The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-12-25

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his home upon it, and With the labor of his oun
hands subdued and cultivated il. His integrity
and his good sense Won for him the sespect and
esteem Of his neighbors. They selected him for
a magistrate, and he VAS one OF the FIRST Justices
Of the peace commissioned in the region of the
country where he settled. his steady and Thrift.
ty industry carried him along with the growth
and increasing population. and be was frequently
elected to the State Legislature. He was sent
to Congress, was chosen and served two terms
as Governor of the State. and was afterwards
elected oy the Legislature 10 the Office of Sena-
tor IN Congress.
] made his acquaintance when he was . mem.
Der OF the Honse OF Representatives. served
with him there when questions Of the highest in
terest sgitated the public mind, and we're dis
cussed and acted upon by Congress. l knew
him well, and admired the noble qualities he dis
played in the long and turbulent session that
commenced in December, lS49, ard adjourned
late in the year 1850, after having passed the
measures known as the compromises OF 1850.
The incorporating frmness he manifested in
the support of his principles during the session,
won for him the esteem and confidence of the
people of the State of Michigan, which he pos
sessed unimpaired to the day Of his death.
He was modest aud unpretending in his char
acter and manners; yet there were few men who
compreheuded SO clearly and so fully the scope
and effect of public measures, or who we're more
ssgscious 10 detect and understand the purpose
or object Tor " hich they we're brought forward
He was an honest and a fearless man, careful
and deliberate in forming his opinions, and firm
in maintaining them. The frst inquiry he re-
quired his own mind to answer respecting any
public measure upon which he Was called to act
was, is the proposition itself right or wrong
His opinions were formed upon the deliberate
convictions of his judgment and his conscience,
and he could not be persuaded to do what he be-
lieved to be wrong. No change in condition or
position made any change in Kinsley S. Bingham.
He was always the same man, devoted in his
whole heart and soul to the Republic he was
emphatically one of the people. While the men
of whom he was a fair type and a noble exam
pie till the soil OF our country, the Republic will
live.
Mr.. Clark. Mr.. President, a small portion of
the public knew fully the true character and in
tristic worth of the deceased Senator of Michi-
gan. None but his near friends and intimate ac-
quaintances could fully appreciate the sterling
integrity and manlness of his character, the sim
cerity OF his heart, and the warmth of his friend
ship, the constancy of his purpose and bis fidel.
ity to his own convictions.
Quiet in his manners, retiring in his habits, un.
ostentstious in his appearance, he did not largely
attract to himself the notice of the world. Deep
in the recesses Of his own bosom he carried HE
convictions of duty, and sedulousy and silently
he performed it, as pleasure be enjoyed, or q
task with which he alone. in some respects, had
to do In this regard he was emphatically .
true man-honest with himself as we'll as others.
He made himself not very prominent; nor
was he noisy or obtrusive. Men saw his acts
rather than heard his words; they observed
rather the results than watched the processes.
He did not often mingle personally in deba.e,
seldom made hat is called "a speech" did not
attract crowds by his eloquence, nor move the
mirth Of applause OF the galleries but in that
record of votes which will be preserved in the
annals of the nation and in their effects upon the
institutions of the country, he has a monument
far more enduring than "swift. winged words ar
ranged in brilliant, vanishing sentences"
Some men love to live in the very focus of OBJ
servation. Every movement made, every act
done, and every word said, is with reference to
the largest number of watchful gazers, ardent
admirers, or entranced hearers. But the dead
OcuoSOts tuOuSu uOt uuCu III puUHC III UOtu
Houses of Congress, and for four years the CHIEF
Executive of his own State, manifested no such
fondness for admiration. He was ever the same
unpretending, quiet, but conscientious and true
man. He came silently to the Senate; he went
as noislessly away but his 'yea" and his ''nay'
we're ever as constant and as firm as the sternest
patriotism or imperative duty could demand
He took his seat in the Senate in the most trying
period of the Government, under the present
Constitution. The cloud, which had been seer
at first on the horizon " no bigger than q man's
hand" had risen and spread until it darkened the
heavens. The elements were convulsed; the
storm howled, and finally burst into an awfu
sweep of rebellion, treason, and war. Mems
hearts tailed" The farthest-sighted could no
then, more then nov, discern the future. Al
walked in obscurity and uncertainty. Some de
clared the path was on the right; others OF
the left Some maintained that it was mad
ness to advance, and that security and peac,
we're in concession and retreat; while others q
steadily declared that the powers of the Govern
ment could only be preserved and asserted by a
uucompromisng adherence to the doctrines o
its founders. Interests we're enlisted and passion
aroused; class was arrayed against class an,
section against section, till the conflict culmi
mated in seceded States and q falling Govern
ment.
But in this strife and uncertainty the Senate
from Michigan never wavered nor faltered. Ii
had determined for himself what duty and prin
ciple required; and he did not shrink from tn
struggle. He loved the great principles Of Con
stitutional liberty, sought their expansion an
firmly believed that, for the true development
of the resources Of the country and the races
the Territories of the United States should
kept from the grasp Of slavery. This convictio
nothing could shake, and he would do nothin
hostile to it, A nature 90 sincere as his coul
not. He had formed it years before. It's assel
ton had Lost him caste with many of his polite,
friends in ls4s and 1850. Grieved at q separi
ton from them. in comparative retirement
cherished and matured it. He carried it Wit
him into the executive chair of his own Stat
and he brought it into the Senate of the Unite
States. He held it with wonderful tenacity
prappled it with shocks Of steel )" and whe
the Government became convulsed, he wou
not, nay, he conld not, cast it from him. Wi,
q mind 90 clear, and a nature 90 sincere and trr
to ITSELF he could not abandon his convictions
for he must be honest with himself He vi
eninently patriotic. He loved bis country vii
a sincere devotion, and readily sent his son
the field when she needed strong and willir
hands to save the capital. As readily would
have gone himself had his services been needt
there more than in his place as Senator.
Mr.. President, on the day before the disast
} at Bull Run, went with the deceased Senator
Fortress Monroe. We we're there on the d.
of the battle, and cannot forget how, while goil
and returning. and while there, bis though
were continually recurring to the anticipate
strife. We did not then know the fate of q
! day, Tor if a battle had taken place, nor did '
! doubt of our success, If it had but the con,