Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1861-10-25
THEGAZETTE.
----==----------------------= -
CEDAR FAILS. IOWA.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER Is, 1861.
The Fall of Another Hero.

Hon. h. ID. BAKER, Senator from oregon,
is dead During an engagement between
the Federal and rebel forces near Edwards
Ferry, Loudoun County, Virginia, on the 2lst
inst, this statesman and defender of his
country fell He was the Colonel of Penn
sylvania regiment, which position he had but
recently accepted at the hands Of Gov. Cur
TIN. At critical juncture of the engagement
he placed himself at the head of his CON-
mand, and while calamity cheering on his
men in the conflict, this hero of the Senate
chamber and of the battle field, was stricken
down forever. His gallantry and worth are
attested by the firm position he occupies in
the hearts of his countrymen, and the great
grief, hanging like pail over all loyal hearts,
his death has occasioned. Barring all other
acts of his life, his eulogy upon tie death of
BRoDERIcK was sufficient to immortalisc the
name of EDWIN D. BAKER Would that as
noble heart could prompt, and as eloquent
lips utter, eulogy to himself. Last Winter
he occupied seat in the U. S. Senate for
Oregon, his first connection with that Body.
His term Of office would not have expired
until 1855. He had few superiors in that
honorable body. His eloquent, logical, and
stirring appeals on the floor of that chamber
are living monuments of glory and honor to
his name We have before us his speech de-
livered in the Senate, January I'd and Sd,
1861, on the secession question, and to get
at the position he occupied in this great con-
test, we cannot do better than look to that
In the outset Of this great speech he said:
81 propose, in opposition to all that has
been said, to show that the Government IF
the United States is in very deed real, sub
staEtial Power ordained by the people, not
dependent upon States sovereign in its
sphere; Union, and not a compact between
sovereign States; that according to its true
theory, it has the inherent capacity of self
protection; that its Constitution is a perpc-
tuity, beneficent, unfailing, grand; and that
its powers are equally capable of exercise
against the domestic treason and against for
eign foes. Such, sir, is the main purpose Of
my Speech"
lie fully realized the position he occupied,
the responsibility resting upon him, and the
influence of his action upon the future of this
Republic. His record speaks palmer than
any feeble words of ours can of how manful-
ly he did his duty.
In concluding that speech he gave utter
ance to the following noble sentiments, which
find their kin in every loyal heart:
"Sir, adopt the closing passages of that
immortal speech; (Webster's) they are my
sentiments, they arc the sentiments of every
man upon this side of the Chamber; would
fain believe that they are an inspiration, and
will become power throughout the length
and breadth of this broad Confederacy; that
again the inspirations and hopes and prayers
for the Union may rise like perpetual hymn
of hope and praise. But, sir, however this
may be, these thoughts. are mine; these
prayers are mine; and as, reverentially and
fondly, utter them, leave the discussion
"When my eyes shall be turned to behold
see him shining on the broke zen and dishonor,
ed fragments Of once glorious Union; on
States discovered, discordaht, belligerent; on
lana rent Wltn civil ieuuS, UT uTencneu, IL
may be, in fraternal blood! Let their last
feeble and lingering glance rather behold the
gorgeous ensign Of the Republic, now known
and honored throughout the earth, still full
hig n advanced, its arms and trophies stream
ing in their original luster, not a stripe erased
OF polluted, nor single star obscured, bear
ing for its motto no such miserable interrog,
atory as what is all this worth?' nor those
other words of delusion and folly, Liberty
first, and Union afterwards but everywhere
spread all over in characters of living light
blazing on all its ample folds, as they foat
over the sea and over the land, and in every
wind under the whole heavens, that Other
sentiment, dear to every true American heart
Liberty and Union, now and forever, ont
and inseparable."