Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-02-26
MUSCOE T.. IL. GARNETT.

Ia the licusa "f Representatives, on Thurs
lag last, hr. LYONS, of Richmond city, in
announcing the death Of Mr. GARNET, said ::
At the request Of myhonoruble colleagues
from Virginia, | have b perform this morn-
rs painful, as we'll AZ melancholy, task
one which, | en- sure, would have been as
signed 10 any other member cE,;he delegation,
if capacity had been the criterion OF selcc-
.ina.
Olo little week Lad scarcely passed since
Ike messenger Of death startled US by the de
rland OF victim for tho grave, whose insa-
tiatc appetite WAS uEsatished by the hecatombs
Of good and gallant men, who have been sac .
rit;3cd to the M0loch Of this horrible war; and
n Al iu.:ant, ere ne had time TO say "iure-
wcil' t" us-h'S associates staadlng around
han hcrc-to uttec Que aspiration Tor the sale
d.ircrancn Of his country from the terrible
ordeal through which she is now passing. or
:, hestJw u parting bencdlctlon, upon the
loved ones who reatlc in his distant Western
ho.nc the manly form of W!lcor dis
appeared, never 10 be seen ON earth No
.nGs3; and eIe we have become accus-
toned to contemplate his vacant seat,
without sigh, tho grim messenger has re-
appeared, with new demand; and, having
robbed the Wrs: of one of her noblest sons,
with ncrcilcss cxaetaess, he stretched his icy
hand to the East and the accomplished GAR
NETT ralas and witLers and expires in his
grasp. 1telentlcss agent rf an 0mnip0ten.,
lnexnraLie decree wnau will you rcappoar
among us? Which OF I'd who now mourn over
the bier of our lost friend will be tho victim Cf
Your next demand2 Whose heaythstone will
you shser next? trust that all may escape.
,lnd that these entitled to remain may reassenI-
III. in health, and, would tSGUd could add, i'll
peace. Dir. 0AsSlrr had bIen i'll i'll health
for several VT cks, bu5 III apprehension io- his
life was entertained by himself or his friends,
until very short time befvre his death; aud he
continued hia attendance upon this House, ~
we ail know, until about fortnight since,
when he left This city, in company with his
lovely and devoted wife, in the hope and ex.
pectat:on that, under the influence Of her kind
nurture, and tho quiet vf his own home, his
health would be soon restored. The day be-
fore he left here, went to him, as he sat in
that now vacant seat, with his head bent down
on his desk, aud expressed to him my regret
nc his iulispositon when he replied, Il am
very unwel, but / shall 60 home with my
wife to- morrow morning, and try to stop this
fever, and return before the session is uvcr."
Tho ses ion is over, but be hAs not re-
turned. Alas, indeed his session here
is over and every heart in this Hall
responds with q conscious pspg when / an
nnunce that he never will return. The fever
was storrrd, hut the chill which succeeded it
will never cease-it was the chill Of death
Hs departed this life. l. his own home, in the
cnu.:y ,f Essax, on the l4h day of this
month, in tie inrty-ihird year of his age.
Mr. GARNETT WAS rn ordinary man. IL"
graduated with much distinction, both in law
and Belle Lettres. at the University of Vir-
snia, ard returned homo to practice the law:
but his people. spprecisting hia talent and
learning, called him from the arduous path of
n profession. which admits Of no divided swiy,
to the equally, perhaps more difficult duty. OF
Il as;atosman NOT Of tho mere politician, Mr..
Speaker, who, as he acquires place by
paltcring with t.ie people, Fits uneasy in it,
lest {. puff CT the popular breath may blow
him out Of it: but OF statesman-and elected
him to the convention which formed the pre-
sent constitution of Virginia. He was suose-
uuently elected, for several successive years.
to the Legislature Of Virginia. and then thrice
elected to the Congress Of the United States.
He wus also, Cor many years Visitor to tho
University Of Virginia, and in each OF thess
stations he was distinguished for his learning
and ability. An honored colleague, who
sits near me, informs me that his services
Is Visitor to the University, we're eminent-