New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-16
DEATH OF EDWARD EVERETT

DEATH OF EDWARD EVEnETT.
The death of this eminent statesman and adj
mirable scholar is announced by our telegraphlc
dispatches to have taken place at his residence
in Boston on Sunday, Jan. Il, after brief and
severe illness. Few Of our public men have
filled larger space in tho world of politics, or
the brotherhood of letters, and there is perhaps
none whose sudden decease would cause a
deeper thrill Of sorrow in the most refined and
intelligent circles Of society, although in the
latter years Of his life he had ceased to occupy
the prominent positions which form the pass
ports to popular fame. OF reserved md fa5-
tidous turn Of mind, Of singularly sensitive
temperament, shy, almost to GOODNESS, III the
expression of personal feeling with the timidiiy
which proceeds from delicacy Of organization,
and a spirit Of excessive caution and forecast,
more fond of the approval Of his Interiors, than
is usually the case with men Of decided original
ity aud independence Of character and cons'i'
tutional aversion to extremes both in the sphere
Of thought and of action, he was little fitted py
nature OF habit for the stormicr scenes OF poll
ties, the rude strife of parliamentary debate, or
the adroit and ready tactics of an inscriptions
party leader. His native tastes and endow'
ments inclined him to life Of purely intellectual
and aesthetic pursuits; he was more at home
in the "qriet and still dir of delightful studies >
than amid the throng and pressure of practical
affairs; with the exception Of strictly a6straci
and metaphysical discussions, there was no
branch of literature in which his capacity would
not have enabled him 20 become a master;
and there were few, in which both his aptitudes
and his attainments, did not entitlc him to
highly honorable distinction. In the field OF
poetry, history, criticism, classical learning
popular eloquence, be possessed abilities, which
if exclusively directed to single object Of ambi'
ton, would have given him O brilliant pTeeml.
nenco; no department Of what il somewhat
loosely called polite letters was foreign to his
nature; and in several Of the higher spheres OF
Intellectual activity he was probably without Q
rival among the ablest and most distinguished
men Of the past or present generation. lie, GER
tainly, lacked the force Of character which quail
ifes man TO guide and mold the opinions OF
lis fellows; with genuine love OF progress, II
is no paradox TO say that he combined dread
of innovation; he shriink before the ghosts oi
public rumor; his trust in principle was even
modified b. his mistrust OF consequences; with
a want Of the enthusiasm, the personal magnet
ism, the free, spontaneous abandonment TO the
genial impulses Of the moment, which make mr.
dent friends he was annoyed with the perpetual
fear Of making enemies; he carried his Kindness
of manner, his spirit Of Cancellation, his defer
ence to prevailing prcrdices, his love Of CONE
plnentary illusions, TO The very verge OF SINGER
itv; il was hard for him TO make up his mind TO
call bad thing. or false idea, by its right
name; and even in the defense Of vital public
Interests. he trcmblcd before The audacious or
the subtle assaults OF lis antagonists be
wa too fond Of granting concessions for
the sake of peace; thus at times incur
ring tie contempt Of his opponents, who
faw no distinction between his gentle
ncss of statement, ard coward.co OF
spirit. between his aversion 10 giving o'Icnse.
aud willingness 10 compromise The nohlesi
PRINCIPLES Of Craftsmanship. The great error
of lis III. IN this respect, and one from which he
meyer recovered in the esteem Of many pure and
esrnest and noble minds, was bis memorable
apology for slavery in his maiden speech ON The
aoor of Congress, which called forth the expires
sion If such whitening scorn from Mr. Randolph,
ard which clung, Ike n plague spot, to bis gar
mcnts, until they had been purified, rs by fire,
amid the blood he'd and agony of the terrible
crisis which armed the heart Of the aged states.
man with moro than the rigor and determine
ton Of hs freshest youth. Yet, on tho whole,
the career of Mr. Everett may be deemed to
He gained no common share Of renown in soy
eral distinguished spheres Of action, in any one
of which success would have been fame. Tie
passing clouds which obscurcd the high noon OF
his public course disappeared amid the the west.
ern splendors of his setting fun. Since The COM
.nencement of The present doplorable rebellion,
his name has aforementioned by no loyal tongue
save in terms Of grateful aud deserved admira-
ton. Forgetting his timorous, and shall We
gay, time-scrying cntecedcn's, unsedrced by the
balcful example OF cherished personal friends
and political associates, he did not hesitate ioE
moment, to throw tie weight Of his resplcn.
dent talents, his public influence, lis po.
litcal learning, his captivating e!oqucnee, on
| tho side Of our national integrity and
of universal freedom. In spite d