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

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and defeat-strong friendships, bitter en-
mites, high praise, malignant calumnies
but he trod with free and proud step
that onward path which has led him to
glory and the grave.
1t would be idle for me, at this hour and
in this place, to speak of all that history
with unmitigated praise; it will be idle
for his enemies hereafter to deny his claim
to noble virtues and high purposes.
| When in the Legislature, he boldly de-
nounced the special legislation which is the
curse of new country. He proved his
courage and his rectitude. When he op
posed the various aud sometimes successful
schemes to strike out the salutary provis-
ions of the Constitution, which guarded
free labor, he was true to all the better
instincts of bis life When. prompted by
his u.nbition and the admiration Of his
friends, be first sought seat in the Sen
ate of the United States, be sought the
highest of all positions by legitimate ef-
fort, and failed with honor.
1t is my duty to say that, in my judg-
ment, when at a later period he sought to
anticipate the Senatorial election, be COM
mitted an error which think he lived to
regret. 1t would have been a violation Of
the true principle Of representative gov
ernment, which no reason, public or prl-
vate, could justify, and could never have
me. the permanent approval of good and
wise men Yet, while l say this over his
bier, let me remind you of the tempta-
tion to such an error-of the plans aud
the reasons which prompted it-of the
many good purposes it was intended to ef-
feet. And if ambition, "the last inhrml-
ty of noble minds,' led him for a moment
from the better path, let me remind you
how nobly he regaiued it.
1t is impossible to speak within the linn
its of this address of the events OF that
session of the Legislature at which he was
elected to the Senate of the United States;
but some things should not be passed in
silence here. The contest between himself
and the present Senator, had been bitter
and personal. He had triumphed. He
had been wonderfully sustained by his
friends. and stood confessedly ''the first in
honor aud the first in place" He yielded
to an appeal made to his maguanimity by
bio foe. If he Judged unwisely, be has
paid the forfeit well. Never in the history
Of political warfare has any public man
been SO pursued, never hos maiiguity SO
exhausted itself.
Fellow-citizeus, the man that lies before
you, was your Senator. From the moment
of his election, his character has been ma
ligued, his motives attacked, his courage
impeached, his patriotism assaiied. 1t
has been a system tending to one end.
And the end is here. What was his
crime? Review his history consider his
public acts; weigh his private character,
aud, before the grave closes him for ever,
Judge between him and his enemies.
As man, to be judged in his private
relations, who was his superior! 1t was
his poast-and amid the general license
of new country it was proud one-that
his most scrutiniziug enemy could fix no
single act of immortality upon him. Tenn
psrate, decorOus, self-restrained, be had
passed through all the excitements Of Cal
iforuia unstained. No man could charge
him with broken faith or violated trust.
Of habits simple and inexpensive, he had
no lust of gain. He overreached no mans
weakness in bargain, and withheld from
no man his just dues. Never in the his
tory of the State has there been citizen
who has borne public relations more stain
lessly than be.
But it is not by this standard that he is
to be judged. He was public man, and
his memory deserves public judgment.
What was bis public crime! The answer
is in his own words: "THEY HAVE KILL
ED ME BECAUSE l WAS OPPOSED TO THE
EXTENSION OF SLAVERY AND A CORRUPT
ADMINISTRATION" Fellow citizens! they
are remarkable words, uttered at very
remarkable moment; they involve the
history of his Senatorial career, and Of its
sad aud bloody termination.
When Mr.. Broderick entered the Senate,
be had been elected, at the beginning of
Presidential term, as friend of the
President elect: having undoubtedly been
one of his most influential supporters.
There we're uuquessiOnably some things in
the exercise of the appointing power which
be could have wished otherwise; but be
bad every reason to remain with the Ad-
ministration which could be supposed to
weigh with man in his position. He
had heartily maintained the doctrine OF
popular sovereignty as set forth in the Gin
ciuna,i Platform, and be never wsvered in
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