The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-07
SPEECHES on THE DEATH or GEgERAL
QUITlLdN.


senator DAVIS aud addressed the snaie ssfoiows
Mr. President The message which has just been Teceiy-
ed sadly recalls TO consideration the loss which not
only Congress, bu the whole country has sustained.
as justly has been described ia the resolutions which
have been just read During the past year,
member of the House, he associated with us
in the labors of legislation Years OF experience had
set upon his brow the crown Of wisdom and of pub
lie confidence and therefore his services became,
with every revolving year. more valuable 20 his
country he yet retained enough OF physical and ntellec
tu yigor TO give promise that bis life would be long and
his OF usefulness add much to his country welfare
soldier who had often been spared amid the storms
Of battle IL was but natural to expect wouds continue
to be the fayorite of fortune He not the
should have supposed in the midst OF common dnnger
would have been selected by the hand of death for its
victim Yet the tide OF Time returning hoarse, bears
wreck its relentless all that mortal OF the
hero and statesman, JolrS A. QuIrMAs Ii Is not my
purpose 10 stcnt IL the language OF ealosy 20 describe
the character and services of the deceased but briefly
very briefly 10 refer to of the events OF hts life which
themselves with the history of the country and
Illustrate OF the blessings of the ns tuons
under which live
He was native OF the State OF New York. born in the
year 1899. Educated carefully by pous father taught
especially languages lit him for the holy ministry his
taste he grew up led him to seek active field.
He emigated to Ohio and there admitted to the bar
After brief residence, about two years, he went on to
the State of Mississippi settled at Natchez in 1922 and
there commenced his a lawyer The energy,
the activity the love popular which constantly
pressed him to vigorous exetion brought fame and
wealth in their train brought than thesethe trib
ute of the appreciation of his eow-ctzens, and the love
of his neghbors throughout his long and eventfu life
ID but short time after his arrival in Mississippi
that my acquaintance with him commenced, and then
realized what many have felt at subsequent periods
the power he had to attach to him the young. was
school-boy he read Spanish with me, and impressed me
by this peculiar trait in his character which endeared
him to youth, and which caused many manly checks
to be wet with tears when his death was announced in
the country where he was best known.
His in the profession of the law of rapid
advancement. He not only among the first in his
profession at the bar where be pacsed but he
elevated by the popular Judgment to the post of chancel
or He mingled with the ardnous labor of the law the
pursuits and the of planter He also prompted
by that patriotism which turned him aside from his
ayocatons to those of general importance engaged in the
public affairs of the State was member of the egsa
ture in both its branches presiding officer at time.
of the senate and the governor OF State thus hav
ing it wcre completed the circle both of political and
of legal positions within the limits of the State Of which
he citizen We thus see northern youth, thrown
off into the extreme portion of the Union from that in
which he born associated with not only stran-
gers to him. but without any knowledge Of any portion
of his family raising him step, by step because of the
merit and patriotism which he exhibited, to all the dis
tnctons which it in their power to conera beau
tul tribute to the fraternity which binds the American
people together and the constitution which gives equal
y OF privilege and immunity to the citizen OF each State
who may choose to reside in any other His last politi
cal office that of a member OF Congress. 1t in
that position that he became associated with here He
always active, always tboriots He addressed him
self to the useful abors Of the body of which he
member. He sought not to render himself conspicuous
by frequently appearing in debate by delivering stud
led orations but he addressed himself to the useful la
bors of the committee and the current business of
the House of which he member
feel that hazard little for my intercourse with mem
bers of the House of which he member in saying
that he has left behind him the respect well Of pot
cal opponents as friends the regret of all who knew him
we'll and marked in his death the loss of faithful pub
lie servant Earnest, he pursued his duties, though his
health was impaired and life steadily waning away
and thus he continued to devote himself to the constant
abors OF his position until at the close Of the last session
he left the seat of government in enfeebed health
turned to his home and there like ship that has rid
den out many storm, went down in the calm of
sea- In the bosom Of his family he passed from
earth to eternity, and left reputation which all who
value integrity, patriotism, and usefulness will not fail
to hold up to the rising generation object for their
emulation.
His taste led him very early to pay attention to militia
ry affairs. He thus became connected with the mi
ta of the State of Mississippi after he became citizen
it. He the captain Of company which has main
tanned Its reputation down to the present day and its
ganzation and its still continue in the town OF his
former residence He was general OF the militia and
took such special interest In all that advanced IL that he
is considered and think Justly, the father ~ the
present militia system of our State. When the war with
Mexico began the tendency Go f.itary affairs
which he had exhibited ON another sphere led him to
offer his services 10 the government He appointed
general o volunteers and joined the amy of General
Tayrs, who, with that discriminating Judgment which
exhibited itself upon many occasions, selected him
from among those who at his headquarters at Ca
margo as one who should accompany him to Monterey
In the siege and sorming of that place he conspcu
Gus, and exhibited, after OCCASIONS the martial
spirit and aptitude for military affairs OF which his pre-
yious gave promise.
Not the least interesting Characteristic of the Amer,
people is the capacity which has been, in many
instances manifested 10 pass from pursuit to another
so that single individual treads all the paths of h,
distinction. He was lawyer, planter, statesman,
and soldier and prominently successful in each.
After the siege and oapituation of Monterey, and
when by the decision of the government here, the plan
of the campaign changed, Instead of advancing d
recty from that point into Mexico, the port Of Vera
Cruz adopted the base of operations and the main
force sent thithcr General QuTaN transferred from
the comm nd of General Taylor and passed to that of
General Scott Thus he served in the campaign of the
valley OF Mexico, gathering distinction wide as his
employment was various. In expedition he COM
manded the whole of the land forces He at last ar
rived at the city Of Mexico aud there established the
high military reputation which will descend rich in
hertsnce TO his family. II his good fortune to be
distinguished in various combats around the city II
his special fortune to lead the column which first
entered the capital and received the surrender of the
citadel of the place.
After peace returned and brought its blessings to
country being soldier by profession, he retired TO the
pursuits which had previously occupied him. and thus
remained until he became member Of Congress, and
served with us at the other end OF the Capitol
In youth aud in age he bore love of representative
liberty which developed itself in various forms II
this which led him, when Texans were struggling to
achieve their independence to go with company and
unite his fortunes with theirs in the darkest hour OF hsr
revolutionary trials His there not eyentful,