The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-23
The Late Ex.Presideut TYLER.


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The Late Ex-President Tyler.
The following are the remarks Of VIM. g..
Rives made in the Confederate States Con-
Sress On Monday, upon ths death Of Ex-
President J ohm Tyler:
should pe wanting Mr.. President, TO my
own fseiipgf, ii not 70 the memory of our de-
parted friend, were not to claim the priyi-
lege 81 an Older and longer acquaintance
with him, perhaps, than any other member
on this foor possessed, 20 add q lew words TO
what hos been alTeauy SO appropriately and
eioQueniiy said by my honorable colleagues
Il is now somewhat m ore than half centu-
~ since, q school boy in the ancient city OF
Williamsburg, l first made the acquainta CO
OF Mr. Tyler, then Il law student CT Our COM
mon Aima Mater, preparing to enter upon
the career OF Gctive life. Ii was thus given
me TO observe the whole progress to his OF b
IN the heavens from its first appearance
abo~s the horizon, through It's meridian
brightness and spiendor, TO its fina! and
serene setting in the Western sky, which We
axe met this day 10 commemorate.
AS q young man, when l first saw MIR. Ty-
Ter, he was distin2 lAed by the same bland
ness and courtesy OF manners. the pTepossess-
ing address, and the graceful and capnyatiug
eiocution, which We have AL seen displayed
by him in tlis hall. These qualities, The sure
phssportin Government like ours 10 popular
favor and pub he distraction, bore hlm rapid
~ through u succession OF high public en-
ploy nseats. as soon rs he was of age, he was
Gfseted By his native county of Charles CITY
10 the House. Of Delegates of Virginia. His
first session III that body was, ii ! IL istske
not, ia the memorable year OF iSi1-'l2, which
witnessed the bold measure OF the declaration
OF war made by the U. >. against Great Bri
tain, and the young legislator became, thus
closely Identified with that high spirited
generation OF American statesmen, who, sBc-
Ceeding Immediately TO the great men Of the
Revoiution-the conscript fathers OF the Rs
public-coG.inued, for thirty or forty years
after them, TO conduct the aft tirs OF the
Union with q patriotism, ability 81 nd success
worthy of tiisir noble sires.
In the different representative Assem- blies
OF which hir Tyler was excessively a mem
Der, he was BROUGHT into contact with the
highest ipteiIects OF the aga. In the Legs-
latnre of Virs mia, he was a member Of the
Aonse OF Delegates with Littleton Waller
Tazeweil, Benjamin Watkins Leigh, Chas.
Fenton Mercer, Robert s5tanard, Philip bod
bridge, Gen. Blackburn, and many others Of
the most gifted spirits of this Ar Gent Com
mo 3v ealth. In the House of Represe ia
tives Of the United States, he was con tenn po-
Iary with Henry Clay, WiilifIn Lowndes,
john randolph, Henry st. George tucker,
John Forsyth, Louis McLane, and a host of
other distinguished men who then iIlustra ted
the national forum. Being generally the
youngest 70 mher Of the body to which he be-
ioaged, and eiaalons Of distinction, he was
stimulated to the highest exeVtion OF his
powers by the living models OF excellence
with which he vas surrounded, and his mind
was thus Kept in a perpetual progress OF de-
velopment and ex pansion.
Trained and formed under til csc auspices
he proved himself equal 10 all the various
and arduous posts Of public duty to which
he was called by the favor snd confidence Of
his eountrymen. In the highest of them all,
he gave an honorable proof of the elevation
and magnanimity of his character by bring
ing into the leading Executive Departments
the most towering talents of the country, to
ala him in the administration OF the Gov
eminent. The selection of such men as Web.
ster, Calhoun, Legare, Upahur, and Spencer,
proved how far he was above the operation
Of any unworthy sentiment of jealousy, or
fear of being overshadowed in the public es-
timation by his Official advisers; while his
personal management of several of the most
delicate questions Of his administration-I
refer more particularly 70 his broad and com
pTebansive treatment Of the question Of the
nnsxat.on OF Texas, and the firmness with
which he upheld the cause OF constitution
al, republican government in Rhode Island
against the outbreak OF an unlicensed dem
ocTacy-atsested the large and matured
statesn anship he had himself acquired In the
schools of practical instruction in which he
was bred
But this is neither The time nor the place to
enter upon a discussion of the merits OF IMr
Tyler'a administration of the Federal G oy-
eminent, when, By Il sudden and unexpected
dispensatiop Of Providence, he was placed
atthe head of it, No one would more earn
estIy have deprecatsd the revival of forgot
ten controversies than himself. Among the
qualities which most eu,inently and honora-
bly, distinguished him was ali habitual kind
1fness OF oisposit ton, and n generous appre-
ciatien of others, even OF those who were his
political enemies and opponents. 1t was
about two years ago, in this city, on pu bile
and memorable occasion he did himsef TIE
highest hopor by warm, spon taneous and
manly tribute TO the character of a great
man and deceased patriot, who had stood to-
wards him in the attitude OF powerful and
declared opponent.
In reviewing the eventful life of Mr.. Tyler
we are led almost irresistibly TO apply to
a nj hRf nv VI he RI.
mans were accus toned TO express q quality
that ever Inspired their confidence and adj
miration. BY that epithe t-.feliE--they did
not mean TO designate person who was
merely fortunate, bat ore who, by a happy
combination OF we'll tempered attributes,
Knew In measure how 10 command or pro-
pitiate fortune, This sentiment was en-
bodied by them In a maxim, tersely ex pressed
by their great satirist, naitam namea Aabes,
81 ste gyadeatsa. Thus 1T Was with Hir. Ty-
Ter. BY rare union Of prudence, good
s.nse, and good temper, set eff by the natural
Gif's OF orasory and persuasive address, he
won the hearts Of the people and command ed
the favors OF fortune; and success waited
ppon him in every step OF his public career.
Delegate In the Legislature OF his State,
representative in Congress, Governor, Sena.
tor, Vice President, President--he sounded
al the depths and shoals OF honor ;" and In
every INST he acquitted himself 10 the sat.
lsfac tion or his constituents, Il fter having
niied, VIE honor, the highest offices of the
Government Of the Unien-Which sauk at
iehKtu, uhder Inc oeReneracy aud corruption
OF the umes-he lived 10 take q lee ding mart i'm
the establishment Of q new Con .ederaev for
Inc south, winch hSs all bis affections aud
hi MS hopes; and as g. mem Der OF this House.
ne gave his anxious iabors to the great cause
OF securing ana perretuatug the structure.
HIS duties rs member Of this body engaged
MS deepest solieitude. Unwilling tn With
draw himself rem them for single day
wiihout the proper and formal sanction Of
me House, he said TO me the day before the
i.'ai termination OF his disease, that, il he
should be compelled to 90 home 10 recruit his
neuln as he should probably find it neces.
lay 70 co. ne wished me 10 apply to the house
1or leave OF absence for him. A far higher
hntnofity. the great Governor of The mi,
verse, mas gran ted him that leave Of ahsanc.
rot from this He'll merely. hui from all
euolunary eoncerns henesforwars eorAvar
He now rests from his iabors; but he Ia l,e,'
Qusethed 10 us the rich inheritancs -, ~
patriotic exam pie and OF his ccursels 49,
This second adfnonition OF the trauaitnrw
tenure OF hnra an exis senoe, with waich AK
so short IA interval, we have been gisised
fn tins Hall, reminds ua most imprsssiyelv
that @'the paths OF glory Lead but to the
grave" But still ii - rot permitted to Ne to
geploe. "One generation passeth away aud
atother generation cometh but the earth
uk.dsti, forever" Here, while we copftDue
We have Cur allotted work; ard ss taose who
nave b. ne before us have latSrsG and roilsd
70 mast we IN cur turn, till and tabor. TO
carry forward the great scheiaes Of Divine
Frnvtdenoe IN tbs moral 3ovbrRmsnt OF the
weird, aad II we do 90 Ia hamnis submtssien
TO iha wall Of HIM who rulsth The destinfeA
81 Easn ann pEsio;ss. we, too, shall have our
StTesd,