The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-07-13
ROBERT Y. HAYNE.

We take the following beautiful extract
from the chaste, elegant aud vigorous ora
ton of Thomas NJ. Hanckel. 1t is a life
picture Of one CT South Caroliua's most
gifted sons--one whose forensic encounter
in the United States Senate with the great
Webster. was perhaps rs great An inteIIec.
tua' conflict rs has taken place in modern
parliamentary History, rivalling. and we
think fully eqnaling those of Demosthenes
and Eschin-s aud Cicero and IInrtensius.
u need not say to you that Mr.. Hayne
was bright example Of all the best quail
ties of our public men; that his life was
pure, and his intellect cle:r, vigorous and
commanding chat as he was energetic,
firm and enthusiastic, so was he frank, pa
tltnt. generous and courteous. His public
life comprises period Of the most intense
political excitement in the State, ye.
through all its storu.s, those great qualities
shone brightly out. His mind and his
character wero both eminen,Iy practical,
and as the most prominent feature of his
character WIS an "ardent, Jealous and un.
calculating devotion to duty; so was he
able to present the reasons and considera-
tions which had satisfied his own mind with
clearness and force Of argument which
carried conviction to others, and with a
beauty of language, and eloquence of ex.
preston and gallant enthusiasm, which
warmed and delighted his hearers. He
was one Of the handsomest men Of his day,
and no one who has seen him will forget
the bright and beautiful smile which beam.
ed from his eye and played in the line of
bis lips, nor the outlines of his noble brow,
marked with lines Of patriotic anxiety, but
with no trace Of unworthy passion or selfish
care on tslofty front. Long will I remem.
Der the last timn saw him in life, sitting
among our professors on the platform of
the old College Chapel. His presence that
day among the useful students of the State.
seemed to me like the eoolt ltgevenings Of
Spring. and the memory of3bis life like
the fruitful showers Of Summer, which
bring the glad harvests Of Autumn. His
memory should, think, be peculiarly dear
10 the people Of South Carolina; for he
was her faithful representative and her LOYAL
champion in the hour Of her sorest trial
and her greatest need. It should be proud
Iy cherished by the City Of Charleston, not
only because he was her own son, but be.
cause he was her own son. but because in
his declining years he put off the donors of
The Executive. to become her first Mayor.
and lent dignity and grace to the Office,
which it has never since lost. His memory
should be especially grateful 10 the women
OF South Carolina, not only for the pure
and gentle graces Of bis domestic life, but
because all who ren,emher to. have heard
him speak, must remember with wha.
graceful eloquence andkuigh.Iy tenderness
It was wont to appeal to the fair daughters
of Carolina 1t wa a.fayorte passage in
all his public addresses, and it sermed as /.
he desired to invoke the purity and The
gentleness Of woman TO preside over the
rudrr conflicts of political life, and to at
Test that the bearing Of every combatant
was the hearing of true knight, that ev-
Fry blow was fairly delivered and every
lance was galiautiy broken. have paused
10 pay this tribute to the memory of Rob
srt Y. Hayne. because his narne WAS blend.
ed with my earliest dreams of the hero and
The orator, and the thought and The expe-
renee OF maturer years bas not dmmed
The pure and soft light wh icL' surrounds bis
memory ~