Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-12-22
THE LATE SENATOR COLLAMER
Tributes to His Memory.

sociated with US in the national councils, but
who is with Us now no more. Since our assemble
ing here at this present session, we have all had
occasion 10 remark, none Of US can have failed
I 10 remark, the absence of enc of our
meulbers-one whom We have long been accus-
toned to meet and to hold council with in these
| halls. An elder brother, who has long mingled
with US in our deliberations here-a wise and
discreet statesman-a learned and i1dicious
counsellor-a pure patriot just and an up
right man, has been removed from among US by
the hand Of death-a venerable form long IA
miliar to our sight, has been taken away out of
our presence. | bring no new message TO this
body,for it has already been heralded throughout
the country, yet ! am none the less sad in max
ing the formal announcement to the
/ Senate Of the death Of my late colleague. Hon.
Jacob Colamer 1t is eminently mt and hecom-
ing, Mr. President, as it IS also in accordance
with an approved and sacred custom, that we
| pause for an hour in the ordinary routine ofOur
daily labor that We may consecrate that hour 10
the virtues and the memory Of a deceased and
lamented associate who has shared 50 long and
so largely in our regards and in the public con-
idence, for his mature wisdom and for his great
moral excellence Your colleague, Judge Col
! lamer, is dead was the startling telegraphic
message | received ut my home about five weeks
ago. lie expired at his residence in Woodstock
| Vt, on the evening Of the gth of November
| past after a brief illness Of little more than a
single week. at his own house. in the midst OF
his own affectionate and devoted household, in
the full exercise Of his intellectual faculties, with
an abiding and mistaken faith in the Christian
religion, and in the cherished hope OF a blissful
Immortality.
But three weeks before his decease, he visited
Montpelier, the capital Of the State, some fifty
miles from hrs residence, to attend the funeral
services Of younger and favorite brother. Hav-
ing paid the las, sad rites OF respect and atfec-
ton 10 a brothers memory, he returned to his
own, but, alas, only 10 lay himself down so soon
to die. BY this dispeusltion, 50 sudden AMI so
SAD. the Senate Of the Unitel States has lost one
Of the Oldest, most experienced aud most trusted
Of Its members; the country one Of the ahlsst
and purest Of lis statesmen; society and the
church ofwhich lie vas auemler, one Of the worth
lest and brightest examples; my own State her
most eminent either, and this day there is mourn
ing Throughout, her borders.
Mr. Foot then gave a sketch Of the life Of Mr..
Collamer, and concluded with glowing eulogy
upon his late colleague, a wise and inc0rrup-
thle statesman, whose loss was a national cslam-
ity, All whose example should be followed by
all who aspire to the faithful service Of their
country.
An the conclusion Of the grafton. Mr. Foot Of
fsrei the following
Rc9lre{. That the Senate have received with
the deepest seusibiity the announcement Of the
death OF Hon Jacob Collamer, late Senator Of
the United States from the State e Vermont.
Rcs5lrei, That the members Of the Senate.
from a sincere desire OF showing every mark Of
respect due to the memory Of Hon Jacob Cola
mer, viii 20 into mourning by wearing crane 90
the len arm for thirty days
Rssolrcl, That rs a further marx of respec,
for the memory Of the leccasc, tie Senate do
now adjourn.
1t was ordered that the Secretary c5mmuu;
cate these resolutions 10 the II use of Beprescn-
tatiyes.
MIR. Harris Of New York said. Il is not for
Vermont alone 20 mourn New York claims
the privilege OF standing ty her side in the hour
Of affection Of bending with her IN grief over
the grave Of her iiiustrious son. lie was son
. Of Vermont by adoption, Of Neg York by birth.
The elevated position DE 90 long occupied the
extensive influence he SO long welded the
honor awarded 10y all, may Justly satisfy the
pride both Of his native aul adopted States. 4
mau of singular worth and rare virtues has
been lost 90 u both. A. Senators. we may well
unite in paying cur tribute %. respect 10 the
memory Of one So justly houorei. We may
well pause IN our deliberations 10 bestow cur
homage upon one 50 justly beloved. The Sen
ate has indeed lest one Of It's ablcst statesmen
one Of It's purest patriots In houorins such a
man We honor ourselves. When We met in this
chamber a few days ago / am sure the thought
was present 20 every mini that one o. our NUM-
Der was not here that one seat hal been male
vacant +; that the oldest AMI most experienced.
perhaps the wisest oi our body, was gone IL Is
hard for us 20 believe that the venerable form
: so familiar 20 US Lcgc, Vii. no longer stand in
our midst that hc who was sd lately the oh
iect of cur reverence has already been carried
away by death; that we shall never again lis
ten % words OF vs. !om auI pat ,iotisu. from his
lips. Those who knew him best Will miss him
NEST In the Senate, where his couusels had
been 30 prominent, his death vii dy felt AS no
| ordinary bereavement We 10 well % mourn
for him. How frequently, Mr. President, we
have been callel 10 honor the SCnate's dead 70
pay tne homage which friendship is ever
prompt % offer % those who have been our as
sociates in the National Council. This is the
sixth occasion since became a member Of this
boly when the Senate has PAUSED 90 render its
public tribute 90 the memory Of It's dead /;
The eloqu nee Of Douglas aud Baker Is no long
or heard in these halls Bingham and Th0mp-
son and Hicks no longer appear in their woniei
places. Thus one after another familiar face
disappears, and the great ard the good pass
from among US But Of them all, the loss Of
none VIII be more deeply Eel, than that Of him
10 whose memory We nov pay the last tribute
Of affection aud respect. IL is not my purpose
to speak in detail Of the life and character AMI
public services Of our lam lntei friend. To DO
so, would be to repeat what has been 80 well
and so beautifully said by the Senator who has
preceded me and what c1ulI be more beautiful
or more appropriate than the culogy 10 which
we have Just listened lie has tracel the
I mi " 81
ginning OF his career 10 his last hour, showing
how by HE energy, his intellectual power and
moral worth. he reached the high position he so
long occupied. u did not know him, as did the
Senator from Vermont when in the pride and
freshness his life. When We first met the
hand Of time had touched him but even then
| saw enough to realize what he might have
been in the full maturity Of his vigor and man
hood. lie had passed beyond thealloited period
Of human life, yet even his last years were de-
voted with all fidelity and success 10 the service
fins country To the last be continued to ex-
| hibit the effects of mind disciplined by early
habits Of industry, and well furnished with the
| rich fruits Of long experience. In him we're
| happily combined those elements which consti-
tute the sound and iulicious Statesman and the
man Of great personal dignity. He was Justly
esteemed for the excellence Of his judgment and
| the purity Of his character. His most promi-
nent characteristics were sound discretion,
clear diseernment, good common sense, and
great honesty Of purpose. No purer patriot
ever participated in the councils OF the nation.
He did not often occupy the attention Of the
Senate in debate, but when be rose TO speak he
always received the most respectful and earnest
attention. Such was the directness and force OF
his argument so fluent were his resources both
Of wisdom and experience so minute was his
knowledge of public affairs, that all present,
Senators and spectators, became interested and
instructed listeners.
Mr.. Harris then dwelt upon the character Of
COllamer as he had known him in the Senate
MT. johnson. Of Maryland. (Dem, } said, the
loss of such man as Judge Collamer at any
time was serious loss to the public councils /;
but when one who had so long and SO faithfully
served the countrY-one 50 conspcous for his |
wisdom and his patriotism-was taken away, |
the event could not be recognised as other than |
great national calamity. Valuable as were his |