Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-22

policy Win great auNdnuet>- lmpieSeCu WIN
the conviction that our institutions, unobstruct-
cd, as cur fathers designed them, contained
everything necessary to secure individual liberty
and the public welfare, he was at all times the
ai7ocate of keeping every department Of the
government within the limits prescribed by the
constitution. To transfer these under any ex-
igeneY, he ever rcpudiated as inadmissble and
dangerous With mind strongly conservative
by nature, VIII 1t 60 NJ full justice to the abili-
ties Of others, nc at all times opposed measures
and principles projected or maintained BY any
department Of the government which be believed
t. be Unwarl ed By the constitution. This he
exhibited in strong terms in his admirable
speech of the 18th Of February, 1862.
Mr. Fessenden Of Maine, said, that among the
distinguished men who during the lest ten years
had occupied seats in the Senate, he regarded
Mr. Colldmer as having no superior. lie was
not elected to the Senate through his own skill
IN political combinations, or to advance the per
sonal interest Of any set of men, nor on account
of his individual popularity. With great dis
tiBctness, not TO say abruptness and extreme te
naclty of opinion AMI purpose, and a somewhat
proportionate disregard for the opinions Of 9TH
ers when differing from him, he was not apt to
gather around him the attachment Of party
devoted to him, or to interest large numbers If
men in his individual success. Notwithstand-
ing this. few among the members Of the Senate
have been more successful in contracting and re
tanning the confidence and regard Of the people
among whom they live. He inspired with pro-
found respect for him those whose good fortune
il was 10 associate with him. lie was the pos
SCISSOR Of qualities which could not fail to attract
the attention of people disposed 70 estimate men
at their true value
Mr. Fessenden dwelt at length upon the char
acter Of the deceased as a lawyer and legislator,
and passed high eulogium upon him in both
capacities.
Mr. Dixon Of Connecticut, said the Nestor Of
the American Senate had been called from the
scene where his counsel had been 50 often heard,
and hIs wisdom s4justly honored. Whatever Of
eloquence, Of lear ming, Of skill in debate, may
remain in this body, the death of Judge Cola
mer leaves a void here which will not easily be
supplied. Whoever aspires to I'LL his peculiar
place and exert a similar influence must possess
not only equal abilities and a character as pure,
but judgment enlightened like his by the les
sons and a mind stored with the fruits, Of
long and varied experience. Ii, in our estimate
Of the dead, We are sometimes liable to pass be-
You'd the measure Of just appreciation, we may
be assured that whatever harangue Of eulOgy i
applied TO him, We are in little danger Ofexceei-
ing a correct Judgment Of his merits In the
Senate and wherever else he was called 10 act,
he Was man SO marked and peculiar that his
superiority in many striking respects was At
once acknowledged. Il was my good fortune 70
know him somewhat intimately first in the House
Of Representatives, and more lately in this body /;
in both these positions, he was conspicuous
among the celebrated and able men with whom
he was associated in public affairs. There were
certain qualities intellectual and moral, in which
he was not surpassed by any Of the distinguish
ei men Of his time. And, first Of all, he vas
just man. His integrity was a pcryading AMI
governing characteristics OF his nature, which not
only controlled his conduct, but shaped his SEN
tneuts and opinions, go that he seemed gifted
with an unerring judgmen; Of light and wrong.
To Us, (saii Mr.. Dixon,) our veneratei and
deeply lamentei friend was chiefly known for
his punctual and constant attendance, and his
faithful labor in this holy in the business and
debates Of which be took leading part. In the
truest and best sense Of the word, he Was a con-
serystiye. To censure, TO defend, to uphold and
maintain, the Government, the Union, the
Constitution, the laws, Of the United States
this was his constant eilort-the mission and
labor Of his life. lie did not believe, however,
that conservatism consists in upholding ancient
error, or persisting in wrongs, because they
seem by the lapse Of time 70 have become irrem-
eliable, Or by custom sud usage 70 have grown
inyio.able. On the contrary, he thought that
what Is good in a government may best be de-
Tended and preserved by seeking the proper &c
casiol TO correct abuses and rectify mistakes.
Mr. Rilile, Of Delaware, (Dem.,) said he
would not ATTEMPT an euloEv Of the deceased,
but would confne himself to a simple obituary.
In the death Of Jacob Collamer, Vermont had
lost one Of It's brightest jewels, the Senate one
Of is most valued members, and the country
ssHrl s.sr r1-err ls..H go
feeling, great in thinking, great In principle
AMI great in action. Would that he hal lived
TO aid in the great work Demonstration which
hope We are about 10 iuaugur4te.
Mr. Riddle said his first acquaintance with
Mr.. Collamer was IN ls4J and 1850, when be
vas Postmaster General Of the United States,
the duties Of which Office be discharged with
singular ability and general satisfaction Amer
a reference 10 some tacts in Mr.. Collamer's pub
lie life, Mr.. Riddle closed with an eloquent
tribute 10 his worth as statesman and
patriot
Mr.. sumner, Of Massachusetts,. said that since
Henry Clay had left the Senate chamber. no
Senator had diei whose death created such a
blank in the public council, unless It was Mr..
Douglas He was cur most venerable associate,
and his place did not shrink with time. lie
was, when We last saw him. as important to cur
still possessed Of those peculiar powers Of argu-
meut and illustration, he was not SO old that he
was not often the life Of this body
Mr.. Sumner spoke Of the deceased IS an ora
tor, lawyer and legislator, and passed a high
eulogium upon him for his opposition TO the
Kansas measure under Mr.. Buchanan 5 admins
tration, and 10 his opposition TO Mr.. Lncoln's
policy Of reconstruction. as exempliiei in the
State GoyeInments Of Louisiana and Arkansas.
Mr.. Poland, Of Vermsnt, spoke Of Mr.. Cola
mer as a lawyer, in which capacity he had
known him long and intimately.
At the conclusion Of these eulogies, the reso-
lutions Of Mr.. Foot were adopted unanimous
", and the Senate adjourned to meet on Mon
day next.
HoUsE.-A message was received from the
Senate announcing the death Of Senator Collamer
Mr.. Morrill,, Of Vermont in his eulogy spoke
Of the deceased in terms Of affection, paying a
tribute to his private and public character, and
saying that he illustrated in an eminent degree
a Christian patriot He concluded by Offering
the usual resolutions Of respect.
Mr.. Woodbridge, OF Vermont, also paid his
tribute of respect.
Mr.. Raymond, Of New York, Oh unpre-
pared to speak in fitting terms Of the character
and services Of the deceased, could not refrain
from the utterance Of few words on this occa-
soin. In the course OF his remarks be said he
early learned to admire his character, and the
more he saw Of him the more he esteemed and
and profoundly respected him. lie alluded to
the high moral considerations which always in
huenced his conduct, and his clear and active
mind and powers Of logic. No names will stand
higher in the love and esteem Of chose connected
with hiLA than that Of Jacob Collamer
Mn POLAND
learn from members Of the profession who
were contemporary with Judge Collamer in the
earlier portion of his professional career, that
his excellent natural abilities, together with his
thorough and accurate knowledge Of the law,
obtained by close application and study; his
diligence aud faithfulness in attending to the
interests Of his clients, and especially his un-
swerying honesty and integrity, soon brought to
him large professional employment, and that
his sphere of practice and reputation steadily
enlarged up to the time he left the bar for the
bench. He was ever exact and thorough IN his |
preparation, to the smallest details, and in the
conduct Of trials was always watchful that no
proper presentation or argument beneficial to |