National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-12-31
The Late Senator FesseIafien.

DtIldloI .slutIlt W. '"ss' e1s's'S 49,
"Wednesday the 10Th inst, delivered
AN eloquent and discrimim .timg eu
loyy upon the death Uf Senator
Fessen,lcn of Maine, cOnchrh III
graceful terms, OF which the follow
iug is an alnstr ,ct:
Ina body 81 comparatively few
in numbers as the U. ). Senate, he
said. the sudden death "f amy nrn
M.r is sure to liz frl,, bat when one
uf the ,ilest and most exl@rienc'd
of its u,elnlsrS is taken away. t''cn
Senator counts the nations loss as
his own personal bereavement. Our
,,uutry h ~ lost in the death OF MIR.
rrs>.n,,e" one of its wisrst states
men. That he had large capacity
and sagacious judi aeu'"nt the
whole country gratefully ackn"w'>
edges, and as u pmbl,c servant no
pnrer nor more imcWruptlolt man
ever came to the Capitol. No IN
lawful gain swrlle.l his estate or
swayed his Opini ms. 1t Is not to
I've believed that he could have been
induced to vary his political prlI,cl'
,s,ls "A hairs breadth or to abandon
any cherished opinion for eveI the
highest pinacle of amhi:'0n our
Government affords, "a temptation
which sometimes proves fatal to
pub,ic men; and for those who
trimmed to gain popular favor he
could not conceal his profound dis'
gust. 1t seems tO have been his
sole ambition to be an American!
senator, not inferior in dignity and
yirtue to the best Roman mWlel, and
few have 50 em,inently and 30 use
fully adorned the station.
Yet with these positive traits o
character, he was thoroughly mol
.st. and never Irsort,sl to ANY al
yau,i,ious means To secure attention
To his public Efforts. As II 'leoAt'
h. had no superior in the Senate
and he gave his views rom Il br"a'
and comprehensive stand point. III
made no speeches for effect. u.
great aim was to forward the hi>l
ness Of the Srnete. His genera
mastery of affairs WAS conspicuous
, and he showed himself Unlnl@ie'l
+, handle the gravcsl ISSUES. Hold
ing III. fnrmiLa'le power ot S.'rr''s,
within his compressed lips, 1T w"'''
, sometimes escape IN sport quite !,
,,f .u us ~ bitter earnest. TN
rum.rncy IN debate involved ''n
= conflicts not untrv'lnentiy "''h ~
dearest friends. hut they forsate hI'
as III. foryave ti,cm,and he was I'Io'
generous IN his Judgment of other
:, Though firm aud imperial III IL
, bearing, his nature was 81 s'.''sit'\
that something uf nervous soiri'c'
|, and prost,aiion followed ever
:. ,,u,ch. lie sought no felicity
= rhrasro,ogy, and for gr,ud'l"Iur'
!, oratory had no taste; hut oi thi
. manly, unaffected speech winch
# thorou ,hly in earnest to force CO
. yiction upOn the hearers, he was
I, cOnsuin,nate master.
Il In private life Mr.. Fcsscnlrn WI
" hospital, u,rdI,l, and wonderful
fascinating in manner and c"'v'
rs sntion. lie made friends, a''d c'''
rs isl,.l them with chi, al,bis tle'ol'o
rnough Tilted to shine IN society
, generally avoidc,l IL.
4, Mr.. morrill, paid u gl"w:"g tr'h'
y 10 the ability aud success WI
which Mr.. Fcs.rn,l,n administer
~ ,h. affairs of the Treasury Dep"
40 mcnt during one M the MOST s'"'i
,s.rnuis Of the late rebellion.
ly accented the position of Secicii,
cs of the Treasury ut u great @cr''
bs of personal convenience anu i'''
nation, but IN obe,licIrnce to ",
10, he conceived to be the duty o'
'rs public servant, aud the urgency
.r his associates On both SIDES :"
ns senate Chainlar. lis ad"'''''s'
nd lion proved wise and safe, ir.esi
IN lisl,el the public credit, a'd tnf'
M. the downward career oi our MI
cs~.