The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-11-04
An Eloquent Grafton.

The following is tho closing part of tho
eloquent oration al Col. +. ID. Baker, of San
Francisco, over tho dead body of Senator
BrOderick
Fellow cltizcns Ono year ago l rcr-
formed duty, such as | perform to day,
over the romans of Senator F"rguson, who
Licd as Brodorick died, tangled in tho mesh
es of the code of honor. To-day there is
another and moro eminent sacrifice; to, day
| ronew my protest; to-day l utter yours
Tho code OF honor is deluson and o
snare it paltcrs with tho hopo of true
courage and binds itat tho feet of crafty
and cruel skill. 1t surrounds its victim with
tho pomp and grace Of tho procession. but
leaves him blceding at the altar. 1t sub
stitutos cold and deliberate lrtpar on for
courageous and manly Impulse, aud arms
tho one to disarin tho other il may prevent
fraud between practsed duelist, who should
be forever without S aGs PA i sfG S HE He
blest cause and tho truest courage. Its pre-
tonco of equality is lio-it is equal in all the
form; it is unjust in all tho subs;ance-tho
habitudo Of arms, the carly training, the
frontier life, the border war. the sectional
custom, the lifo Of leisure; all these arc ad
vautagcs which no negotiation can neutral
! izo and which no courage can overcome.
But, follow citizens, is not only spoken in
J your words and in mine-it is written in in
! delible characters it is written in the blood
of Gilbert. in the blood of Ferguson, in the
blood df Brodcrick; and tho inscription will
not altogether fade.
With the administration of the codo in
this particular case, am not here to deal.
Amid passionate grief, lot us strive to be
Just. give no currency to rumors of which
! | p, rsonaliy know nothing; there arc other
| tribunals to which they may woll be referred,
! and this is not one of them. But am here
! to say, that whatever in tho cnde of honor
| or out of it, demands or allows o deadly
combat where there is not in al, things entire
and certain equality, is prostitution o.tbo
| name, is an evasion of tho substance, and
is a shiold blnzoncd with the namo of chiy-
airy, to cover tho malignty of murder.
And now, as the shadows turn toward the
East, aud we prepare to bear these poor
remains to thoir silent resting place. let us
not seek to repress tho generous pride which
prompts n recital of noble deeds and manly
virtues. lie roso unaided and alone; he
began his career without family or fortune
in the facc of difficulties; he inherited pov.
erty and obsCurity; ho died Senator IL
:. Congress. having written his namo in Tho
history OF tho great struggle for the rights
of the people against the despotsm o
organization and corruption Of power. III,
leaves in the hearts of his friends tho ten
dcrest and proudest recollcctions. lie wa
honest, faithful, earnest, sincere, generou!
and brave; he felt in all tho great crises o
! his life that no was leader in tho ranks
= and for tho rights of masses, OF men, and ht
] could not falIer. When no returned from
: that fatal field, while the dark wing OF tn,
Archaugel of death was casting its shadow
;, upon his brow, his greatest anxiety was n
: TO tho performance of his duty. He fol
that all bis strength and all his lie belonged
=, 70 the cause to which he had devoted them
!, Baker" said he-Und to me they wore hi
last words-"Buker, when | was struck
tried to stand firm. but the blow binde'
. . me, and conid nor" trust it is no shame
y to manhood that tears blinded me when h'
,, said it. OF his last hours havo no heart L
u sneak. lie was tho last of his race; thcr'
. was no kindred hand to smooth his couch o
. wpo tho death damps from his brow; bu
, around that dying bed strong men, tn
!. friends of carly manhood, the devoted ad
y hcrcnts of later life, bowed in irroprcssibl
. grief, "and lifted up their voices and wept
- But. feIlow.citizons, tho voice of lamonta
d ton is not uttered by private friendship
Il alone-the blow that struck his mani
y breast has touched the heart of people
and as the cad tidngs spread, genera
ii gloom prevails. Who now shall speak TO
IS California Who bo the interpreter of tn
o wants of the Pacific coast Who can appeu
!. TO the communities of the Atlantic who Low
= free labor : Who can speak for masses o
IS men with passionate love for classes tror
II whence he sprung; Who can defy tn
Establishments of power, the insolence O
! Office, tho corruptions of Administrations
y What hopes are buried with him in tho grave
y "Ah! who that gallant spirit shall resume,
Leap from Eurotas bank, and coll us from In
= tomb"
% But tho last word must be spoken. and tn
: imperious mandate of Death must be tu
,, filled. Thus, o brave hourt we bear the
. to thy rost. Thus, surrounded by tens c
u thousands, we loavo thoe to the equal grave
y As in life, no other voice among us SO run
= its trumpet blast upon tho car OF freemeI
l. SO in death its echoes will revorberate ami
our mountains and valleys, until truth an
Is valor coase to appeal to the human heart.
D. His love OF truth-too warm, too strong,
r For Hope or Fear TO chain or chill
D, His hate OF tyranny and wrong,
v Burn in the breasts he kindled, still.
d Good friend, true hero hail an
It fareweA