Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-12-04
SaIes a'ro sksts5es.
GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR.
RECOLLECTIONS OF AN HONORED
NAME.


NAME.
THE TRIUNPHS OF A GREAT MAN-FROAT
THE LOG CABIN TO THE PRESIDENTIAL
CHAIR-AT THE GRAVE OF DEPARTED
GREATNESS
Gen. James y. Ekn, whose graceful pen
has often enriched our columns, has written
n letter which has found It's way into print,
descriptive of a visit to the grave of Gen
/ Taylor, near Louisville, Ky. The letter is
SO graphic and interesting that we give it a
/ place with feeling that our readers will
! peruse it with pleasure
LOUISVILLE, Ky, Oct. 81, 1874.
y quarter Of century ago Gen. Zachary
! Taylor was the cynosure of all eyes. His
name and his fame had gone abroad
! through all lands. He was known as the
invincble hero of the Mexican war, and
;he story Of his brilliant victories from Palo
Alto aud Resaca de la Palma to the crown
ing glory of Bucna Vista, were the themes
Of both song and story.
y IEhAkh ALLIE CAREER.
In the memorable political campaign of
1913 the romantic. varied. and remarkable
incidents of his evcntful life we're recited,
until the whole country had become fami-
liar with them as household words. From
the time that he attended n log-cabin
school house, in what was then known as
THE Dark and Bloody Gruund' of Ken
tucky, through his career as lieutenant
in the army,-an appointment which he
received at the hands of Thomas Jefferson,
on through his services as Il captain,
until he was breveted major by President
Madison for his gallant defence of Fort
Harrison still on through his memorable
exploits in the Black Hawk war, coming
down to his signal service against the
savage SeminOles in Florida on still fur
ther, through his important services in
Texas and brilliant cOnquests in Mexico,
until finally he was crowned, amid the pco-
pie. with the highest hUuUrs OF the Hepuu-
lic-frOm the beginning to the end Of this
extraordinary career, so full of romantic
and historic interest, the life of Zachary
Taylor became endeared to the American
people, and mis- praises were sounded far
and near by eloquent tongues and graceful
pens.
But, as his cOuntrymen well knew and
remember, be was not long permitted, in
the inscrutable orderings of Providence, to
occupy the Presidential chair After a
service of but Il few months, during which
he haG called around him some of the
ablest statesmen Of the country, admins
tering the affairs of the Government with
an honesty and a simplicity of purpose
which commended him to the admiration
of men of all parties, he died after Il short
illness contracted by exposure at the laying
of the cornerstone of the yet unfinished
monument of Washington at the national
capital. Within twen.y-four hours after
the death of President Taylor, the reins of
government were assumed by Mr.. Fillmore,
who, by virtue of his office as Vice Presi
dent, became President Of the United
States.
In 4 touching message, dated July 10Th,
1850, President Fillmore announced The
death of President Taylor, whose last
words were Il have always done my
duty | am ready to die; my only regret
is for the friends leave behind me-" In
the Senate eloquent eulogisms were pro-
nounced b. Senators Downs, Webster,
Pearce, Cass, King and Berrien. In the
House the mournful event was apprOPri-
ately referred to i'll the opening prayer by
the Rev. DR.. Butler, chaplain, and impress
sive panegyrics were delivered by Messrs.
Conrad Winthrop, Baker. Bayly, billiard,
King and Marshall.
After lying in state at the White House
for some days, the remains were borne 10
the Congressional Cemetery, and thence
subsequently removed to the family vault
at the old homestead, in Jefferson county,
in this State, about five miles from the city
Of Louisville. on the BrOwnsboro' road
AN AUTUMNAL VISIT TO A NOTED GRAVE.
\ few days since, availing myself of the
charming atmosphere of a bright Autumn
nal afternoon, visited the old homestead,
now occupied by George McCurdy, Esq,
who became the possessOr of eighty-One
acres of the farm by purchase some years
since. The tract originally contained
about five hundred acres, but was subdi-
vided when the estate was distributed
among the heirs. 1t is beautiful region
of country, diversified by hill and valley,
and the soil is rich and luxuriant. About
a quarter of mile from the mansion house
ii plain two-story building, tastefully
painted in pea-green and yellow cOlOrs,
with verandah on three siGes-is the
family graveyard. When this portion of
the farm was sold to Mr.. McCurdy, a half
acre, embracing the old family burial
Ground, was reserved for that sacred pur-