Nevada national., 1859-02-19


Viee-Pre-ident Breckenridge at the last
meeting ofthe Senate. 10 the old hall deleve-
rcd an eloquent spesch. We have only
space icr the concluding paragraphs
" The Senate Is assembled for the last
sime In this chamber Henceforih il will be
converted to ether uses yet ii must remain
forever connected with great events. and
sacred 10 the memories OF the departed ora
or- and statesmen. who we're eCgag d in
igb debates. and shaped the policy Of their
country. Hereafter the American aud the
+irsng-r a. th'y wander through the Capt.
,ol. viii turn Nth instructive reverence 10
view the spot On Which 30 nany aud great
pttcrisls have sccuu.ulsted for history.
They Will recall the image Of the great and
the good. Who's renoNr i. the common pro-
Perty OF the Union. and chiefly. perhaps,
hey will i;nger around the seat. once occu.
picd ~ the mighty three. whose names aud
fame. associated in life, death has not been
ab'e TO .ever iilu-trion- men who IN their
generation tomctimss divided. sometime,
d, aud sometimes resisted pntlic opinion
for they we're of that higher class of
statesmen Who seek the rgh. and follow
their convictions.
1h re -at Calhoun. fhe Senator infexible,
Anstrre oppressed. Tut not o,erw helmned,
hy his deep sense Of the importance o. bis
pr"iic 'unctica-, -seking the truth then fear
ie-sly following it.-a man whose unsparifg
intellect compelled all his emotions to har-
mcn'ze ~ith the deductions Of his vigorous
logic. end shoss noble counteaance habtu-
ally wore the expression Of one engaged in
the rreiurmsucs OF high public duties.
This was W-bsser's .est. He, too, wes
even such Senator Couscious Of his own
vast powers, he repc'ed with confidence on
smaller men. he stood among lis peers all
the sres,sr for simple dignity of his Sena.
sorisl demesnor. Type of bis Northern
hume. he raises before the imagination, in
The grand and grauite outline Of his form
aud intellect, like great New England
rock, fepe'ling New England wave. As
writer, his productions will be cherished
/ by statesmen sud scholsIs while the English
tongue Is spoken. As 3 senatorial orator,
bis great Efforts are Historically associated
with ths chamber whose very air seems to
vibrate beneath TIE strokes Of bis deep tones
anG his wslghiy soses.
I On the outer circle sat Henry Clay. with
his impeiucus and ardent nature untamed
by age, aud exhibiting in the Senate the
same yehemen. patriotism sud passionate
eioguence that Of yore electrified the House
Of Representative aud the country. HIS
extraordinary personsl endowments. his cour-
age. all his noble qualities, invested him
With an individuality ard charm Of char
AcieF which, in any age, would have made
bim iavorile of history. He loven his
country above ali earthly oL;ac.a He loved
liberty in all countries. Iilusirious man
orator, patriot. phianthropist-hi light. at
IL meridian, was seen aud felt in iae remot.
est part OF the civilized world aud his de-
ciining sun, - il haesened down the west,
threw t.ck its levs! beams in hues of mel
lowed spl-ndor. to illume and cheer the land
he loved Sc we'll.
All tie states may point with grateful
pride 20 to the services in the Senate Of
their patriotic 1ons. Crowding the memory
cone ID, names Of Adams, Hayne, Mason,
Otis, Macon, "inckney. aud the rest can
lot rerle.nber them-who. in the record Of
;heir acts aud ut.ersrces, appeal to their
Successors 81 give the Union a destiny not
snwor;iy the past. What models were these
10 awaken efnuisiior or plnnge in despair
Fcrt.natc viii be the American statesmen
who il This age. or in succeeding times, shall
contribute 10 invest the rev hall to which
We 90 si,a historic memories like those
which cias.er here.
And, nos Sen tors We leave this memors-
sble Chamber. bearing with IA. unimpaired.
the Constitution We received from our fore
fathers. Let as cherish ;twith grateful &C.
acknowledgements to the Divine Power who
controls the des;;nies Of empires. aud whose
goodness we adore. Structures reared by
ae1 yield to the corroiing tosth of time
These marble walls mus, moulder into ruin;
but the principles Of constitutional liberty,
guarded by wisdom and virtue, unlike ma
terial elements, DO not decay. Let US de-
vouily trust that another Senate in another
age. shall bear to new and larger chamber
this constitution vigorous and invioiAie aud
that tae las, generation Of postefity shall
witness the deliberations Of the Representa-
,ives of American States sta united, pros
porous aud free.
In execution OF the order OF the Senate,
the body will no. proceed to the new cham
Der. u