Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-11-26
bort Iobacro Gimes
PORT TOBACEs: ~.
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Friday Morning, November 26, :. 1875
Death of the vice President:

Death of the Vice President.
On Tuesday morning 1asss shoxt3Raftel
O'Clock, died in his room itthe Capitol
Henry Wilson, Vice President Of d,
United States. Though his DEATH was
not unexpected, save by himself and hi.
physicians, yet his death startled the com
munity by its suddeness. A few days age
hewas suddenly stricken down in the room
he died in, but his doctors declared tina
the attack came from imprudent eating
1t was thought by many that it was a Sc
cond paralytic stroke, but the men O.
science declared there was nothing wrong
about his head or brain, and that he only
had some spinal disarrangement,f for which
the moxa, to which he had been subjected
recently, would afford speedy and entire
relief. Even whilst this announcement
was being made, he breathed his last, ano
his autopsy shows that there was nothing
the matter with his spine at all; but that he
died of apoplexy. Here is commentary
on the uncertainty of the medical science
Elsewhere we publish brief sketch Of
his life, taken from the Baltimore Ameri-
can. We have purposely selected this one
because it is more eulogistic than any
other that we have seen, and we always
like to speak kindly of the dead. We a
Agree with very much thai the 4metican Il
pleased to say of him, but we also dissent
from much more. We do not think that
he could in a proper sense be considered
entirely good, great or brave, much less
heroic. That he had some of the elements
that constitute goodness, greatness and
bravery his life abundantly illustrates
But that there was anything heroic about
him we have failed to discover. Still, flour
country was composed of men who equal
led him in the degree in which he possess
ed those qualities, we believe the standard
of American citizenship would be greatly
elevated.
The story of his life serves to point the
same moral as that of Andrew johnson
Born in the most abject poverty-nay, in
squalor; apprenticed for eleven years as q
common farm hand, with only one months
schooling in each year, and that during
the short winter days, when there was nc
Tabor to do; yet during that time, with nc
light, but the dim and fitful CLEAN of the
fire in the winter, or the pale light of the
moon in summer, he managed by borrow,
ing books to master upwards of one thou.
sand volumes of standard works. Elk
changing his life of plodding, but unre-
munerative farm industry, for the shoe
makers bench, from that, by his own
efforts, without friends or fortune, he pro-
NOTED himself until he became the second
officer in this great country. All this
shows that he had talent, industry and
laudable ambition, and proves that with
these qualities the humblest may, under
American institutions, rise to the proudest
eminences of political distinction. He
was not man of more than mediocre
talents. but his industry, sobriety and am
bition supplied his DEFICIENCIES, until in a
Senate composed of an almost unparalleled
ARRAY of talented men, he was able to oc-
cupy prominent position.
Early in life he became strong Adolf
zionist and during his long political ca
reer his actions were always consistent
with his convictions on this subject
Though not quite as aggressive as Mr..
Summer in his assaults upon slavery, yet
he was never a laggard in this fight, and
it was he who introduced the bill to abol-
ish slavery in the District of Columbia,
aud he ever stood shoulder to shoulder
with his colleague in advocacy of all cog
nate matters. He lived to see the battle
against slavery successful, and when the
war was over he was willing to lay down
the sword. For his magnanimity and
kindly feeling towards the people of the
stinted praise.
He had faults of course, but in his long
political career, when peculation, stealing
and jobbery was going on all around him,
he never was accused of having participa-
ted. Yes, once, only. He was slightly
implicated in the Credit MobiIier swim
die. That arch-tempter, Cakes Ames, in
duced Mr.. Wilson to invest a few thou
sands, which he did in the name of his
wife, but as soon as he heard suspicion
of iobbery about it he sold out at ence,
and he died poor man, owning nothing
but what he had saved from his salaries,
which he was able to do by his frugality,
for he was simple in his habits and tastes.
We cannot say that the country has sus-
tanned much loss by his death, but believe
it will turn out to be great disaster to
the Republican party, of which he was
one of the founders. His speeches and
letters during the past year did more than
ANYTHING else to check the career of the
Administration leaders, and bring back
into that party the Liberals who had left
it. If it should turn out, that in conse-
quence of his death, that conservative pol
icy should be abandoned, thereby entail
ing defeat ON that party next year, then
he will have served his country even in
diving, as no doubt he tried to do, after
his manner, when living.
The Right Thing To Do.
We are glad to learn that Mr.. Wallis
has notified the Governor that it is his
nurnose tn contest the election of Mr.