New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-04-16
OBITUARY..
MAJOR GEORGE L. sTEARNs.


The cause of freedom in the United States has lost
q noble champion by the death Of Major George l..
Stearns, which occurred in this city last Tuesday,
in consequence of congestion of the lungs Mr..
Stearns was an enterprising Boston merchant, being
the head of the firm of Geo. L. Stearns g. Co., one of
the heaviest houses in New-England in the lead
and patent pipe business His devotion to the cause
of freedom became first known iii this country
at large in the Kansas troubles in the last decade
Few men contributed generously to the support
of tho martyrs of freedom than Stearns He founded
and long supported The Boston Commonwealth, and
subsequently founded another newspaper, called The
Right Way which was an able advocate of universal
suffrage During the late Rebellion. Mr.. Stearns was
at one time engaged in raising colored
troops in Tennessee, and there became
intimate with Andrew Johnson, then
Military Governor of Tennessee. Mr. Stearns, who
was in general of confding nature, retained his
confidence in Andrew Johnson long after the bulk OF
the Republican party had lost it. The letter on his
interview with the President, helped the President
for time but Mr. Stearns was not long in discover
ing his mistake.
Mr. Stearns used his large fortune with the most
open-handed lberality in behalf Of the noblest
causes He had great talent for business. positive
opinions on finance and heart which neither trade
able 10 corrupt or TO harden. Though he gave
freely, he gave with a discriminating gene
rosity. and no mans money went further than
his He we'll understood the value of such influences
AZ bear directly OH public opinion and he was able to
afford the luxury of newspapers, sustained almost
wholly out of his private purse and advocating his
own ideas, which were always those of freedom and
Justice, with unfnching fidelity. The wsest and
abIest public men of New England gave him their
unreserved confidence and ardent friendship. and his
nhexibe zeal his courage, and his enthusiasm were
in turn a support to which they turned often John
Brown, who trusted few. trusted Mr. Stearns. and
| probably not few of the secrets of the Harpers
Ferry crusade died with him. who is supposed to
| have known well, and perhaps who largely
| aided the plans of the heroic martyr. 1t was
his incessant activity in many noble causes which,
adding TO the labor of business which he conducted
with great energy and sagacity, finally wore out a
| constitution that had long been impaired Commem-
Grafton services were held in Medford, on Sunday
| afternoon and discourse pronounced by Ralph
Waldo Emerson. from imperfect report OF which
| we quote a few sentences:
he was intimate with all Of real or supposed in
uence both North and South. who were engaged In the
cause which he had dear at heart and he was looked
upon by them. he will be by all who now mourn i hs
people S an indispensable H and IN ' his activity
were worth 10000 in the cause OF liberty,
but Mr. Emerson did not say this in any sense OF dis
arrangement OF the noble deeds OF others when "ere
hroreht out during the eventful struggle What dis
heartened Others seemed TO stimulate him He was no
boaster but man OF uphill work, not waiting until
| morning but beginning at midnight. He was genuine
enthusiast in his love for freedom and the g0od o.
men and I'm his early career he Overtasked himself ana
prematurely wore his constitution. But when we
consider that he lived TO witness the salvation Of the
country TO which he gave his whole heart and behed
that his work must prosper, we must believe that he
counted himself most happy among men He would say
10 the mourers not proud in their grief for there
was not a In the distant faroff Kansas where the
| people would not mingle their sorrow, and In every
Southern State his death will be lamened by the thou
| sands who looked upon him q benefaotor"