New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-12

again his genius vas promptly recognized ne,
State, which had just :aken her place In the UDior
sent him as her earliest Senator, and Oregon Wa
first known to us on this floor by his eloquent lip
la the Senate, he at once took the place OF Orator
His voice not full sonorous, but IL was shar
and clear. IL was penetrating rather than command
ing, and yet, when touched by bis ardent nature,
became sympathetioAnd even musical. His coun
tenance, body, and gesture all shared the uDcon
s,-ious inspiration of his yoice-and he went on
ma ster of his audience master also Of hmself. AL
bis f,cuies were completely at bis command. Ideas
iustr.N tiOns, words, seemed to come nnbddeD, ant
to range themselves in harmonious forms, as in th,
walls of ucient Thebes each stone took its prope
place of its own accord moved only by the music o.
! q lyre. His fame as speaker was so conspicuous
even before he appeared among u.s. that it was some
times supposed be might lack those solid powers
without which the oraiorical faculty isef can exer
else only a transient influence But bis speech On
this floor in reply to a slavehoding conspirator-
now an open rebel-showeG that his matter was al
good a. his manner and that, while he Was master
of fence, he wac also a master Of ordnance. His
controversy was graceful, sharp, and flashing,
like scimetar; but bis argument was
powerful and sweeping like a battery.
You have not forgotten that speech. Perhaps the
Argument against the sOphism of Secession was
never letter arranged and combined or more simply
popularized for the general apprehension. A gen.
GRAFTON had passed since that traorous absurdity
the ut cover Of conspiracy, had been exposed. IL
had shrmk for @ while into obscurity-driven back
by the massive logic Of Daniel Webster, and the
honest sense of Andrew Jackson.
- the times have been
That hen the brains were out, the men would 0io
And there an end; but now they rise again"
AS the pretension now showed itself anew, our
thoroughly he did tLis-now with historic and noY
with forensic skill-while his whole effort was
elevated by charming ever-ready eloquence, which
itself was aroused to new powers by the Interrupt
tions which be enc0untered-all this Is present to
your minds That speech passed at into the
permanent literature Of the country, while 1t gave
to it, author an assured position In this body.
Another speech showed him IN d different character
Ii was lis instant reply TO the Kentucky Senator
not yet expelled from this body. The occasion was
peculiar. SENATOR With treason ~ n 9 heart II
not on his ps had Just taken bis seat. Our depart
ed Senator, who had entered the chamber direct
from his camp, rose at once TO reply. lie began
simply and calmly; but as he proceeded, his fervld
soul broke forth in words Of surprising power. As
on the former occasion he had presented the we'll
ripened fruits OF study, go now he spoke with tie
spontaneous uteranee of bis own natural and exu6er-
ant eloquence meeting the polished traitor at every
point with weapons keener and brighter than bis
own. Not content with the brilliant opportunities
of this chamber be accepted commission In the
army and vaulted from the Senate to the saddle, as
be had already vauled from Illinois to California
With zeal that never tired, after recruiting men,
drawn by the attraction OF his name, III New
York, Philadelphia, aud elsewhere, he held his
brigade in camp hear the Capitol so that he passed
easily from one the her, and thus alternated be-
tween The duties OF q Senator and u General. Ills
latter career was short, though shining AT disas
trous encounter near Balls Bluh, he fell, pierced
by nine balls. That BRAIN, which had been the
seat and organ OF such subtle power, swsying
great mblies, and giving TO the child OF obseurty
place aud command among bis fellow men, was now
rudoly torn by lead, and that boron which had
tLrobbed Draw ely was rent by numerous wounds
He died with his face TO the foe, and he died so In
s,aniy that be parsed without pain from the service
Of bis country TO the service OF bis God. IL u sweet
and becoming to die for ones country. Such a
death, sudden, but not unprepared for Is the crown
OF tie patriot soldiers life. But the question is
painfully asked, Who was the author ol. this ca
Luity 2 And there is a strong desire to nod some-
body responsible for disaster where many per-
i,ked so ubprofiably. Bat we need not appoint
Committees or study testimony in order 70 know
wecisciy who took the precious life The guns, the
ta's, and the men that fired item, are Of Ittle i'm
roftance IL was the Power behind Them all, sy log,
. the State-it is (Which took tbis precious hie
i.ud dis Power is Slavery. The nine balls whIch
lew our departed brother came from Slavery. Every
caring wound of his lacerated bosom ttstites
sgainst Slavery. Every drop of his generous
blood cIius out from the ground against
Slavery To hold others TenpOnsibls Is 10
hold the agent and to dismiss tie principal.
Let not our grief be hollow pageanti let II hot
expend itself 10 vain words. Ii must become mt
tive and impulse TO patriot action. But patriot
irin now is only lame, unless you resolve that
Slavery the barbarOus enemy OF our country, the
d.turber OF the peace the yioqtor Of the Consitu-
ton, the vampire of national life, sucking its
beet blood and the assassin Of children, shall be
overturned. Until this lis done, the patriot can only
say orrowfully,
Bleed bleed poor country
Great tyIenny lay thou thy basis sure.
For GOODIES dAT.s not check thee"
Mr. LATHAM followed with most beautiful, elo-
quent, and touching eulogy tie deceased when
tie Senate adjourned