Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1859-10-21


whole weight of his character into the
ranks of the Opposition; be eDdeavored
to rouse the people to an indignant sens
of the iniqui.ous tyranny of Federal power,
and, kindliug with the contest, became ~
fercest and frmest opponent.
Fellow-citizeus whatever may have been
your political predictions, tits impossible
to repress your admiration as you review
the conduct Of the man who lies hushed
in death before you. You read in his bis
tory a glorious imitation Of the great pop
ular leaders who have opposed the despo'ic
Influences of power in other lands, and IN
our own. When John Hampden died on
Chslcrove-feld, he sealed his devotion to
popular liberty with his blood. The eio-
quence Of Fox found the sources of its ill.,
spiration in bis love OF the people. When
Senators conspired against Tiberius Grae-
chus, and the tribune Of the people fell
beneath their daggers, it was power that
prompted the crime aud demanded the
sacrifice. Who can doubt, if your Senator
had surrendered his free thought, aud bent
in submission to the rule Of the Admins
tration-who can doubt that, instead Of
resting on bloody bier, be would have
this day been reposing in the inglorious
felicity of Presidential sunshine'
Fellow citizens! let no man suppose
that the death of the eminent citizen Of
whom speak, was caused BY any other
reason than that to which his own words
assign it. 1t has been long foreshadowed
it was predicted by his friends; it was
threatened by his enemies; it was the con-
sequence Of intense political hatred. His
death was a political necessity, poorly
veiled beneath the guise ofpriva,e quarrel.
Here, in his own State, among those who
witnessed the late canvass, who know the
contending leaders, among those who know
the antagonists on the bloody ground
here, the public conviction is SO thoroughly
settled that nothing need be said. Tested
by the correspondence itself, there was 10
cause, in honor, 10 taste, by any code, by
the custom Of any civilized land, there was
no cause for blood. Let me repeat the
story-it is as brief as it is fatal: A
Judge of the Supreme Court desceDds into
a political conven.ion-it is just, however,
to say that the occasion was to return
thanks to bis friends for an unsuccessful
support--in a speech, bitter aud personal,
be stigmatized Senator Broderick and all
Lis friruis iu words uf uuusinsult.
When Mr. Broderick saw that speech he
retorted. saying, in substance, that be had
heretofore spoken Of Judge Terry as an
honest man, but that be now took it back.
When inquired Of he admitted that he had
SO said, and connected his words with
Judge Terry's speech as prompting them
So far as Judge Terry personally was cor
cerned, this was the cause of mortal COM
bat there was no ether.
In the contest which bas just termina-
ted in the State, Mr.. Broderick hal taken
leading part; he had been engaged in
controversies very personal in their nature,
because the subject of public discussion
had involved the character aud conduct Of
many public and distinguished men. But
Judge Terry was not one of these. He
was no contestant his conduct was not in
issue; be had been mentioned but once
incidentally-in reply to his own attack
and, except as it might be found in his
peculiar traits or peculiar fitness, there
was no reason to suppose that he could
seek any mans blood. When William Of
Nassau, the deliverer of Holland, died, in
the presence of his wife and children, the
hand that struck the blow was not nerved
by private vengeance. When the fourth
Henry passed unharmed amid the dangers
of the field of Ivry, to perish in the streets
of his capital by the hand of fanatic, he
did not seek to avenge a private grief.
An exaggerated sense of personal honor
weak mind with choleric passions, intense
sectional prejudice, united with great con-
fidence in the use Of arms-these sometimes
serve to stimulate the instruments which
accomplish the deepest, deadliest purpose
Fellow-citizens! One year ago, per-
formed duty such as l perform to-day,
over the remains of Senator Ferguson,
who died, as Mr.. Broderck died, tangled
iu the meshes of the code Of honor. To-
day, there is another and more eminent
sacrifice. To-day | renew my protest;
to-day utter yours. The code Of honor
is delusiou aud snare it palters with
the hope of true courage, aud buds 1t
at the feet of crafty and cruel skill. 1t
surrounds its victim with the pomp and
grace of the procession, but leaves him
bleeding on the altar. 1t substitutes cold
and deliberate preparation, for courageous
and manly impulse, aud arms the one to
disarm the other it may prevent fraud