The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-05-29
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
The New Clock-Resolutions In Memo
~ OF Deceased Members.


~ OF Deceased Members.
A regular meeting of the Chamber was held
on Monday evening at their hall, President s.
Y. Tupper In the chair.
The president stated that the clock In the
front of the Poslofice was now flushed, and
was keeping good time, being under charge
of Postmaster Trott He also read letter
from the makers, Messrs. Howard u Co., oi
Boston, guaranteeing the working Oh .ne
clock for ten years. The committee OH .ne
clock also submitted their final report VIII"
the bills of expenses amounting 10 Ih'eo nun
dred and seventy dollars. The report was re-
ce,ved and the bills passed for payment.
letter from Congressman Ralney to the
ofr.ct that the dulies on foreign rice were not
affected by the late act, but could not long
continues: also that forty-three thousand hVe
hundred dollars had been appropriated for re-
pairs upon Charleston haroor, and that Con-
press would not reach the question OF the cot
ton tax this year, was received as lnlorma-
tion.
The letter ofreslguation of W. E. HoWland,
who had removed his residence from this city,
was accepted.
The president reported that after comforting
with several committees and other officers,
he had purchased at auction fifty volumes oi
the Charleston Courier running back some
thirty years, at cost of one hundred and
twelve dollars and half. The purchase was
confirmed and the bill ordered to be paid.
An election was then held TO I'll the office OF
second vIce-presIdent of the Chamber, made
vacant by the death of the late Francs ..
Porcher, and Mr.. Francis j. Peizer was
unanimously elected
There being no further business brought up,
President Tupper rose and said:
Gentlemen trust it may not be considered
inappropriate at this moment to refer 10 re-
cent events of sos melancholy nature as 10
have affected, 10 no slight degree, the sympa-
tiles OF every member OF TINS CnamDer.
An aged citizen, whose form and features
were familiar to US from our childhood, whose
unimppachable character and noble presence
were thr pride of our community; one, too,
30 Identified with the past and the present OF
Charleston-with It's glory and It's degradation
who, throughout all the vlcissitndes OF Ilme
and fortune, still bore him with the LOFTY
courage of hero and philosopher, after hav-
ing Passed the allotted time of mans exist
ence. has been gathered to his fathers.
Another member of this Chamber, who
had Just entered Into manhood, with the bright
promise of many days before hin. beloved
and cherished by US for those gentle virtues
which 30 we'll became him, the idol of his
household and the sole remaining hope OF his
devoted parents. he, too, has been taken from
oue sight and laid In the tomb of his kindred.
And yet another, a worthy comrade ana an
honorable merchant, bnL a. yesterday 10 .nls
hall he sat among us, rejoicing In his glorious
health and manly vigor; in moment, 10 tne
tYInkIing of an eve. he was stricken down
upon the very portal OF his office. Without
warning, and with scarce struggle. the red
life passed from his lips, and he, TOO, ls at rest
forever. Gentlemen, we rarely come To-
gether but the voice of lameDtation for our
dead Is heard In this Chamber. Thus con-
siantly are we reminded of the frailty OF life,
and the vanity of human hopes and eXpecta-
tions. How true II is that as the shadows we
come, and as the shadows we pas away, and
as one by one our places become vacant, the
gaps are closed in quick succession only to De
followed by another wall Of sorrow, and
another closing up of our ranks to conceal the
ravages OF the destroyer. Sad are the emo
lions tnatHtir within US when the mind recalls
these friendly faces. and they pass IN solemn
review before US. SO constant and 30 recent
was their presence, and 30 little DO we Yet
realize their departure, that for one Driet
moment we might almost doubt that. the
grave forever hides them.
But vain are these reflections; the sad privi-
le2e alone remains to US to add their names
to that lrngthening death-roll which now
darkens our record book. Let US inscribe
thereon the vereraIed name OF Alfred Bugrr,
who for thirty successive years, la an off1cial
capacity, was closely Identified with our COM
mrrce; whose life was also coeval with that OF
this Chamber, aad the existence OF both
dating back TO the adoption OF The Federal
Constitution.
When detraction has become 80 common,
and when principle and reputation are 80 lit
tie re yarded as 10 be bartered daily Ior gain,
i. Is Neli Tor us to put on record the example
OF one whose Integrity was beyond suspicion,
and whose character Is worthy OF emulauon.
Let us also devote page 10 the memory OF
those younger friends and esteemed COM
rades, PrlDgle and Clancy, upon, whom the
fondest hIpes were concentrated, and VINO
have been thus suddenly cut off In the spriDg-
time of their existence.
Mr.. GourdIn then spoke as follows:
Mr.. President-I am sure express the feel
ings OF this Chamber when / say that the
announcement It has been your painful duty
to make this evening, causes us all profound
sorrow. Death has indeed been very busy
among rs. In the brief space or six dayG, J.
may say Of a lew f1eeting hours, the aged, the
middle aged, and the young have all been
removed from among us. Mr.. President IL Is
meet That We should spread upon our reCOrds
the sense of our bereavement, and gill
cheertulIy contribute my feeble services In
doing this. But when this mOrning you
spprised me of the meeting this evening. and
requested me 10 submit for its consideration a
paper setting forth the loss we have sustained
In lha death of the late Hon. Alfred Hugpr,
thought myself unequal to the task In the
short time allowed me. As the day wore on.
and reflected on my relations, with our
lamented friend, and recalled his character
and public services, felt that the duty you
had assigned me should not be approached
and undertaken lightly. or discharged hastily.
It Ia now, sir. forty five Years since my ac-
qnainl ance with Mr.. Huger. began, (when
was b)y,) when be first Distinguished me by
his kindness. and bis kndnesses have been
with me from that period TO The day when he
was stricken down, never again to appear
among US. And when grew into manhood,
Notwithstanding the disparity In our ages. he
gave me bis friendship, and this friendship
subsist@d with Increasing intimacy as time
went on, and, without shadow to Interrupt
1t, to the end of his valued life. In these cir
cumstances ask your forbearance, Mr.. Presi- |
dent and gentlemen of the Chamber, mas
much as ! am unprepsred to submit now any
matter for your consideration touching our |
lamented friend. IwOuld respectfully ask the !
appointment OF committee of three mem.
bers to be charged with the duty OF preparing |
Q brirf memorial OF the late Mr.. Huger, to be
entered upon our records.
The motion was put before the meeting