The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-09-07
DEATH OF GOV. BROUGH.
His Last Hours.
Correspondence Cincinnati COMMERCIAL
COLUMBUS, O.. Aug. 30. 1865.

COLUMBUS, O., Aug. 30, 1865.
Again is our State Capitol draped
in the insignia of mourning. Grape is
on the doors, and within the apart
ments have a deserted and sad look
Outside the sun shines very brightly,
almost burning in its glare, but there
is a languid dropping of banners at
half mast, and here and there the ma
tionA ensign appears, bound in the
suggestive emblem Of sorrow. Now,
that the record of the late Governor
is finished, now that there is nothing
to be gained for any party by detrac-
ton on the one hand, or fulsome
laudations On the other, there
are some facts connected with his
career which should not be withheld
from the people of the great State to
whose interests the best service of his
life were dedicated. Partisan malig,
nifty never went so far as 10 deny to
John Brough the possession of great
abilities, united with clear, sound judg-
ment in the affairs with which he had
to deal, whether personal, or pertain.
ing to private corporations, or the
great body polite Of the State.
The scene of his past illness, some Of
them touching in tho extreme to the
sensibiitics ofevery generous heart
were alike vindicatiOn of bis private
personal integrity and his public acts
1t was after the grave and probably
fatal character of his disease had been
fully made known to him in the most
considerate manner by the kind, gen.
Ito christian-heartcd gentleman, on
whom he implicitly relied for medical
counsel, that he engaged him in those
cordial spiritual communications which
gave fiat contradiction to whatever oi
flippant scandal partizan hate had en-
gcndered. ,....
After an earnest and deeply affect
ing prayer, addressed to the Throne Of
Grace for strength to bear with reslg.
nation all Of pain and deprivation that
it pleased the Heavenly Father to send
he said to his adviser doctor youl
diagnosis is probably correct, and in 1
few days, perhaps hours, L shall tt
called to stand before an impartial
Judge. Ny life has been an active
one, and not free from errors and wrong
doing, but for twenty years l have moi
sought my pillow atnight without first
seeking forgiveness of God for those
errors and asking that he would give
me strength tor the discharge of MI
my duties"
Such was the man whose domise the
people of Ohio mourn today. In some
of the hours of delirium, there was q
strange mingling of unpleasant rccol
loctions and painful fancies. "Tht
soldiers are killing me standing on that
foot" he would say; then, as if correct
ing himself, "No, not the privates, they
were always with me, but the disap'
pointed and worthless officers, who
couldn't get promotions as fast as they
wanted" Sometimes, rallying from
hours of dclirium, he would exhibit the
most surprising appreciation of his po
sitlon, and his intellect would shine
out with almost moro than its accus
toned brilliancy. Then he would dis
cuss matters of state with energy, bu
as soon as he felt n sense of relapse
come over. him, he would say, ~ an
in no condition now 10 talk Of sucf
business" and entirely relinquish th'
subject. r, -a
He bore the repeated operations tt
which no was subjected with unexam
pied patience and fortitude. Hi
strength, which had kept up most re
markably, failed him almost suddenly
few hours before his death. His las
hours werc peaceful.
SURGEON GENERAL BARR.
In this connection, it is but an act y
simple justice to advert to the course
pursued by his medical attendant, Sur
geon General Barr. He has brough
to the conduct Of the case, all the skill
of surgery, all the patience and gentle
ness of a tender hearted Christian man
and all the devotion ofa faithful friend
With unceasing vigilance he has bat
tied the disease, night and day, through
all the weary weeks Of his illness; ant
ably seconded as he has been by DIR
Judson, the gentleman assigned to hi
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