Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-11-06
Death Of John A. Andrew.

Death Of John A. Andrew.
| The death of no public man,-always ex-
cepting the terrible blow which stunned the
whole land when President Lincoln was as.
sassinated-has for years SO touched the
hearts of all the people Of the country did
the announcement, last Wednesday, that
John A Andrew of Massachusetts, had sud
denly died of paralysis. The circumstances
of his death are thus given in the correspon-
dence of the Springfield Republican
Last Tuesday Andrew went to Rock bottom,
a manufacturing place in the county of Mid
dlesex, to visit some premises concerning
which there was a lawsuit. He returned to-
wards night and went to his library with his
children. He was crossing the room, to give
An illustrated paper to one of his little girls
when the first notice was taken Of his weak
ness. He seemed to trip on the carpet, but
did not fall. He went to the front door,
probably for air. and there met Mr.. j. II
Bradley, also counsel in the lawsuit. They
returned to the library for consultation, and
Mrs. Andrew and the children went above
Mr.. Bradley began to ask questions, and
noticed Immediately that the answers wee
mechanical and uncertain, :. yes - or - no =
as if the speaker merely assented to what was
said to him. Presently, Andrew rose and
opened the window and sat by it, Mr.
Bradley asked if he were not afraid of taking
cold. He replied in the negative, got up
again, and returning to his place wavcred
and fell into Mr. Bradley's arms He was
placed upon the lounge, and Immediately
asked Mr. Bradley to 60 for DR.. Derby say
ing that he thought he was going to have an
attack of paralysis. He rapidly yielded t.
it, and Mrs Andrew and the children were
called down. He placed his hand upon hi
wiie's face. tried To speak. and also made
signs if he desired to write but il was to-
late. He became insensible. and remained
50 for about twenty-four hours, making n
IN ,tion or sign, and only breathing. until the
very last.
Since Mr.. Andrew was elected governor o.
Massachusetts, in 1860. he has had national
fame. No one of the governors of the loyal
states was superior, and perhaps no one wa
equal to him. His craftsmanship, his energy
and executive ability, his power as a writer
orator, and talker. his devotion to freedom
made him conspicuous leader during the
war. and marked him man of the high
est order of capacity Some of the very best
and most noble and stirring eloquence to
which tn nation listened during the war
fell from his lips. The meeting of Ioyai
governors at Altoona, Pa, during the wal
was mainly due to him, and he prepared the
address issued by them and the action OF
that body had much TO do in strengthening
the Presidents purpose 10 issue the Procla-
nation of Emancipation. OF him during the
war, and since, the writer we have quoted
above. SAYS
His great ability, his magnetic power as
writer. orator, talker his pluck, will, per
severance, obstinacy. overbearingness. mo
mentum. these are all well enough known
He power for Massachusetts, and fol
the cause not only at the State House here
but at the capitol in Washington, and at
every other point How often has it been
-aid that Andrew of Massachusetts and Nor
ton of Indiana were the two governors du-
ring the war who got a permanent. national
fame. Every politician and man of affairs in
New England and New York knew about
Oliver p. Morton. and every politician and
man of affairs in the West knew about John
\. Andrew tn re were periods during the
war when the governors friends feared he
would break down. He had worn, absent.
- flabby" look, and had to go off for few
days To recover himself. | saw that same
look on him, thought, an uncertainty OF
gait, as it seemed to me,-the last time
met him, perhaps ten days ago. on fremont
street. He dined with political and personal
friends. at Young's at one of - Birds din
ners,'' as they are called, for want of a bet
ter name, about the middle of the month
and also once. | think, in the early part OF
the month. He was chatty and CHEEKY. on
this last occasion, but hardly strong and
muscular and vital he used to be He
told stories with the old flavor and heard
him repeat with much feeling a poem by
Henry rimrod, a southerner of some literary
pretensions. who has lately died. The verses
were written for the dedication of monu-
'nent to the rebel dead in one of the Carroll
mas The ex-governor had a fondness for
repeating poetry in the cars and elsewhere
One of his favorite pieces, as | remember
was c. G.. Eastman g little picture -
The farmer in his easy chair,
smoking his pipe of clay" &c.
The death of such man, at this time, is a
public loss, almost public calamity.-and
it is natural that the general sorrow SHOULD
find expression and our legislature have
| tittingly placed on record their high appre
citation of his eminent worth