Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-09-16

Ah0@ye - 49, . - -
His aaainistsationo % - TrGnsary De
partmsnt, although hs ~ mot By nAHars
inolinsd 10 nat branoh q the publiS ~
Woe, vas abb and uscoesnlnl. n The 1nsns
year he wss rs-slectsa toths Sens1A. end
resigned his place in the Cabinet; he took
his old Senatorial scat March 4 1885, and
was again placed At the head Of the Com
mittee on Finance. At the next session
he was made Chairman Of the Joint Spe-
cisl Committee ON Reconstruction, and
in that capacity was author Of the COM
prehensive report ON Southern affairs,
which resulted in the Fourteenth Am
endment to the Constitution. On the
questson of impeaohing President john
son, Mr.. Fessenden proclaimed his Adel-
ity to his convictions by voting in tho
negative, against the wishes Of great
majority of his political friends. The
temporary loss Of popularity which fol-
lowed that step was regained long before
his death by the pure character Of the
motives which evidently dictated it, and
by Mr.. Fessenden's unwavering and con-
slant devotion to the principles of the Re-
publican organization.
Mr. Fessenden was q man not more
than medium in stature and size. he had Q
large fine head, with the perceptive and
reflective faculties, phrenologically speak
ing, very largely developed. His appear
ance on the floor of Congress has been
thus described: "When he rises to speak
in the Senate he steps forward Of his seat
between the desks in front, with his spec
tacles thrown up on his head, his hands
in his pockets, and onoleg thrown across
the other, and leaning against a desk he,
begins and talks freely, in moderate tone
of voice. There is no posture of the ora
tor, no graceful gestures, no clarion tone
of voice, no figure Of rhetoric, no gor-
geous imagery, no startling conceptions,
no brilliant periods, characterizing the
orator, in Mr.. Fessenden's speaking. He
is free, easy, lively, clear-headed
talker."
Mr.. Fessenden was q widower at the
time of his death. He leaves three sons,
two of whom, with another who was killed
at the battle of Charlottesville rendered
gallant service in the Union armies.
We cannot conclude this sketch of the
distinguished Senator better than in the
concluding paragraph of a notice of him
that appears in the Free Press, which
says: eve are privileged to present the
following interesting and discriminating
estimate of his character furnished US by
one who knew him we'll and who has had
ample opportunity for forming the judg-
ment of him which finds expression in
these truthful and expressive words. We
have reason to believe that they are the
appreciating words of our own honored
Senator
Mr.. Fessenden possessed q mind of sin.
gular clearness of perception and great
logical power. Few theories or prob
lens could be presented to him without
his Immediately seeing the essential prin-
ciple involved in them, and detecting the
errer or weakness (if there were either)
contained in them. He, therefore, gem
orally understood precisely what q pend
ing question was, and so was able fire.
quently by a mere statement Of q PROPOSE
ton, disencumbered from it's incidents or
accidents, to make plain its soundness or
the reverse, better than many men could
do by long argument. In the heat and
press of debate, his logic was exact and
faultless as in tho prearranged and stud
led efforts of most men. Within the
compass of the wide range of subjects to
which he had given attention land he Aid
nnt rlnnQe into osl.o.e) ne was always
ready and when reused by what he
thought pretentious ignorance or insin-
cere sopnistry in debate, his discontinue
of his adversaries was sometimes merci-
Lees and unsparing. This characteristic,
although useful to the cause of truth,
made him frequent enemies. And yet
he was a man who, beneath his some
times cold exterior, had heart alive to
the most tender and gentle emotions of
our nature. Generous, sympathetic and
charitable, he never turned deaf ear to
those who were in distress, or were the
victims of injustice. With these quail
ties, among those who knew him best, he
could not fail to be beloved. In fact, this
tenderness of his nature entered into his
costant life. To use his own quotation on
the death of Senator Foote, he sincerely
believed that
He prayeth best who loveth best,
An things both great and small.
His readiness to atone in tho fullest and
frankest way for any injury to another is
well illustrated by an incident connected
with some difficulty years ago with, we
believe. Mr.. Seward. They had quarrel
led in debate. Mr.. Seward felt hurt and
insultcd, and there was non-intercourse
for day or two. Presently Mr.. Fessen-
den approached Mr.. Seward in the pres
ence of several gentlemen and said '.Mr
Seward, am sensible now that have
wronged and insulted you. l am ex-
tremely sorry, and l ask your forgive
ness" This was said with so much feel
ing and evident sincerity that Mr. Seward.
grasping Mr.. Fessenden's hand, with
much emotion, said: my dear Fcssen-
den, | almost wish you would insult me
again"
Pure and honorable in all the relations
of his private life, he was not less so in his
public career. With an almost mastery
influence over general legislation, and
thus having many temptations to, and op-
portunities for, gratifying selfish ends, his
public life was above all reproach and all
suspicion. Indeed, he SO scorued mean
ness and dishonesty that such opportuni-
ties were scarcely temptations at all.
The influence be has exercised in pub.
lie affairs since 1861 has been very great.
One of the acknowledged leaders in the
contest against the rebellion, the impress
of his views will! be found upon all the
chief measures of the Government. He
perfectly understood the principles upon
which the apparently complicated ques.
tons of legislation stood after the rebels
had laid down their arms and his report
from the joint committee of Congress
upon that subject in 1866, may be regard
ed as the foundation of the Republican
theory upon which reconstruction has
Id