Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-03-10
REMARKS.


delphia, who read an interesting and true
memoir of Gov. Cannon, as follows;
REMARKS
WILLIAM CANNON, Governor Of the State Of
Delaware, died at his residence in BridReYille
delaware, ai about three o'clock on the morning
OF March l, 1860 He was the son OF Josiah
and Nancy Cannon and was born on the Stansbury
Jacobs farm, in the ncighborhood of Trinity, on
the 10th day OF March in the year 1909. Atbio
death he lacked few days of completing the
56th year Of his age.
In the fifth year of his life his parents re-
moved to Bridgeville, and this became the place
OF his residence from which he never removed
till called to mansion 10 Heaven. His father
was Methodist exhortor. His mother was
woman of prayer and Of great religious mower
and he often spoke Of the intense fervor Of her
JOY. She would sometimes shout while her
little son was in her arms,
Ia his religious home-culture were doubtleas
s'wn those seeds of piety which mAtured into
the life Of faith of his ripper years.
10 the days Of his boyhood the nearest ehurob
was at Saint JohnstoWn, and subsequently, tbe
people OF uod began to worship in q barn on
the farm now owned by Loxley n, Jacobs
At camp-meeting held in Rusself's Woods in
August 1925, the convicting spirit Of God smota
him with penitential grief. He saw his LOST
aud undone estate as guilty and condemned
sinner. He bowed at the altar Aad made nphlio
confession Of sin. He looked to Christ AZ liz
only aud all-suffcient Saviour. He trusted viii
all his heart in the provisions of the atoning
scheme. The witness of the Spirit gave the
full pledge of the acceptance Of bis conseorated
being. lie passed from death unto life HsavsnIv
peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost flled biH soni
and he felt and knew that he was made by
saving grace regenerated and adopted child
OF Tod Thus in his seventeenth year he
remembered bis Creator. At the same meenno
religion. "
Very soon after his conversion, he began IN
eAnort sinners TO hee from the wrath to come.
and before the death Of his mother who had so
often prayed for him and shouted with him in bsy
arms, he was both cassea and an exborter
in the Methodist Episcopal Church. lie Maid
these official positions before he had attainad
his twentieth year.
In 1890 his health was so inflrm in oonse.
quence OF bilious difficulty, that DR.. Carev
ADVISED MIN to make toHr through the west on
norse.oacS' lie took the advice and starting
from his home under the influence Of A resolnts
will, which never in after life showed much iS.
position 10 give way before difficulties. he made
o horseback tour OF the States Of Ohio. Indiana
Illinois aud Kentucky.
The following year bis health again gave Uav
and be sought relief by a visit to northern NeH
foTk and especially Saratoga From that tine
be had remarkable vigor of constitution, and
never till his death-sickness WAS he oonfnad 10
his bed for more than day or two at O time.
In business life tho christian character of
Brother Cannon strongly manifested itself An
incident will show how clear and strong were
his convictions Of duty, and how prompt he was
even at the apparent expense Of business success
to obey THOSE convictions. When he embarked
in business with his brother Henry. be vns
about u years of agei all the stores in those
days sold intoxicating liquors. The Temperance
Reformation had not then made its marx ON the
public mind, and religious men did not soruple 10
engage in the traffic Brother Cannon saw the
whole matter in its true light, and as the con-
science OF the church has since viewed il. and
he said to his brother, "lf | go into business
with you shall have nothing 10 do vim To,oS.
selling"
His political career may he more approprI-
atey discussed in another place. and Il will
receive the eulogstio appreciation Of the his
toran and the friend Of freedom. In I84b he
was elected to serve his county in the State
Legislature In lsi7 he was again elected
He was thus State legislator for four years.
during the gubernatoral term of the Hon. VIM
H. koss, he was State Treasurer. In 1861 he
was member Of "the Peace Conrreas and
Compromise and of an unbroken Union. In
1862, he was elected Governor of his native
State, and was the incumbent 0 fthat Responsible
oihce at the time OF his death. Though con.
necton with politics is usually corruptinR. and
greatly endangers the religious life Of "a christian
yet Brother Cannon was associated with tbeae
exciting issues during the most momentous
crisis of the nations life, without loss of
spirituality and with no abatement of his
religious enjoyment.
His positions IN the church are eVidenoe NJ
the affection and confidence Of his brethren, In
addition TO the Offices of class-leader and
exhorter, which he continued to hold mi death
he was the recording steward of the circuit, and
TOT years the lay-steWard of the district in the
Annual conference.
religion gave tone to his entire character
lie remarked to me more than once. ~ can
never do enough for tho church and for the
cause OF Christ for il is 10 the religion Of Christ
and to the church of God that owe all have
aud all am in temporal as we'll as spiritual
point of view" The demands which religion
made upon him and the guiding and sustaining
grace OF God in enabling him to meet them,
seemed 70 ne thought ever present with him.
An analysis OF the character OF our deceased
irlenl would develop q very symmetrical COM
bination OF the choicest virtues lie WAS not
taultless. II he had been, he would not have
been man. lie was compassed sbout with
many iniirmities, which none complained of
near as much as himself; but such was the CON
trolling power Of the religion Of Christ that he
was one Of the best men ever know, and such
a man as this community may have to wait for
generation TO see and love.
lie was thoroughly conscientious and con-
science with him, was educated by the word OF
God which he habltually read and by tha en-.
tightening Of the Holy Ghost whore influence
aud teaching he sought in prayer.
He was honest. lie gave away manv A dab,
and refused 10 press many Just claim, but
suppose he could challenge all with whom he
had business transactions, with the same klnd
Of assurance which Samuel had when he htood
before Israel and exclaimed, "Behold. here /
am witness against mo before the Lord and
before his anointed whose OF have taken or
whose ass have I takeu? or whom have i
defrhuded? whom have / oppressed or NJ
whose hand have ] received any bribe to hlind
mine eyes Herewith and will restore IL Won y
He was the embodiment Of energy, enterprise.
activity and perseverance. lie was wide awake
to the affairs and improvements Of the times. In
agriculture, architecture, works of public i'm.
proVemeni, and in every good word and work
Wbleh promised n blessing 10 either the bodles
or the souls Of men, he was a man Of action
prompt, whole sOuled, earnest, vigorous, per.
slslent action lie would frequently do thing
while another would be thinking about begin.
ming lie threw energy and vigor into every
enterprise with which he stood associated. and
while others were despondent and prediotsd
failures, he nerved himself and all assooiatad
With him, with 90 indomitable Industry Ubich
ssem.. @ -Aaolute on Olsipipg success.
He was man y. ~ s'ups Judgment and thor,