Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-22
Political.
EulOgies on Senator Fessenden.

* N
an abstract
MR.. MoRRfLL's REMARKS.
la body so comparatively few in numbers
as the United States Senate, he said, the sud-
den death Of any member is sure to be felt,
but when one Of the rpest and most expe.
rienccd Of its members is taken away, each
Senator counts the nations loss as his own
personal bereavement Our country has lost
in the death Of Mr.. Fessenden one of its wisest
statesmen. That he had large capacity and
sagaoious judgment the whole country grate-
fully acknowledges, aud as public servant
no purer nor moro incorruptible man ever
came within the halls Of the Capitol No
unlawful gain sweled his estate or swayed
his opinions 1t is not to be believed that he
could have been induced to vary his political
principles a hairs breadth or to abandon any
cherished opinion for even the highest pinace
of ambition our Government affords, temp.
tation which sometimes proves fatal to public
men, and for those who trimmed to gain
popular favor he could not conceal his pro-
found disgust. IL seems to have been his
sole ambition to be an American Senator, not
inferior in dignity aud virtue to the best Ro-
man model, and few have so eminently and so
usefully adorned the station.
Yet with these positive traits Of character,
he was thoroughly modest, and neve- resort
ed to any advantitious means to secure atten-
ton to his public efforts. As debatcr he
had no superior in the Senate, and he gave
his views from broad aud comprehensive
standpoint. He made no speeches for effect.
His great aim was to forward the business of
the Senate. His general mastery of affairs
vas conspicuous, and he showed himself COM
petent 70 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
pungency 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 ner-
vous soreness and prostration followed every
speech. He sought no felicity of phraseolo-
gy, and for grandiloquent oratory had no
taste but of that manly, unaffected speech
which is thoroughly in earnest to force convic-
tion upon the hearers, he was consummate
master.
In private life Mr.. Fessenden was hospita-
| bic, cordial. aud wonderfully fascinating in
manner aud conversation. He made friends
and cherished them with chiyalrous devotion.
Though fitted to shine in society, he generally
avoided it.
Mr. Morrill, paid a glowing tribute to the
ability and success with which Mr.. Fessenden
administered the affairs of the Treasury De-
partment during one of the most gloomy peri
DDS Of the late rebellion. He accepted the
position Of Secretary Of the Treasury at q
great sacrifice of personal convenience and in
clinaton, but in obedience TO what he con-
ceived to be the duty of public servant, and
the urgency of his associates on both sides of
the Senate Chamber His administration
proved wise and safe re-established the pub
lie credit and turned the downward career Of
our finances.
1t was a cardinal principle with Mr.. Fes-
senden that "even his name among men should
be of little account when weighed in the bal
ance against the welfare of the people y and
the most conspicuous instance of his adher-
enee to this principle was in the late impeach-
ment 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 courteous enemy of all
political quacks, and espoused no cause till
his judgment was convinced, and this he
guarded with scrupulous care against false
weights. He had his faults, but possessed
pre-eminent gifts and traits of character, the
Lmemory Of which must now swell the common
fame of our country, and be handed down as
legacy to postority.
SENATOR ANTHONY, of Rhode Island,
sketehed his character admirably, closing as
follows:-
1t seems to us that he is taken from us at
a time when he is most needed, when the
questions are impending that he best could
grapple, when the problems are presented that
he best could solve. We look around for
those who shall fill his place. But there is
one who doeth all things we'll. In the order
of His Providence, it is not permitted for any
place long to remain vacant, whomever he
takes away. He raises up others to fill the
void that is left. So it was with Douglas,
SO it was with Collamer, so it was with Foot,
so it was with Lincoln, so it will be with Fes-
senden. And so, Mr.. President--long dis
tant be the day--it will be with you and with
others, our wisest and our best Men die.
remain, their example survives"
REMARKS OF SENATOR SUMNER.
"a seat in this Chamber is vacant But
this is a very inadequate expression for the
present occasion. Much more than seat is
vacant. There is a void difficult to measure,
as it will be difficult to fill. Always eminent
from the beginning, Mr.. Fessenden during
these latter years became so large part Of
the Senate that without him it seems to be
different body. His guiding Judgment, his
ready power, his presence 50 conspicuous in
debate, are gone, taking away from this
Chamber that identity which it received so
largely from him.
OF all the present Senate one only besides
myself witnessed his entry into this Chamber.
| cannot forget il. He came in the midst Of
that terrible debate on the Kansas and Ne
braska bill by which the country was con-
vulsed to its centre, and his arrival had the
effect of a reinforcement on a field of battle.
Those who stood for freedom then were few
in numbers--not more than fourteen, while
thirty-seyen Senators in solid column voted to
break the faith originally plighted to freedom
and to overturn a time-honored landmark,
opening that vast Mesopotamian region to the
curse Of slavery. Those anxious days are with
difficulty comprehended by Senate where
freedom rules. One more in our small num-
Der was sensible addition. We were no
longer fourteen, but fifteen His reputation
at the bar, and his fame in the other House
gave assurance which was promptly sustained
He did not wait, but at once entered into the
debate with all those resources which AFTER
wards became so famous. The scene that en-
sued exhibited his readiness aud courage.
While saying that the people of the North
were fatigued with the threat of disunion--
that they considered ii as " mere noise aud
nothing else, he was interrupted by Mr.. But
Ter of South Carolina, always ready to speak
for slavery, exclaiming, " II such sentiments
as yours prevail | want a dissolution right