Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-11-01

George Wilkes writes 10 the n. \. 1rl-
buuo an intensely iusefsstine sketch Of tho
dead Senator, aud warrior, from which We
take this extract, regarding his connection
with the death Of The lsmented Broderick:
"Thcy have killed me beeauso Iwasop-
posed TO tho extension Of Slavery and cor
rupt Administration was the last doclara-
ton Of the dying Senator, and as The words
fell from his lips, they became Ere ia the
heart Of the weeping orator who helped 10
close bis eyes.
The empire city Of the Western Ocean
was stepped in gloom at the contemplation
Of the monstrous deed. All trade was stop
ped no sound Of hustle was heard along
the street and, by common consent, without
pageant or parade, or any sound but the
low measured, muffied throb of the church
bells, the detected people, walking as if they
almost held their breaths, gathered in tho
main square, and formed themselves, like
50 many shadows around tho bier. At tho
footof the coffin stood the priest; at lis head,
and so he could gaze freely on the face Of
his dead friend, stood the pale figuer Of the
orator. Both Of them, the living and the
dead, wero selfmade men; and the son Of
the stone-c cutter, lying 10 mute grandure, with
q record floating round thai coffin which
bowed the heads Of tho surrounding thou.
sands down in mute respect, might have
been proud Of the tribute which the wea-
ver's apprentice was about to lay upon his
breast. For minutes after the vast audience
bad settled itself to hear his words, the or
ator did not speak. He did not look in the
cofin-nay, neither TO the right nor to tho
left; but the gaze of bis fixed eye was turn
cd within his mind, and the still tears cours-
ed rapidly down bis cheek. Then, when
the silence was the most intense, his tremu-
lous voice rose like wall and with an uniu-
| terrupted stream of lofty and pathetic words,
he SO penetrated and possessed the hearts
of the sorrowing multitude, that there was
not one check less moistened than his own.
For an hour he held them as with spell;
and when he finished, by bending over the
calm face of the noble corpse, and stretching
his arms forward with an impressive Jest
ure, exclaimed in quivering accents, "Good
friend bravo heart gallant leader hail and
farewellp the audience broke forth in a
general response of sobs. Never, perhaps,
was eloquence more thrilling, never, certain
ly, was itbetter adapted to the temper of its
listeners. The merit of the eulogy divided
public uncomiums with the virtues of the
deceased, and the orator became invested
with the dead Senator'S political fortunes.
The territorial field in California being, how
ever, not open to immediate occupation, Col.
Baker transferred himself to Oregon, and
there, the glow of his last effort soon car
ried him to the highest honors Of that State.
He was elected Senator for tho full term
Of six years in 1860, and at the time Of his
death had enjoyed its lofty honors only
for two sessions. How he proved the privi-
lege of his place by great arguments in fa-
vor of the Constitution, and by witheriug
denunciations of the advocates of treason,
has been matter of universal and applaud
ing cognizance. He was, in fact, the mas
ter debater Of the war term of Congress, and
that he had the courage to give his oratory
force, tho shrinking Benjamin, who wither-
ed at his words, and the blanched Breckin-
ridge, whom he "cast from the Tarpeian
rock" can we'll attest.
But even these honors, and the acknowl-
> edged prominence which he had won in his
last powerful position, was not enough for
: his active and daring spirit while the coun-
I try was In arms. He left the Senate 10 raise
regiment, and when that was ready he led
it to the field. He fell as VIC have stated,
with the ''light Of battle" on his features;
bis death being eloquent as his life, and
contributing by its noble manner, largo
compensation for bis loss. The event, how
ever, has penetrated tho nation with tho
deepest sorrow, and, at the same time, it
has lain now obligation on our settlement
with treason.
Upon the writer Of this article, perhaps,
the tidings of his loss fell with more start
ling effect than upon any person else. 1t
was our good fortune to know Col. Baker
well, and we had the honor to entertain him
as our guest at dinner, on an afternoon in
the month of August last. On that occa-
sion, when We expressed lin view of the re-
cent disaster at Manassas) natural
concern as to the department Of his
troops, he said: "Wilkes, have some pecuI-
lar notions as to the part l am to play in
this extraordinry war; and want you to
bear in mind that what now say to you is
not the result of an'idle fancy or vague i'm
preston. 1t is doubtful il I shall ever
again take my seat in the Senatep To tho
look of surprise which turned upon him at
this expression he replied, II am certain
shall not live through this war, and il my
troops should show any want Of resolution,
shall fall in the first battle. I cannot af-
t ford, after my career in Mexico, and as q
8 Senator of the United States, to turn ma
y face from the enemyT There was no gloon
of depression in his manner, but it was
: characterized by temperate earnestness
, : which made deep impression Oh my mind
: Lol before October has shed its lesyes,
, his sword lies upon his pulseless breast, and
i his toga has become tho crements Of the
70 grave.
l. "Good friend brave heart gallant lead
81 er hail and farewellr' G. w.
The Importation OF Arms.
The IIniiad Statea nont;nua 10 in,nn,l