Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-22
rHR LATE HON. N. R. H. GARNErr.


IULoaIES II EEI HousK OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
In the House Of Representatives on Thursday last,
the announcement. Of the death of the Hon. Huscos R.
&. GAInst elected several euogiss of the deceased
Mr. PnKnS, of La, sAid:
Mr.. Speaker.-It 10 always sad TO speak OF friend
Who has been taken from US by death We recall the
familiar presence we dwell on our moments OF pleasant
and We endeavor to persuade ourselves that
IL Il only temporary absence that separates u.s. feel
in this way to-6ay in looking around for the aosen! COL
league Who for The last two years. has shared cur c'uu-
ella and borne with Us the heavy responsibility OF our
actor; and YET sir the subdued manner and tie solemn
silence OF those about me- not less than the resolutions
ON YOUR table tell US that death has again Ninted tbs
Honsa and t,ken fiom US one of members. Last
Week il was Wilcox and 1t Is Garnet', who has been
called from N.
ask, sir, the privilege in behalf of Louisiana, of
saving few words in honor OF his memory. IL was
not my good fortune 10 Know intimately tue deceased
until We met in February, 1892, as Members OF this
bodv had however, been familiar with his charac-
teri and from the period OF his leaving the University
of Virginia with the promise Of brilliant future be
fore M had watched with interest his pubic career.
think of s now II 1t WAS but yesterday and yei,
when reflect the events that have pass d II seems
n, il wears had interviewed since our inst meeting IN
this hall We had assembled most OF US strangers 10
each 9th er to inaugurHte new Government We came
from rent 81 ctons OF the country, aud from various
nnrsuts but there was no OF whom the public had
larger expectations, or who, in human Judgment mad
greater asurares Of Along life OF honorable stincon
"a himself aud useful TO bis country The tresh-
Meas and GLOW Of health gave him, even in manhoot,
the appearance of youth; and it wa, only aier &C
ouantance and becoming familiar With tue extent OF
bis a. cumuased knowledge, that you realised the ma
turity and development OF his mind. Fortunate Ia the
inheritance of wealth and fam " consideration, he en-
tered carly into public lite, and his proposing to HIM
seH hirh standard of excellence care oily did he
hs opportunities that Senator Butler OF South
DINA once sad OF him that "be was the best INFORM
ed man Of bis age hs had ever known" We Sir, who
have so often had occasion to admire his logical ability
and the remarkable clearness of his intellect have
been more stru L. perhsps with the force OF his mind
than With the fulness of his information; aGd ye,
Issenng TO him. have elt that he displayed ALL
the ability Of which he was possessed. VIZ 10 Diners
would labor and bring to bear upon any subject before
tbi House the utmost of heir resources he seemed
opl, to have let fall from full mind so much as ne
deemed necessary for the occasion. He was scholar
Withou! pedAn,ry and of profound thought with.
ont confusion o. ideas Had he lived with his mud
aud habits of study and application, there Is no posce
under our government TO which he might not honoraDy
have aspired In looking TO the future Of our young
rannblc INV mind has often turned towards him
who had high dudss 10 perform. The incidents OF his
life have already been sketched and will not again re-
fer to them To me he appeared, uader all clreum-
stances the accomplished salesman and cultivated
IL .
Struggle in which We are eng ged; and as no one OF
our public men had more earnestly or with moro aoy,
coutended for rights under the old government no
one OF them, believe, would more cheertuly have
sacrificed lite in their defence.
Mr. Speaker Mr.. Garrett Was preparing TO enter the
army 40 soon az be osased his connect on with TINS
Congress- but IL has not been permitted TO him to die
on tue battlefield. He has fallen as be lived, in the
civil service of his country His death is none the les
hero's death In cur Struggle for national existence,
the duties Of the legislator often requires equal courage
with those of the soldier. The statesman who under
all circumstances retains bis equAnimity, and, with ear
nest and hopeful conviction OF SUCCESS never Wearies
In tina discharge Of duty does patriot service Thus
EMPLOYED Tyler died in the ullness years, weston
folosod in the po0ntide of bis ussiureS', and now
Garne has Joined them in the flower Of hs promise
Virginia has given up the battlefield, many OF her
pobss sons but mona of them has served more honor
ably than these:
fhey have fallen from overhorns with thought
Fhey may net ningis with The WARRIOR band,
By whom the battle Of Freedom nust be fongnb
with no escape In action from the cares
Thai fever all the brain and keep The breast
Rspr and unklnk with fresh h'Pes and fears
Butosn they have fallen from hfe - from 0 Tree
The autumn leaf detached falls Suddenly, .
while no one notss the bresHs hat bore u hence.
But. Mr.. SPEAKER, We would but feebly and unEor-
thv honor th. memory Of our colleague if did not
T our ewes from his grave towards those great objects
In the future, for which ne struggled.
No people have achieved greatness that DID not
Ara crate for itssf history Of heroic acts out OF
which AZ flowers from battlefield, have sprung Its
nohlet characteristics Our soldiers have contributed
NJ ,hs, noble deeds TO heroic history its develop
mept ia the future depends upon the character and
ability Of our public men. It is in this view that re-