New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-15
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 49, 1862

last prominent act Of his public me- III his constituents
were disappointed in his vote on the impeachment trial
wo1ld govern tbe man whom they chose to represen
them Differing with him IN MS NOte upon this question
believing then, and still believing hhL ne reached wronJ
concus0ns I cannot too strongly express my ndmira
tOn Of the high motives by when no Was governed, anC
dntv ~ of states districts to obey Tho
expressed will Of their constituents al who appreciate
true manhood must admire the character OF him who II
youth avOwed these manly prlncpIos ana consistently
aud courageOusly lived up to them 10 the day OF his
Mr. Fessenden first took his seat in the Senate Of the
United States 1854, when the agitation OF the Slavery
question had nearly reached It's cuImnaat0n. He imme
dately took prominent part In the Senatorial discus
sions this subject and although ally cOnserya
tive everything he resisted mauy Ine aggressions
of the Slave power and repealed with spirit the nsOlence
Of its advocates teaching them that there were blows 10
take well blows to give" IL was III these discus
that Dir Fessendens talents as ready and forcibe
debater were most cOnspicuOusly displayed. And with
all his reputation for conservatism an examination OF his
record Will show that the great contest IN which sa
very was destroyed while Freedom ad mercer and more
violent champions, had none steaa,eI uuer or more
trustworthy than Mr. Fessenden AFTER thorough ex.
animation OF his Congressional record, cannot find
where from the beginning to the end OF TINS conflict
from the abrOgatOn OF the Missouri C0prOmse TO the
last act Of ReconsructOn-he ever yielded one essential
point In favor Of Slavery. ~. . .
As Chairman of the Finance Committee OF the Senate
ne took leading part in shapng the legislation that
provided the snews OF war; during inc Eebehcn, and
although his natural conservatism often led him to hest
tate 10 adopt of the financial measures which the
emergency required his doubts always ylelned 10 the
necessities of the He maintained from the first tho
right Government adopt any measures However
arbitrary to preserve It's existence
Al most critical period of the war; July 1884, after
having performed the arduous duties OF his pontion In
the Senate for nearly eight mOntbs-Worn dOvn with
fatigne and suffering from physical exhaustiOnhe was
d nv Pres,dent lincoln To- tbe Cabinet as Secretary
OF the Treasury and as he expressed hmse ma letter
TO friend al that time AZ whatever FISK Oh hsth or
reputation am compelled TO accept dare not AXE the
responsibility Of declining at such crisis" Mang no
pretensons as a fnancer, ana having no particular
in such crisis vastly better than ether-a char
acter inspire that confidence which Is the soul OF
Grad md An IA
ton Of the American people TO sustain their Government
people heartsck with hope deferred; an army tobe re-
cruted. maintained and paid; with demands pressing
for payment on an empty Treasury few men ever az
sumed weighter responsibilities and none ever met such
more manfully discharged them more earnestly am
successfully. He Immediately put himself into commit
meeting OF bankers at NewNOrk, stated TO them ma
straightforward busincsske manner the financial cot
opinions from all sources and listen 10 advice from any
who might offer IL. Although this meeting tended
strengthen the confidence Of the capitalists IN the neH
Secretary and improve the National credit, as ws
seen IN the immediate decline in gold. 1t faild
an auppa 10 the peope OF the United States. reminding
them that Il their war; that they had proclaimed
their money TO continue It, the cud was not far distant
as the Rebels nearly exhausted III they Kept thr
money for specuatiOns and gold gambling, they nlgt
make larger immediate incomes Tor tue tne DuG my
would lose that without which no Investment Wouu
nave may any aietv ot tba nation The respon9
the appeal was electric. Money WllcH ma
been locked up came ioIth mo te iEc,, anu ~, o
wheels OF trade began to move again, Ino press U m
country seconded the efforts OF the secretary with is
powerful influence and the S2OOCOO authorized by las
was speedily poured the Treasury. At the beCli
ming OF his administration OF the Treasury IN July ls
gold 2O 10 $50 When In March 1862 he lett II TO ~
sumo his seat In the Senate IL had fallen 10 49, and n
national credit was cOrrcspOudingly improved.
In manner ne was cold aud reserved. His private lie
retired and uuostenatOuS he had but lew lntnae
friends ana shrank almost insuctyey from that gene
raj acquaintance and nOt0rcty IN which persons dhct
entity constituted iud delight. But Tor those who di
enjoy his confidence and esteem his friendship though
dcmonsratve strong and enduring ana by sucl
he admired and beloved.
After remarks by Messrs. Peters O!cp. Me-. Hale
Rcp., Me-, Brooks, Dem, y. -, aud Dawes Qep.
Massy the House adjourned.