The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-01-01
!The Late George peabody.

S The Lotc George Peabody.
We present to our readers this morn
!; ing the following tribute, to the late
George Peabody, the world-renowned
benefaetor. It is contained in the Con-
gressional speech of the Hon. Thos. L.
Jones, Of Kentucky: 90 ~
'm In the House, on Monday, December
20. Mr.. Jones, of Kentucky, introduced
the following resolutions:
Whereas, in the death Of George Pea
body, q native of the United States, and
$ late q resident of England, our country
{, and the world have, sustained an ire
trievable loss; and whereas, the Queen
OF Great Britain. the authorities Of Lon
don. and the Emperor of France have
made extraordinary provision for the
$ tSaanrsferi 5arsg Of his remains to bis native
BE ittherefore resotred blythe Senate and
nHouse of Representatives, IN Congress as
Sega6lsH., That tho President of the
United States -ba authorized to order as
many ships OF the line as may be con-
vehieht and adequate to the occasion, to
o@eet at sea the European convoy and
conduct ie to these shores; and that he
beSauthorized. to make such other pre-
paration for the reception of the body of
our distinguished philanthropist as l.
merited by his glorious deeds, and in
manner commensurate with the justice,
magnanimity, and dignity of o great
people. g...l ~ a.
~ Rssolved, That the expenses incurred
BY snch ceremonial as the, President may
adopt in the premises shall be paid by
any money, in the Treasury not other
wise appropriated.
MIR. Speaker, have offered the pre-
amble and resolutions jnst read to the
House in accordance with what 7 con-
ceive to be the sentiment of the Ameri.
can people, as paying q just tribute of
respect and homage to the greatest phi
lanthropist Of this or any other age, and
who Is destined in, all probability to GO
doWn IN history as the most renowned
and lamented private citizen OF the
world. It is pleasant relaxation, Mr..
Speaker, in the midst Of our labors here
to turn aside from the dry details of
!. petitions and claims; of plans for taxa
Eons tasins and revenues; of financial
schemes for private or public aggran-
dizement; from our almost constant po-
htical and partisan wrangles, to rest our
eyes and thoughts upon the colossal
!. figure and character of man who had
no ambition for civil, military, or politi-
Cal honors; no power, perhaps, to lead
armies by his valor. public opinion by
i, bis pen, assemblies and senates by his
1sloqnence; yet, although 80 lately dead,
already occupies niche in the temple
OF fame, which fear none of us can
ever. hope to reach.
Who has not heard of George Pea
body, the poor American boy, born on
the bleak hills of New England, starting
out from his home on foot to seek his
fortune, not able to pay for. his first
nights repose, but, too proud to beg,
asked the privilege of saving wood for
the morning fires of his landlord, to pay
atqr4 his lodging and breakfast. What
d q noble example for the youth of our
country! Tie proud spirit which
t., prompted that first Independent act of
4, bus life animated him throughout his
long and arduous journey to wealth.
q The goal of his ambition was not early
rsached. More than half century OF
struggles and trials of watohfulness and
speculation, had elapsed before ho began
TO realize the light which had always in.
spired ais hopes and wooed him on. But
nmes faith, honesty and energy were the
notices which he cherished and prac-
tlced,/ and they finally brought his tri-
length became the successful merchant,
the London banker and the great bene-
faosbrr OF his race, His ambition was
pot to become rich for the sake of being
rich, to dazzle the multitude with his
saapipage or for personal ease and luxury,
bnt for the ability which it brought him
to do good to his fellow-men, to clothe
the naked, to fed the hungry, to bind
up bleeding and breaking hearts, and to
educate and elevate tho human under
a standing.
,aatWe may search history in vain, Mr..
Speaker, to find his parallel. There have
been many opulent men of earth. but
they were too often possessed of the
same cnpidity and avarice which eharac.
.tsrized that certain rich man which was
clothed in purple and fine linen and fared
samptuously every day"
;. Lydia had her Croesus, Greece her Pi-
4. .sistretpa, and Rome her Crassus, France
her Le Fitte, Germany her Rothschild,
and England her Barring and WestniDs-
ter. but it was reserved for own country
10 give to the world man who so wisely