The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-01-09
EulOgies on the Death of Senator Bing.
ham, by Hon. Charles Sumner and Hon,
F. C, Beaman.
In SENATE, Dec. 10.


In SENATE, Dec. 10.
Mr.. SUMNER. Mr.. President, there
are Senators who knew Mr.. Bingham
we'll while hs was a member of the
other House. l knew him we'll when
he became member of this body. Our
seats here wore side by side, and, as he
was constant in his attendance, saw
him daily. Our acquaintance soon be-
came friendship, quickened by common
sympathies, and confirmed by that
bond which, according to the ancient
historian, is found in the idena sentire
de republica. In his death / have lost
friend; but the sorrow of friendship
is deepened when 1 think of the loss
to our country.
If he did not impress at once by per-
sonal appearance or voice or manner,
yet all these, as we became familiar
with them, testified constantly to the
unaffected simplicity and integrity of
his character. His life, SO far as it was
not given to his country, was devoted
to the labors of agriculture He was
a farmer, and amidst all the tempta-
tons of An eminent public career. he
never abandoned this vocation, which
does so much to stredgthen both body
and soul. More than merchant, man
ufacturer, or lawyer, the agricuiturist
is independent i'm his condition. To
him the sun and rain and the ever-vary-
ing changes of the seasons are agents
of prosperity. Dependent upon nature
he learns to be independent of men.
Such person, thus endowed, easily
turns away from the behcsts of party
in order to follow those guiding princi-
pies which are kindred to the laws of
nature. Of such a character our friend
was beautiful example.
In him all the private virtues COM
mingled. Truthful and frank, he was
full Of gentleness and generous sympa-
thy. He had risen from humble for,
tunes, and his heart throbbed warmly
for all who suffered in any way. Es-
pecially was he aroused against wrong
and injustice wherever they appeared
and then all the softer sentiments were
changed into an indomitable firmncss
showing that his was one of those
beautiful natures where
'the gods had joined
The mildest manners and the bravest mind"
1t was this frmness which gave eleva
tion to his public life. Though com
panions about him hesitated; though
great men on whom he had leaned
apostatized, he stood sure and true al
ways for the right. Such a person wat
naturally enlisted against slavery. Hi
virtuous soul reeoiled from this many
headed barbarism, which had entered
into and possessed our national Gov
ernment. His political philosophy wa,
simply moral philosophy applied to
public affairs. Slavery was wrong
therefore he was against it-wherevel
he could justly reach it-no matter
what form it took-whether of preten
sion or blandishment. Whether stalk
ing lordly like Satan, or sitting squa
like toad; whether cozening like Me
phistopheles, or lurking like poodle
: whether searching as Asmodeus, ever
to lifting the roofs of the whole coun
: try, he saw it always, in all it's various
manifestations as the Spirit of Evil
and was its constant enemy. Ant
now among the signs that freedom ha
truly triumphed, is the fact that herr
in this chamber, 70 long the sanctuar,
of slavery, our homage can be freely
5 offered to one who 80 fearlessly opposed
it.
There was something in our modes
friend which especially adapted him t
private life. But had he not been
public man, he would have been a
home, in his own rural neighborhood
$ one of those whose influence was posi-
tive for human improvement. ii
would have been among those to who's
e praise Clarkson would have Testified
SO authoritatively. 81 have had occa
sion," says this philanthropist, ct
|, know many thousand persons in til
! course of my travels, and / can trul
r say that the part they took on thi
. great question--of the abolition o. tn
slave trade-was always a true criter
on of their moral nature" But he wa
not allowed to continue in retirement
= = His country had need of him, and b
} became member of the Michiga
q Legislature, and speaker of its House
: Representative in Congress, Governor
:, and then Senator Of the United States
:. This distinguished career was stampe
n by the simplicity of his characte
:, The Roman Cato was not more simpl
4 4 or determined. He came into publ
n life when compromise was the order
the day; but he never yielded to j
:. He was q member of the Democrat
g party. which was the declared tool {
+. slavery bat he never allowed SLAYER