Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-19

debate, especially in later years when he
had become familiar with public affairs,
must seem not little singular to those
not acquainted with his habits of
thought and his peculiar temperament.
The explanation is, however, simple, and
may be found in his remarkable want of
selfappreciation. Modest to fault he
never did anything like justice to his
own powers, To others, and especially
to those who possessed his confidence
and affection, he did more than justice,
being too ready always to receive and
defer to the opinions of others in no re-
spect superior to himself. Hence it fol-
| lowed that he seldom addressed the Sem
ate upon subjects which OCcasiOned gen.
eral debate. Upon those rare occasions
when his voice was heard the questions
were such for the most part as in his
opinion had not received the attention
their Importance deserved. We all
know the respect with which he was in
variably listened to, and the light shed
by his intellect and his industry upon
whatever subject he chose to touch.
His political friends are well aware hO'g
this want OF self-assertion in me fely
| personal matters was exhibited IN all
his relations to and intercourse with
them. Though long the oldesC member
Of the Senate in consecutive service. he
Invariably avoided conspicuous place.
While Others might seek for and claim
desirable positions upon leading COM
mittees, as due to their States if not to
! themselves, he was satisfied with any
thing that was assigned to him, how
ever derogatoryit it might seem to his age
and standing, Preferring and urging
the claims of others, and desiring only
that all should be saSIsncd, often have |
known him to insist tina. his name
should be strnck from an important
| committee, in order to replace it with
the name Of friend or associate, to
whom he thought the distinction would
be grateful. To him more than any other
was assigned the unenviable task of ar
ranging these committees, not only be-
cause all contided in his sense Of justice,
but because of his disinterested mag
nanimity, | have often thought that
such generous abnegatiOn of self should
not have been permitted. | know that
on several occasions it was peremptorily
overruled, That such Senator, so use
tul, so modest so unassRming, so Cour-
teOuS, so klnd-Of department so un-
eXCeptlonable - should have won the
goodwill of all his associates, ana the
love OF many, and that his loss should
have occasiOned universal sorrow, may
well be supposed. Those who saw and
marked TIE crowds assembled to wit
ness the last sad ceremonies, and who
noted the many weeping eyes which
looked upon his coffin, would naturally
be led to consider that nothing in the
routine Of his public career could ac
count for grief so deep and so general.
Men are not apt to be mourned with
tears for public services, or even on ac-
count Of public or private virtue. Great
Intellectual pre-eminenCe may excite ad-
mlratlOn, but it is q weak and transient
emotion. Gifts and qualities like these
'COme not near the ear" The secret OF
all genuine and unaffected sorrow for
the friend We have lost lies in the feel
ing OF all who came within his sphere
that his was true and noble and loving
nature. lmpulsiVe and ardent in tenn
permanent, be was kind, generons and
torgiying. If injury excited his anger,
it was generous anger, which could
hardly outlive the occasion, and perish
ed OF itself if left alone. Enthusiastic
in his friendship, no labor was too Sc
we're, no sacrifice too great for those to
whom ne gave his affection He was
proud of his country, Of his State, of his
friends. For himself he was humble,
of an open hand, His charity was in
stantaueOus and unsuspecLing. Admi-
rable Senator Patriotic citizen Good
and true man Dear and cherished
friend This scene of your many lab0rs
will know you no more; but long will
your memory dwell in these halls. This
marble pile, bearing the impress of your
Watchtullness and care, is one Of your
+ monuments. It's massive pillars will
stand erect giving their testimony to
our COuntry's grandeur, long, long after
we and generations yet to come shall
have passed like shadows upon the wa
ter; yet he who like yourself shall have
performed his duty in life, and died
with Christians hope, will survive
when all these columns shall be lost to
sight in the accumulated dust of ages
Senator Sumner said
Mr.. President, there is a truce in this
Chamber. The antagonism of debate is
hushed The echoes Of conflict. have
died away. The white flag is flying,
From opposite camps we come together
to bury the dead. 1t is Senator that
we bury, not soldier,
This is the second time during the
present session that we have 0een called
to mourn a distinguished Senator from
Vermont. 1t was much to bear such
a loss once. Its renewal now after so
| brief period is calamity without
precedent in the history of the Senate.
No State before has ever lost two Sena-
ators so near together.
Mr.. foot at his death was the oldest
Senator III Continuous service, He en-
tered the Senate IN the same Congress
with the Senator from Ohio [ Mr.. WadeI
| and myself but he was sworn in at the
called session in March, while the two
others were not sworn in till the sue
ceeding December. During this con-