The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-04-14

NEARLY q million Of armed men. True
to the lifelong professions of the past
bis first effort was TO preserve the
constitution, and il possible to
save the Union with it
but when disappointed in
that hope, none were more determined
than he to cut loose bis native State
in it's perilous condition with enemies
in disguise; none more resolved to make
common csuse with the South and take
whatever might be the conseq quenees oil
the act.
We all know he threw himeelf into
the cause with bis whole soul. Gen.
tlemen here present will testify to the
truth OF what say, when affirm, that
to the last he devoted himself to it with
a courage that did not quail with q
hope that did not falte5 and with q
purpose that held out to the last ex-
tremity. and relaxed not to the end.
Mr., President it may truly be said.
that with John Tyler there has fallen Q
great man. l know, sir, that the
death Of any good man is cause OF griet
TO the friendly survivors; and yet l feel
l DO not err, when l cay that my de-
ceased colleague was as fortunate in the
circumstances of bis death, as in his
lite. As soldier on the field of battle
tails, he fell at the post OF duty. A lite
when it was full OF years and honors
passed away. He lett us before age
had, bowed his form, or dimmed the
lu-tre OF his i~tellect, wnen the future
course of his life was about to promise
him more oil pleasure than Of grief. To-
morrow we shall deposit him beneath
the sod Of that soil which he loved so
well on the beautiful banks Of the
James, where his slumb bers will be
soothed by the sound of it's falling wa.
ters Day after day in the years yet to
come, the evening and morning shad-
ows shall lend q silent and varied
charm to the scene, and when her hour
OF struggle is over. Virginia, as she
leans upon her bloody spear to contem-
plate the past, and beholdiug the rising
glories OF her day, will lit her gaunt~
letted hand TO brush away the tear for
the loss OF him, who in the decline OF
life exhausted his dying energies in her
behalf, and staked his life, his fortune,
his reputation, upon that result which
will bring to her safety and honor
Sir, che will embalm his memory in
her best affections and hand it down to
her generations yet to come, and her
childlen's children will transmit his
honored name as an Inheritance OF
princely value-an heirloom which has
a ready run through more than two
generstionsot distIngu shed men.
But it is not my purpose, Sir; to draw
a portrait of this great man Hisls q
character which men will choose TO
study themselves; and they will seek II
in the monuments Of his own creation,
rather than in the testimonials OF his
friends; but perhaps, cir, it will not be
deemed as usurping the historians place
when cay that he was kind and geul-
al in all the relations OF private life;
that he used the gilt of the 'eloquence
with which he was 30 highly endowed
in the public service, and not for selfish
purposes that his faculties for useful
ness seemed always to rise to the level
Of the demand made upon them; that
he was most able to discharge his duty
under the most difficult circumstances,
and that he served his native State
with love and fidelity which are be-
yond all praise.
Mr.. President, is there no useful lee.
son whrch we ourselves may draw from
this occasion2 ls there nothing IN 1t
that will deepen the sense OF the uncer-
tainty Of human lie, and uncertainty
of human affairs2 Within how short
period has death sent it's summons
10 our very midst? Does not this inn
press us with the utter worthlessness Of
the span Of life allotted to any one OF
us, unless we use it TOR the purpose Of
preparing for another and better and
more enduring state. Do not the
scenes passing before us impress on US
more fully the sublime truth, "The du-
ties OF lie are to be preferred to life it.
self"