Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-02-23

CuIlir.- familiar with .i.n 2:..rIt ii his arru-
p;1'.tCa En1wladgn. t'lt ytrm realized the m.-
tuclty aau Development oi his mini Fortu-
nG:c IN the inheritance Of wealth and family
consideration, he entered early into public
life, end, while proposiHg 70 himself 4 high
standard Of excellence, 90 carefully lid he
improve his opportunities that Senator Butler,
Of Sonth Carolina onto said Of him that "hc
was tie hest informed man Of his age he hal
eyer kaown." Wo, sir, whc havn 20 often had
cccasjou to admire his logical ability and the
remarkable cieurness Of his intellect, have
been more struck. perhaps, with tie forGr
Of his mind than with TIE fitness Of
his information and yet, in listening to
him, have never felt that he displayed ALL
the ability of which he was pOssesscd-
While others would labor and bring to bear
upon any subject before this House the ut
most Of their resources, he seemed only to
have let fall from full mind so much ~ he
deemed necessary for tho occasion. lie was
scholar Eithout pedantry, and a mi!n Of
Drerelnl thnaght without c0nfus ion Of ideas
Had be lived, with his mind and habits Of
study and application, there is no position
under OH. government TO which he might not
honors:bly have aspircd. In looking to the
future Of cur young republic, my mind has
often turned towards him as ono who lnd
hi igh duties to perform. Inc incidents Of his
life hove already boon s.:esciIol. and | Will
not again refer 10 them. 10 lGo he appeared,
under i,l circumstances, the :!ccDulpL shed
statesman and the cultivated gentleman. His
whole heart was absorbed in the great strus
gle in which we are cngagcl end ~ no ono
or our public men had more earnestly, OF
with more ability, ccnicnGcd for our rights
under the old government, no one Of them,
believe, would more ciiccrfully have sa:riGccd
life in their defence.
Mr.Speakcr, Mr.. UARS&rr wis preparing to
enter the army 81 5,on AZ he ceased l.'i COL
nection with this Lnn&rcs,; but It lm7 MT
beon. rarmittca in him tn die Ua Tho hnttla.
field lie l:.9 fallen, n; ha lived, in the evil
.rcr2icc nf his cnrIntry. His death, hu" ever, ~
Dno tho less hero ic;.tn. ln our struggle ior
national existence, the dutio4 Il tic Legislator
vitcn require cqua! courage with those oI the
sol4iur. The states:n;i:t Gho. under I'll cir-
cuilstanGes, rct;.ius his Cquanin,ity, aaI,
with earnest anil hopal;:! convictions Of sites
CO.'S, acYcr wcGrics in tic discharge of ra:Y,
tIuea n patriot scrvirc. Tbua cErployrt. ~
lcr died in the l,linrss 0t years. Preston FOL-
lowed IN Ito n0Gntidu Of Ills usHiuln"s' ar,i
now GARsErT has joined thnm in lie i Wer of
his promise. Virginia has given MP, pn i!rr
battlefield, many Of her noblcst sons, but
none of them have served her ia0.e l!0n0rably
than these;
"'Piay ba.c fasi from. ~ nY prnc w.;h thHn,.Il
They may moi ;H:a2l, 'sih IT." "arror h-ni
B whom the ha.ili Of fssedo:n mus be fought,
With no e.c.pe In sc'Ioa !roui :ae Cars
That .cyC. Ill ;nn tr.in aud ka"p the brrs,t
Rising az! s!uhi ing With {. :sh h ,pes a,G f,ors
uidea they have f.llnn ifaIa if' hs ffpn y 'rss-
Toe ,.r.!Inn l"..f d::1c!.ed f,.+ sTj irniy.
While "ue n.tct tie bretz; TIA. b;ir 1t arnco''
But Mr. Speaker, we would but feebly and
unworthily honor She memory OF our colleague, If
We did not lif, our eyes from his grave towSrds
those great objects in the future, for which he
struggled.
No people have ever achieved greatness that
did not first create for itselt history Of heroic
acts out of which. as flowers from :. battle fald,
have sprung its roblest characteristics. Oar sOl-
.iliers hsre contributed, of their noble deeds, 70
uar heroic history; i;s development, in the future
depends upon the character and ability Of our
public men. 1t is in this view that regard the
death of MUSCoE GARSETT as Il public mist9r-
tune. If, by cherishing his virtucn snd initiating
his example, We may gain additional strength
for the discharge of duty, We will have been iii
some degree compensated for his losG.
As we began the labors Of the present session
Of Congress with lamenting thu death Of Iancey.
and now conclude it in mourning fp: that oi
GARRETT, may we not take the lesson to hcart,
and be admonishad that as the responsibilities
Of life extend beyond the limit of ,'ere human
existence so do these great principles f;r %inch
we, rs people, nre struggling, transcend III 'l,f:
Importance the life of Il single nation. aad con-
nec. themselves with the welfare of the whole
human race.
Mr.. CURRY aa;I-Mr. S7eaker--Duriag the
angry political controversy ot 1891, growing
out Of tho Compromise mcasurcs,' us they
were called, read pamphlet, titled THE
Union, pass md future how i. works aaa how
TO save it," Remarkable as HIS been rnT
country for the production of political essays,
know Of mono writ.on with more power and
elegance and sonclusivencss Of reasoning than
this. II had wide circulation and contribu-
ted in no small degree to the enlightenment
of the popular mind, in reference to the bene.
fetal influences Of slavery, and the injurious
effects Of tho partial leg .slation Of the United
States on Southern wealth and Southern pro-
duction. Learning that Mr.. GARNEFT was the
author. was prepared, when / met him in
December, 1857, in tho House Of Representa-
tiyes at Washington, to accord to him the hou'
age Of my admiration and gratitude. Coinc!-
dence Of opinion, similarity Of views and harrIo-
nv OF ac:ion naturally attracted us to each 9TH
er, end cur acquaintance soon ripcned into
friendship, which developed itself and strength
ened with the lapse Of time.
The ordinary peculiari.ies of Mr.. QAREErT's
character were obvious and striking. They
exhibited themselves to the mcst casual OBJ
server. Il required como intimacy to penc-
trate beneath the reserve and lnarn his true
moral and personal worth. In private inter
COURSE he was frank, communicative, genial,
afectionate. Warmly attached to his friends,
he was singuarly ursolfshi in his desire for their
happiness and we'll being. IIe WAS free frcm
designations and vulgar yicos, and tho impress
nioua Of virtue md morality, iurmcibY female
relatives shielded him from the conlaminhti?na
Of u gay capital, ald kept him, to the day Of
his death, model oil purify, refinement and
elevation.
In carly life Mr. GsHSrrT contraatcd habits
Of sUvcrc stu iy, which were not thrown CIT in
q nia.urcr age Tho po%cr Of n painful end
fatal disease did not check him IN his stuji--
ousncss, nor CAUSE him to relas in that dill
gent, conscientious attention H. always gave
to his public lutica. Apart fr''i, any pcEs1l :
al ambition, he loved litaraturr iJr itself, w::s
familiar with the ancient and f"glish classics
and kept puce with tho uscf'l writings Of tho
day. Earnestly and hopefully he looked tnl-
ward to the time. when thcr" great troubles
should cease, and 10 c"nll devote himecli rn-
inta7rurtrdly tp TIM riu,!y OF irtera and the
innocent delights oG family and social inter-
course.
His favoritc studies wore history, political
economy and the practical working of laws
and administrations. Of al subjects, tic
L., rI,lo - inh Efc Yolfn1
llr WIS q careful student, ATT; aided by re
tentive memory, b:s attainments, prO?erlJ
speaking, his;c;udition, was large and exhans-
two Early in life, choosing !."ii.ics as arro-
fession, regarding public lite as his vcncsticr:
10 fixed high standard and educated himself
up to it for statcsmau. lie was thoroughly
re5sed in the philosophy Of. goTerfment,-had
III. intelligent comprehension Of the different
forms and theories, their evils ana adv''n-
tapes, and derived !;- knowledge not FROM
/ .So,,orol nuh1i-: ,us but from original