Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-02-17
Governor wash burn.
REMARKS BY COL. CHARLES II. JOYCE,
AT THE MEETING HELD AT RUT
s.. LAND, ON TUESDAY EVENING,
FEBRUARY 7, 1870.

In all ages and all countries, it has
always been customary to observe the OBJ
sequies of the brave, the virtuous and the
good, and to cherish the memories of
those whose lives and noble deeds have
lifted them above the common level OF
their fellow men.
The citizens of Greece and Rome, in
the proudest days of those republics, fol-
lowed the funeral train, and their most
gifted orators pronounced orations in
honor of those who had made themselves
illustrious in the service of the State,
and who had deserved we'll of their coun.
try and mankind. Westminster Abbey
and the Hospital of the Invalides. are to-
day the silent, yet mighty eulogists of
England and Frances departed worth and
greatness. If monarchies and empires
deem it fit and proper to pay respect to
the memories of the wise and noble of
their kind, how much more appropriate is
it for us to do so, in country where
merit alone decides the right of the citi-
zen to honor and distinction. In obedi-
ence to this sacred custom, and with
hearts bowed down by our great sorrow,
we have met together tonight to pay the
last tribute of respect to an honored citi-
zen of our State, and while we throw into
his open grave the .sprig of acacia, the
living emblem OF our hope in glorious
resurrection, let US bow in humble sub
mission and resignation to the mandate of
Him whose ways are beyond our compre-
hension and whose Judgments are past
finding out.
Again, Vermont is called TO mourn the
loss of one of her noblest citizens and
most honored sons: Again the solemn
knell and dropping flag remind us that
another, high in the esteem and venera-
ton of the people, has been snatched
away by the fell destroyer. The tears of
our people were scarcely dry upon the
new made graves of Collamer and Foot
and Royce, when the painful tidings came
that Washburn was no more that he too
had been added to the list of her departed
great ones. The news was not entirely
unexpected, and yet when it came, what
a cloud of darkness seemed to settle down
upon our people. For weeks the fatal
disease had been upon him, while single
handed he had maintained the unequal
strife, but at last, that iron constitution,
which had withstood the shock of battle,
and the terrible strain of nerve and brain
to which it had been subjected for the
last thirty years, was compelled to sub
NIT to the conqueror of all He is gone
and we shall SO his face no more on earth,
but like one of old, "he being dead get
speaketh." Though we shall no more hear
the clarian tones of his voice in the forum
and at the bar, or feel the strength and
support of his strong arm in every noble
and patriotic work, yet his fiery patriot
ism, his unconquerable energy, his un-
finching perseverance and spartan in
tegrity and firmness, are before us to cheer
and encourage. ..s
In this general sorrow, and universal
mourning it seems to methat the people
of our town are peculiarly called upon to
add their voice.
Here in our midst has always dwelt his
warmest friends and most ardent ad-
mirers and in the last canvass, the first
gun was fired here which ultimately
raised him to the Chief Magistracy of this
Commonwealth. He has departed from
US, but only gone before, while he has
left us, in the history of his life and ex-
ample, the richest legacy which we as q
people could possibly inherit. Within
the past year death has been busy among
the noble and mighty of our land: That
death loves shining mark has been
most certainly and sadly fulfilled the
emblems of mourning and sorrow are in
the high places, and to-day sorrowing
and grateful people will add one more
fold, one more festoon, for the memory OF
our beloved and venerated Chief Mag
istrate. Truthfully and beautifully was
it said by England's greatest philosopher
and statesman, when his rival was cut
down by his side in the midst of an ex-