The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-22

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THE LATE SENATOR RUsK.
E.oyses ddised IN Me House Of Rpre'orrss, rsc~irg,
January 10, 1883.
message having been received from the Senate, com
municatng the proceedings in that body upon the death
of the Hon THoMAs j. RusK, late ssaator from 1ezs
Mr. REAGAN Of Texas said Mr. Speaker, the am
nouncement lust made of the death OF General 1HoAAs
Rrsx late senator from tho State Of 1exas calls ior
another pause in the ordinary business Of th House and
for the performance of our last secmn duty as body
to the memory of great and good man.
Gen Rusx native Of the State Of South Carolina,
where he studied law and commenced, In comparative
obscurity the great business of life lie subsequently
removed the State Of Georgia. and In 1885, o1exas
The struggle for the Independence and separate national
existence of Texas had then begun and that love ot jus
ce md of rightthat manly courage and lofty patriot
sm which distinguished his induced him
at once to identity his fortunes with those Of the brave
spirits there who had learned the value OF freedom and
equality and had determined to meet the pers Of wal
rather than submit to the loss Of their civil and religious
liberty 444lC4a ~ 3tEs hs8f 1m
1t s not my purpose now to notice detail the maey
historic events in the life Of Gcn RHK. This will be the
pleasing duty of tho historian Nor h il my object to
pronounce formal eulogy upon his life and SERVICES
But TO offer the grateful tribute Of tho brave and
generous people he has often commanded IN battle,
and long, ably SO faithfully serves In the councils
Of the State and nation b Ssss ssfat W an5etaa9
u /,
stephen A. Austin the first Secretary ot War Of the
republic of Texas the first Chief Justice Of the re
public of Texas major general OF the militia OF the
republic Of Texas charged with Important duties and
clothed with large powers member Of the sconven
tion which formed the constitution Of the republic OF
Texas member OF the Congress Of the rcpuhiic OF
Texas president of the convention whicltfrme te
consultation of the State Of Texas sskatm in Abe
Congress of the United States a. emiaent and
cessful lawyer unostentatious and pysl lstzei.
respecting the laws, the religion, the easaions,
and the government Of his country; an deyuted hu
hand and sectionate father though he has alepn the
meridian Of his manhoohe has ll6d the full easufe
Of citizen, soldier patriot Statesman and hero, 40
whom the citizens Of Texas will continue to point with
pleasure and with pride long their lear4s shall con
nue beat with the pride Of chvafy and the love OF
pure and nspottod integrity and exalted and unseIth
patriotism. 7BSsf ~ s5fqea
General RusK possessed annd Of uncommon cleainees
and strength and constitution and physical ygor Ca
pabe of great labor and endurance commanding and
noble person; pleasant and vivacious temperament
fond of anecote and full of kindness and sympathy
for the unfortunate of all grades and conditions Indeed
his love Of Justice, and candor, and truth, and hssympa
thy for and readiness espousc Of the unfort
nate or weak or oppressed might be said to have been
his most prominent characteristics, Always courteous
and respectful to his equals, hc was kind and condescend
ing to his interiors; often recognising them and hearing
their suit and contributing to their wants. under circn
stances which showed that he regarded the tro dignity
of consisting rather In acts OF Justice and mercy
than in holding himself bound by the chains OF cereno
ial oodncss which too often separate man from his el
low a8k@t atlt tt 8fii a7tett3N f1tH33 At.srfG
lie fought gaantly the battles Of his adopted country,
and while Secretary Of War, beyond the ordinary duties
Of that station he bore most distinguished part on the
Glorious field of San Jacnto, and aided to add another to
Che roll Of nations Of free republican States and to guild
the southern horizon with the star of liberty which once
oated in lone and solitary grandeur over the broad and
beautiful plains Of Texas but which now, inwreathed
with the oak and the olive beams with nndindnished
nstrc amid the grand aroral constellation IN the dome
above us representing at the separate sovereignty
and the national unity of the American States
Though he occupied many important stations, and
though much of his life spent in the discharge Of Of
cial duty he fond Of the retirement and duetuie Of
private life and generally Stunned rather than sought
Office This was Illustrated several occasions in his
life. He was uged than ocrasion to accept
the presidency of the republic Of Fexns but uniformly de-
clined And at the time of the last presidential election
there was informed that both Of the distinguished men
who were candidates for that Office before their announce
nent urged General RUsK'to accept the position and
neither Of them would have opposed him. But, when
The presidency thus at his comu,ad without oppo-
tion he declined to accept it, He refused the use OF his
name for the vice presidency Of the United States and
has repeatedly discouraged the mention Of his name for
The presidency. spsfs
AS soldier he was brave and self-reant as afl ofi
GER he was cautious and calculating; always ready to
pose his person to danger but rashy exposing
his l9t
AS a statesman he looked to strict construction Of
the federal constitution and the preservation of the rights
Of the States the the only Of main
tanning the pcrmanency Of the Union the equality Of the
States and the liberties of the people, ia the spirit in
which these blessings secured to us by revolu
ionary fathers. And while he looked proudly on our
past history and the extraordinary growth and prog
ess of our common country In physical science, the
arts agriculture, and commerce advancement in
moral science, in religion, in laws, In good government
and in all that tends to the civilization and improvement
of his country and his yet learned from him
but weeks before his DEATH he looked with fearful
apprehension the continued and alarming agitation of
the question of slavery, tending to weaken his high
hopes of the future destiny of the republic.
At the time Of which speak, he considering with
great anxiety whether any could be adopted which
would avert these dangers and secure, possible,
permanent basis that raternal good feeling and mutual
respect for the rights Of each other which should
characterize the people Of nation blessed with all
the elements of happiness and prosperity He
also condemned with much earnestness, the social
theories and religious fanatcsms which have obtained
limited oohold in parts of country, being full of
elusion and of danger and evidence that he had
rightly estimated their Importance Of their bitter
fruits are now upon the country. 1a VA
But aas with all his wisdom, with all his usefulness
with all his goodness, with all his honors with all the
devotion of confdng constituency he is gone gone
from the family hearth stone, from the domestic and go
cia circles to his proud plume in advance
Of his comrades in arms more to draw his keen
sword in defence of liberty TO offer his wise
couscls for the good Of the nation to offer the
willing hand Of charity to the needy no more to Offer
consolation to the distressed to offer kind and
encouraging counsel to the young and deserving The
scenes Of earth have closed upon him. And while
mourn his death we doubiy mourn its manner. 1t is
true he fell by his hand but that hand was not