The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-21

ticsl sentiment with the President and cabinet The
chairmen OF tho different committees the ordinary organs
of Accommodation between the departments ana Con
gres entertaining congenial political views WITH
the heads of the departments and IL was not 10 DC ex-
pecd they would Weld any very cheerful assistance to
promote their views and advance their popularity but
would confne themselves strictly to matters OF duty to
the public service utr
IN this condition of affairs found Gen RISK, chair
man of the Post Office Committee of the Senate, techn
caly called 'the Committee the Post Offices and Post
Roads" 1t the first OF my personal acquaintance
with him. In our official intercourse presented to him.
frankly and fully all my objects purposes and designs
for the Improvement and efficiency of the department
aud took consultation with him as to all legislative ac
ton to effect it, This by him as frankly reciprocal
ted and all necessary aid and service In this body TO effect
these purposes by him at all times most cheeruly
and generally successfully, accorded No hesitation or
neglect for sinister party effect by him ever mani
tested Nv this he became entitled not only TO my conf
dence and respect but to my admiration and even my
personal gratitude which regard It as my high priv
lego her. to soknowlsdss dSs 70 o.. ms served
With md under him on that same committee and wit
messed his services there and in this body presenting at
all times the traits ia his character As byme,
he Of great earness OF apprehension, sound
ness of practical Judgment and naexible integrity of
purpose Unframed and unspoiled in scholastic refine
mens be the dupe Of the sophstry OF himself
Others Unsklled In devices and expedients he pre-
ssntsd his objects and his propositions here with the
ankness and clcaTne with which he entertained them,
In honest Saxon words despsng all attempts at display
and all meritcous ornament His arguments, like his
propositions the result of unsOphscated perception,
direct and undisgused avoiding alike all insinua-
ton and all the crooked paths of obque approach and
disguised ndirection BY this he secured not only the
confidence he desired but the admiration which he never
sought II voluntarily accorded rs due to an able
and an honest man. tFtf Cd
He was the true type of the American statesman
contradlstDguished from the public man OF Europe less
remarkable for extensive learning and cerky accomplish
mcnts but for the utitarian powers of practical
judgment and inhexible integrity and resolution
Less could not say, in Justice to my own feelings OF
obligation though much might say In justice to
his WORTH tribute to the memory Of General RusK
Mr., GWIN. Mr.. President, it is twenty-three years
since first met General RUsK, the borders Of Texas
He full of hope and of enterprise and in the vgor
of manhood shall never forget the impression he then
made upon my mind. He seemed to me like one who
starting upon great career and destined to win
the highest honors was struck with the simplicity and
sincerity of his Manners the kindness of his social spirit
and that general tone of character which exhibited vr
tue wisdom, and courage in their mildest most natural
and least repean forms To sir that period is full
of interesting "reminiscences which awaken my heart
we'll as my memory and cannot permit this mean-
choy occasion to pass without expressing deep regret
for the loss Of friend true and statesman SO emil
ncntly wise and just
Our intimacy began with our first interview and lasted
until the close of his life feel his death than
express in words and that the nation feels
profoundly 1t is deeply impressed upon the hearts
and memories of all who knew himof all who had
to seek his counselof the injured who had need to
apply for redress to the unerng precision of his justice
and upon sincerely than the members of this
body who have long borne with him the of State
Sir it may be said Of him that his good Deeds his noble
virtues, his unsurpassed Judgment and ar-seeing
gacity in public affairs, indelbly impressed in u
minated characters throughout the political pathway of
his life To speak of him he truly was, almost to
excite suspicion in the stranger that this portrait is
sketchcd by too partial hand but sir, it is not
whether speak of him public man, or private
CITIZEN the least say that it will be long before
look upon his like again He very character
and possessed in eminent degree exceedingly
qualities 1t not merely that he was wise in
sci and great in action but political difficulties ami
mated him. and public calamtes did not unnerve him
aud he stood ready to act being in the way
where he ought not to be, out of the way when
needed all times and in all things 1t the
bnan of those distinguished qualities that attracted to-
wards him of merit and high excellence of what
political cast opinion and which no less equally
inclined him to esteem and respect many of his oppo
nents Not to speak Of the living it will be remember
ed by someand it must be pleasant "Reminiscences to
every liberal minded statesmanthat the most friendly
relations and the kndest intercourse existed for many
years prior to his DEATH between him and the great Web
ster 1t rarely they opposed each other except
in of the sctest party character where they
separated upon difference of opinion to great prin
cipes, That sir, it should be between enlight
cned statesmen. They were men cninently fitted to
keep this great Union together and to stand FORTH in
this respect example to the living and to posterty
Gen. RUsK truly statesman in the highest
of the term. He had neither single sectional line in
his mind and deeply deplore that he is not this day in
midst in the full fruition Of gil his experience and all
his powers for he was truly man not only to be ad
mircd and beloved but to be followed in council He
disturbed by the lust of power Its grandeur
had seductive charms for him. He more nearly re-
sembled the great patriot John Hampden, of England
than any public who has lived since that time He
had all his virtues and all his talents They alike
In their habits of mind # action, and Of debate They
cautious but energetic moderate but decisive and
never lost inch of ground gained Their power
always progressive They surrendered and in
fnAl struggle to be Irresistible Neither of
thsm given to long set speeches They listened pa
enty to Others and watched with careful precision the
direction and force of the discussion Both equally
ready and when they did speak, they intutvey the
pivot upon which the question turned, and dealt with
that and nothing else They started except from
vantage ground because they made 1t point to under
stand the whole subject under consideration, and that
which is Of equal Importance the true temper of the
houses they addressed The of both kind
and courteous They neither of them abect to the
highest who held position above them, did they
manifest the slightest arrogance towards those beneath
them The personal influence Of each great and their
morapower still greater. Their common and indom
able and they equally
fitted for the Senate the cabinet-for peace
for revolution the happier destinies Of quiet safe
and orderly government. They were both heroes and
wise statesmen alike consumnae actors and skilful and
practical reasoneB. Hampden exceed in classical ed
ucaon and passed at the full meridian Of age into the
first British conflict with the house of Stuart Our la
mentcd senator taught earlier in life, in the
vivid school Of hercer revolution which created
ton and cOnStructAd new government where the mind