New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-12
Grafton Of Hon. Thomas ID. WOrrnll over
the Body Of Hon. Walter X. Whey
land. Delivered in the House of Rep
resentalixes. lauuarY 10. 1872.

resentatlves, January lU, 1879.
Gentlemen of the House of Representa-
tives-By your vote, cast only few
minutes ago. the sorrowful duty of speak
ing Oh this occasion devOlves upon me.
Before us lies the body of cur late friend.
and fellow Representative, Walter K.
Whey]and. Yesterday his eyes greeted us
with joyful recognition; his hand grasped
ours in friendly greetings; his lips uttered
words of cheerful encouragement. lie was
then living, but now those hands lie stiff in
death, his eyes are closed, and his tongue
has became hushed and will forever refuse
to speak. Yes-Walter Wheyland, our late
cola bOrer, is dead.
We dreamed not of this yesterday, al
though we knew that the spirit of revolution
was diffused through the very air we
breathed, and believed that nothing short OF
human blood would avail to satisfy its re-
vengeful hate. We knew not which of us
would be offered as sacrifice to this de-
mon, or to whom would be accorded the
honor of being the first martyr to the cause
of human liberty, or desire TO preserve
order and obedience to the laws.
To Wheyland belongs that honor, and we
know not which of us may be the next VIC
tim. He was born III Massachusetts, on the
soil that was made sacred by drinking the
first blood of martyrs to the cause OF Alnerl-
can liberty and independence, and it ap-
pears appropriate that in this new struggle
for liberty to all men Massachusetts should
supply the first victim. Heaven has decreed
to honor her with its preference.
1t is young victim, only thirty-three
years of age The first we hear of Walter
X. WheyIand was when he Joined the
Thirty-frst Massachusetts, Volunteer In
fantry to fight in that cause of liberty for
which he has lust sacrificed his life. His
first appearance in this city was at the
period of its occupation by General Butler;
and in the fact that between the time OF his
enlistment and his appearance in New Or
leans he had been promoted to a lieutenancy,
we have the first evidence of the correct
ness of his department aud integrity OF his
character. The next appears in the tact
that by his commanding General he was
detailed to especial duty as detective IN
the United States service, service IN which
he engaged with credit, and from which, at
the close of the war, he retired with honor
On the cessation of hostilities, he deter
mined to cast his lot among our people and
make Louisiana his permanent home. AT
the fall election of 1869 he was elected by
the citizens of the parish of Sabine
to the honorable position Of Representa-
tive in this House, and has continued in the
faithful discharge of his duty to his con-
stituents until he was yesterday stricken
down in the streets of New Orleans by the
hand Of an assassin. and when Nheyland
fell, Sabine parish received severe blow.
Three noble traits were prominent IN his
character He was truthful. faithful to his
friends, and brave. Among those who
knew him intimately. his word was sutti-
cient to every purpose; what he SAID was
believed; what pledges he made were sure
to be fulfilled. His fidelity to friends was
marked and peculiar. He was never known
to forsake q friend in the hour of trial. and
when dangers gathered and thlckened
around us, he was looked upon by many
members OF this House as friend and pro-
tector and no matter how imminent the
danger, it was believed that he would be
true to his pledges, and faithful to the de-
Tense of his friends.
Connected with these traits we have still
another. He was brave man. This was,
perhaps, the most prominent of his charac-
teristics. He did not appear to know what
fear was, hence he was never absent from
his post, no matter how dark the cloud that
threatened The veil of charity may well
be drawn over the faults of man who was
truthful, faithful and brave. His bravery
was, however, no match for the stealthy
tread of the assassin, who, without afford
ing the least opportunity for selfdetense,
shot HIM down in the full bloom of his
youth He was as faithful to his constit-
uents, as faithful to his government and as
faithful to a respect for law and order as
he was faithful to his friends; and when
Wheyland fell, we repeat, the parish OF
Sabine received blow from which she will
not speedily recover.
Such was the character of the first mar
tyr to the cause we have recently espoused:
such the character of the first victim 10 the
violent and revolutionary spirit which has
been invoked by the demons of ambition
l,,Vi ha
the General Assembly.
Even had time been given to prepare
thoughts for this occasion. it would not be
well to linger' around this coffin. | will
therefore hasten to narrate facts winch are
more Immediately connected with the death
of our companion on this floor.
You all remem Der the resolution offered,
that we would remain in perpetual session
until the excitement had subsidized. l had
some facts communicated to me at my desk,
which led to that course. l had reason to
fear that treason filed the air, and that the
demon of revenge thirsted for blood The
resolution passed, but unfortunately for
Wheyland, he saw no danger in so close
a proximity to our lines, and ventured to
the saloon to procure food. Behold the
consequences in the dead body encased IN
that coffin. The first l knew of the
circumstance was when member Hon.
Mr.. Stanton) ran to my desk and demanded
nv immediate professional services IN the
executive office There | found our friend
in agony, and, on an examination, became
satisfied that the shot would prove a fatal
one, and quietly communicated that fact to
Lieutenant Governor Pinchback. As in
duty bound, could but speak the most en-
cOuraging words to the wounded man, but
determined to get from his own lips all the
facts that could touching the author of this
foul murder; hence put the question to him,
"Walter, who shot you = His reply was,
.'McCullough did it." After an interval OF
a few minutes, seeing that his end was ap;
preaching, | repeated the question IN a
somewhat different form, "Watler, do you
know who did this ;" He again replied,
INC Cullough did it," He then begged of
me to give him morphine, which l refused
to do, even at the expense of being thought
cruel NV reasons were that l determined
that he should retain as long as possible the
full use of his mental faculties, and
because | determined not to give
the least shadow of doubt as to the cause
of his death. l went to the Governor and
suggested the propriety of sending for some
legal authority to take his dying testimony.
Then, returning to my patient, observed
that he was rapidly sinking, yet bearing his
pain with the utmost fortitude. A few
seconds more, and he cast his eyes around
and inquired, Doctor, is there any hope for
meg My reply was, as before, Your only
hope is in keeping perfectly quiet" He
then looked his friends in the face and said,
"Good-by boys" and observing especially
the face of Hon. Mortimer Carr, repeated,
"Good-by, Mort" At this time | repeated
the question as to the author OF the deed,
and he made the same answer as before,
when some one remarked, They have
taken him prisoner" or words to that effect.
when Mr.. Wheyland replied: Il forgive all
who have injured me-" to which we replied,