he carries his views beyond the grave
to the reward which future generation
shall give him. Even the self-sacrifcinJ
Moses, whom God chose and designated
to the arduous work of Heading Israel from
bondage and oppression into freedom anC
liberty is said to have had "a respect t,
the recompense of reward" Yes, hi
proud heart was moved to action, not onl,
by desire Of accomplishing good, but o
leaving on record life consecrated to tn
good of his country and the glory of God
which might stimulate many a nobl
youth, after he was dead and gone, to en-
ulate his example, should the emergenc
of the times ever demand similar sacrif
ces. Had we no higher motive for prai'
ing the illustrious dead. this of itself woul
be a worthy reason. But there is an obi
CATION to this work of still higher chal
acter, and which emanates from a NOR
exalted consideration Eminent and di,
tinguished men are not the product {
chance-they do not spring into animate
forms and active intelligence by a mer
fortuitous concurrence of atoms. The
footprints upon the earth fix the convi
! ton, indestructibly in every observin
mind, that He who claims to be tn
God of Nations and the God of Armie
and the God of Senates, had an agenC
in giving the peculiar aptitude of min
in directing efforts, and leading to su
| cessfll termination the counsel of tho,
| who have distinguished themselves as h
roes and statesmen upon the field and
the cabinet. They are the work of Go,
They are his servants, and in honorir
them we honor Him. Let US, then, til
dav, look beyond the man to his Make
r God. Let us ascribe the glory and hon,
! first to Him who gave, and we may safe
extol the man, whose loss this day we
plore. Already has the name of QUITNI
: been enrolled upon the records of I'll
3 | wide-spreading nation, as one entitled
elevated character, by purity of motive
: by deeds of eminent usefulness upon Il
battlefield in the legislative halls, upc
the seat of justice, in the private walks
h life, and in the social and domestic circ
e to be ranked among the great and go
, of earth. Yes, he is justly entitled to t
appellation of great man.
70 In looking over the records of the pa
y it is only here and there we are present
e with the name of one 10, in every
: spect could claim an equal position wi
!. | the subject of this address. To establ
d the high position we have assumed,
have but to call before us for few II
ments the man himself, during the peri
of his eventful career.
e First. TO QUITNAN was given, i'll his {
= ginal constitution, strong and power
intellect, which, when drawn out by
l SDlenulu advantages luTOND dTOunu
education, fitted him in a peculiar m
'' ner for the duties assigned him in
en- spread of his nation, and the rapidly
3 creasing exigences of his country. Tn
~ ~ is evidently a marked difference in
n. natural constitution of different min
,e While we are free to admit that mu
he very much, depends upon proper cult
iy' . ton. vet we cannot consent to the p
lus | -. L. Il -yrft1 trl,iCh ,
- mind shines over that of another, is
by every case attributable to the superior
do vantages of the former over the latter
'ut The history of the past is full of strik
lsa instances where men in the possession
.hs the very best advantages have given I
an. ancholv proof of dwarfish intellects
Ing shown themselves, in native intell
res wholly inadequate to the position {
nS great mind. Men are variously const
yer ted as they come from the hand of II
,is, Maker-"as one star differs from anot
er, in magnitude and splendor, so one I
my differs from another To one is give
my mind which, when properly drawn GU
qualification, fits him for acting the
my Of the successful general upon the bal
.| field, who leads his men to victory o
~ death. but not a mind far-seeing emo
.hE 10 bldnu AT the lltlul VI INC bONOIulAA
am am or manage the destinies of great nat
snt To another is given a mind which fits
1ty, for the position Of the statesman, and
'nia that of the general in command upon
and field. To another is given a mind VIII
n MA, with all the advantages enjoyed by
very best, fits him neither for the posi-
ONE of the warrior nor the statesman
ms still in another is found mind which
@ si,s inently fits him for the warrior and
.r' statesman. We but echo the voice OF
tory when we say that in the constIuC
of QuITxAN's mind was concentrated
=. assemblage of qualities, which not
constitutes true mental greatness,
which in mature days presented a rem
vpy able adaptation to the conspicuous pal
. P. was called to perform. His strong mai
And intellect was not deficient on any
RGE, sion, and in every emergency was equ
IAN the duties imposed upon him in the
i, and the Senate chamber. As TO his