Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-12-14
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS,
This Afternoons Proceedings.
THE LATE ENATOnyEssENDEN
EULoo,Es TO-DAY.

THE LATE SENATOByEsSENDEN
| EULoo,Es TO-DAY.
Adare.ses BY se...e.. 1er.,Il Of Me-,
and others.
TUESDAY, December Il.
SENATE.-Mr. Thurman presented joint pes-
olutions Of the Legislature Of Ohio, rejecting
the 10Th amendment to the Constitution; which
was read and laid on the table.
Mr.. Cole introduced a bill to fix the western
OF the Pacific Railroad. Referred to COMMITTEES
on Pacific Railroad.
Mr.: Cole introduced resolution, which he
asked to be laid on the table for the present
instructing Committee on Finance to inquire
into propriety Of placing tax distilled spirits
at 81 per gallon, and to tax the capacity Of the
On motion of Mr.. Howard IL was resolved that
Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire
expediency of reducing internal revenue pen
| alties prescribed by act Of July. 1858.
THE DEATH OF SENATOR FEssENDEN.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Maine, rose and proceeded to
announce the death Of his predecessor, Mr.. Fes-
senden. He said:
Mr.. President:-One who at your adjournment
In April had in this chamber become familiar
presence-a pervading infuence-cOmes not
again at your reassembling in December. The
dull toll OF far OFF bells, the visible emlbems of
mourning, public and private, have spoken of
bereavement, and touch our hearts with deepest
sensibillty. These swiftly repeating vicissitudes
III the personal destinies of those associated here
a consciousness of the numbers Of the WISE the
patriotic, the trusted, who of .late have de-
parted hence-who come no more to these coun-
cis-oppress las with the weight Of a common
misfortune; and now q new absence at the roll
call to earthly duty inficts fresh pang of re-
gIet A great public sorrow affiicts the people
of my State, sense of bereavement the nation
In especial sympathy with the common misfor
tune the Senate pauses to pay its tribute of re-
spect to its eminent dead, the marked linea-
ments of whose form and character are vivid
stlll in the memory who, so lately stood here in
his high office, in the prOminency OF native gifts
and OF rich and varied experience, chalieng-
ing the respect, the confidence, and the admir-
atlon OF his c0untrymen.
On the 8th day of September last after a ca
reer pre-eminent i'm professional and public life
beginning with his earliest manhood, and hav-
ing been constantly associated with the courts
and officially in the public councils Of the State
and nation, at the zenith of his fame and in the
full possession Of his intellectual faculties, VIII
liam Pitt Fessenden was called away from the
scenes OF earth. The public career Of Mr.. Fes-
senden was rot in any sense prOblematical; and
IN this presence witness to 50 considerable
portion OF it, and In its Just prominence so init
mately associated with the great events of our
more recent history, analysis OF it would seem
TO be quite needless; while properly to other
hands and other occasions it may be left ade-
quately to portray those marked elements of his
character from which sprang his public emil
nence. His years of activity were divided be-
tween public and professional life, to the latter
with singular fidelity, his passionate fondness
for it remaining long after the exigencies of the
public service had seyded all practical connec-
ton with it. While the former was not wholly
uninterrupted and exclusive, it was sufficiently
continuous and devoted, for contact, connection
and familiarity with the politics and public
events of the day.
Entering the Legislature of his State at twen-
ty-six, he was returned at short intervals was
cary member OF Congress, again in the Legis
iature, then advancing to this body, then,
briefly Minister Of of sal f;,,oIl
the Senate, where it may nCt unfitly be said, his
service was continuous from its first beginning
siature Of his Sta was nSticeabie for the the cS
SessiOn OF the party in power to his eloquence
and influence, which, by usage belonged To
political friends, to riper years, and larger ex-
perience. On his entrance into the National
House of Representatives. himself among the
youngest OF its m embers, he at once participated
in the important debates of that body, attracting
notice as graceful orator and skillful debater
ana ior the comprehension and maturity of his
opinions. His pre-eminent public career dates,
strictly from his entrance into this body in 1854
as from thus time he gave himself exclusively to
his public duties.
simultaneously with his advent to the Senate
arose, in Congress, class of public questions
which were calculated to test the temper of his
affections, the tenacity of his opinions and the
steadlness of his purpose. Kansas Nebraska,
the stalking horse of slavery, which, under an
affectatiOn OF defending the Constitution, was to
conceal the guilty purpose Of subversiOn of
opportunity for the exhibition of those powers of
analysis, logic and nvective, which have rarely
been surpassed in any legislative body. Here
was audacious menace-signiicant hint to overt
treason which was to follow; here we're the first
mutterngs Of the storm that was to burst upon
the nation amid the cOnvulsiOns Of civil war
This audacious spirit of bad faith, usurpation
and oppression, leading an assault upon popular
rights, could not fail to provoke the intensest
hostility in one, the very elements of whose
being made him intolerant of every species OF
III md nrna
The effect here OF his memorable speech on
that occasion was electric, and contributed, it
may not be doubted, to swell the tide of popular
indignation and resolution of the great national
uprising of 1856, followed in after years by
memorable deeds in arms. Not aggressive in
spirit, not an advanced radical refOrmer even.
whatever may be said Of his constitutional con-
seryatism, he was, by the native simplicity of
his tastes, his education and habits OF life, and
better still, by his enlightened sense of justice
less advocate of civil and relieious iibertv Re
publican institutions had no truer cOnservator
and oppression no more determined and uncOm-
promising opponent than William Pitt Fessen-
den. From this time forward to the close, his
views were given upon most questions OF i'm
pOrtance, and his influence upon the legislation
ana the policy OF the country, during Its event
1ulstruggle or civil war was conspicuous. In
ternal revenue, the currency, the banking sys-
TEN, and finally, reconstruction, all received
the touch OF his hand and the influence of his
gel ius.
In sentiment Mr.. Fessenden was thoroughly
anti-savery. 1t was his Inheritance, and
through life he faithful to it. In all the at
tempts Of slavery for recognition and protection
his opposition was infexible. When to be anti
slavery was to be anti-American, he was anti
slavery; when his party would compromise he
dissented; when repeal was demanded in its in
terest he protested; when, later, on the eve of
rebellion, conference and concession were pro-
posed, he would have no participation in it,
and would yield no assent; and when war came
for separation and independent slave power, he
saw in il the nations opportunity; and that in
itial measure for universal emancpation-abo-
lition OF slavery in the National Capitakuhad
his approval and support. The abolition u sla-
very here, he declared, was measure that had
ever been dear to his heart; and later, on kim
dred question, he said, al tell the President
from my place here as Senator, and 1 tell the
generals Of the army, that they must reverse
their practice of returning fugitive slaves who
come within our lines"
The lineaments of Mr.. Fessenden's character
were marked and clear. He was endowed with
an acute understanding, lively sensibility, and
intense personality and self-reliance. Penetra-
ton and insight eminently characterized his ge-
MUS. He was thorough with his preparatory
course, had graduated from college, studied his
profession, and entered upon its practice and
had gained distinction in the departments of
law and legislation, at an age when most minds
are just beginning to contemplate their intrica-
cies and ascend their rugged sleeps. There was
next to nothing in his life, public or private,
which was Fictitious or artificial. His profess
sional success, and his influence in State
and National legislation, were by no ac-
| cidnut .. hv IA avoulovmaut nf oA-