Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-12-24
IV.u. PITT FRSSE.y'DR.,,.

Eulogies were pronounced on Tuesday,
Dec. 14tb, in the Senate, on the late Senator
VIM. Pitt Fessenden of Maine, by Senators
Morrill, of Maine, Sumner of Mass, Antho-
ny of II. l., Morrill, of VT, and in the House
by Messrs. Lynch and Peters of Maine.
We give the following extracts from the
able speech of our Senator, j. S. Morrill,:
In body so comparatively few in num-
bers as the U. S. Senate, he said, the sudden
death of any member is sure to be felt, but
when one of the ripest and most experience
ed of its members is taken away, each Sem
ator counts the nations loss rs his own per-
sonal bereavement. Our country has lost
in the death of Mr.. Fessenden one of its
wisest statesmen. That he had large capac-
ity and q sagacious judgment the whole
country gratefully acknowledges, and as a
public servant no purer nor moro incor-
ruptible man ever came within the walls Of
the capitol. No unlawful gain swelled his
estate or swayed his opinions. 1t is not to
nc believed that he could have been induced
to vary his political principles a hairs
breadth, or to abandon any cherished opin-
ion for even the highest pinnacle of amb5-
ton our government affords, a temptation
which sometimes proves fatal to public
MEM and for those who trimmed to gain
popular favor he could not conceal his pro-
found disgust. 1t seems to have been his
sole ambition to be an American Senator,
not inferior in dignity and virtue to the
best Roman model, and few have so emil
nently and so usefully adorned the station.
Yet with these positive traits of character,
he was thoroughly modest, and never re-
sorted to any adventitious means to secure
attention to his public efforts. sadebater
he had no superior in the Senate, and he
gave his views from a broad and compre-
hensive standpoint. He made no speeches
for effect. His great aim was to forward
the business of tho Senate. His gen.
eral mastery of affairs was conspicuous, and
he showed himself competent to handle the
gravest issues. Holding the formidable
power of sarcasm within his compressed
lips, it would sometimes escape in sport,
quite as often in bitter earnest. This pun
gency in debate involved him in conflicts
not unfrequently with his dearest friends,
but they forgave him as he forgave them,
and he was most generous in his judgments
of others. Though firm and imperial in his
| bearing, his nature was so sensitive that
something of nervous soreness and prostra-
ton followed every speech. He sought no
felicity of phraseology, and for grandilo-
quent oratory had no taste; but of that
manly, unaffected speech which as thor
oughly in earnest to force conviction upon
the hearers, he was a consummate master.
In private life Mr.. Fessenden was hospi-
table, cordial and wonderfully fascinating
in manner and conversation. He made
friends, and cherished them with chivalrous
devotion. Though fitted to shine in socie-
ty, he generally avoided it.
Mr.. Morrill, paid glowing tribute to the
ability and success with which Mr.. Fessen-
den administered the affairs of the treasury
department during one of the most gloomy
periods in the history of the late rebellion.
He accepted the position of Secretary of the
Treasury at great sacrifice of personal
convenience and inclination, but in obedi-
encc to what he conceived TO be the duty OF
public servant and the urgency of his as
sociates on both sides of the Senate Cham
J bor. His administration proved wise and
+ snfe re-estabIishcd the public credit and
| turned the downward career of our tinan-
|
ces.
It was a cardinal principle with Mr.. Fes-
sender that "even his name among men
should be of little account when weighed in
the balance against the welfare Of the peo-
plo;" and the most conspicuous instance Of
his adherence to this principle was in the
late Impeachment trial. Though on that
occasion he acted contrary to the sentiment
of his State and of his party, the integrity
Of his motives was never impugned by any
of his peers. He was the natural and cour-
ageous enemy of all political quacks, and
espoused no cause till his judgment was
convinced, and this he guarded with scru-
pulous care against false weights. He had
his faults, but possessed pre-eminent gifts
and traits of character, the memory of which
must now swell the common fame of our
country and be handed down as legacy to
| postcrity.