New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-17
nav 0RIEANs REPUBLICAN WEDNESDAY, JANUARY H. 1872.

necessities. The recollection OF that act OF
kindness shall always retain. Indeed, it
was that which induced me to uee my best
efforts for his success after you, Mr.. Presi-
dent, had put him in nomination in the con-
vention Of 1868: and was pleased upon be-
ing appointed by Mr.. Conway, the presi-
dent of the convention, a member OF the
committee to inform him of his nomination.
Mr.. Dunn was great man. He was great
because he was good, and he was SO es-
teemed by all who knew him, both IN his
private and public life. His friends, and
even his enemies land indeed it would have
been out of the ordinary course of human
affairs if he had had ncne), accord to him
in an eminent degree every social quality
which adOrn the accomplished gentleman.
His personal and political life is so familiar
to the people of Louisiana that will not
occupy the time of the Senate by referring
to it. In rejecting upon our bereavement,
l sometimes attempt, but III vain, to meas
ure its magnitude. In his death his family
has lost kind father and an affectlonate
husband; his friends a tried and true man;
this Senate a dignitied and capable pre-
siding officer the State an able Lieutenant
Governor and statesman, and his race
disting uished and noble representative. He
is dead; vet we may say he liveth. There
is silent echo coming up from his lonely
tomb, more potent than voice OF mine,
teaching us the truth of the doctrine Of our
mortality, and illustrating clearly the
weakness of our strength. He lived long
to enjoy the pleasures and bear the trials
of this life. But only brief period was
allotted to him to realize the grandeur of
the great drama IN which he took SO impOr
tant part. But few years before his
death he could look back over the history
of his race and see nothing but gloom and
despair, with no hope of deliverance
in the future. But suddenly ray
of hope pierced through the darkness;
a sudden transition took place the shackles
fell from the hands of four millions of bond
men, and they rose up in the dignity Of
their manhood. l have thought that while
upon his dying bed Mr.. Dunn must have
consoled himself with the reflection of the
faithful apostle of old, who, when cOmpar-
ing the former and the present condition Of
his people, said, "Oh. Lord, let thy servant
now depart in peace, for mine eyes have
seen the salvation Of my race" Mr.. Presi-
dent, it is common for men to covet military
honors, but the lamented deceased was an
exception to that rule. A wider field, q
nobler sphere was his choice. The hero
who wars on the tented field is surrounded
by his faithful band of friends and
comrades, but he who fights the stern
battle of life stands alone and unsupported.
Mr.. Dunn, it is true, had many friends
frmness of purpose within him which sus-
tanned him under all circumstances, even
when beset by bitter enemies or betrayed
by the treachery of assumed friends. To
some extent, and under some circumstances,
love of military glory is laudable The
Duke of Wellington. the hero of Waterloo
and the cOnquerOr of the great Napoleon,
may have been proud of his glorious achieve
ments, but they are tritling in comparison
with those of our lamented friend, whose
energies were devoted to the elevation of
his race from the rank sty of slavery s
degradation TO the dignity and char
acfer Of American citizens. In dying
he only paid the debt due to nature
by all the living. dust thou art, and
unto dust shalt thou return is au edict
which has gone out through all the earth,
| and no pomp nor power can resist the in
| evitable command. The king upon his
| throne, at whose nod millions tremble, sur
| rounded by obsequiOus cOurtiers in their
rich and costly raiment, may. at any mo-
| ment. be brought down to the level and
GOODNESS of the grave. Reality, combating
our re!uctances. forces the truth upon lis
that Oscar J. Dunn is dead. The sun of his
mortal career has set; but while we realize
this melancholy tact emotions OF JOY till our
hearts as we contemplate the glorious truth,
| that when his sun did sit, it went down
| without cloud amidst the splendors of a
FURNISHED sky.
The resolutions were adopted. and the
| Senate adjourned.