The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1875-01-14

Samuel j. Anderson, who committed
suicide at Atlantic the other day
after ten unsuccessful attempts, filled
the office Of Secretary of War under
President Taylor. He left behind him
the following remarkable documents:
i, Samuel j. Anderson, in the sixty
fourth year of my age, but in remarkable
enjoyment of all my faculties of mind
and body-in full view of all the response.
bilities of voluntary death, and
prompted by due respect for the feel.
ings, opinions and prejudices of the liv.
ing-beg leave, respectfully, to submit
the following observations
First, as to the bad influence or bad
example of suicide. All the agents of
modern civilization have universally and
justly denounced it; and they have
hedged against it by appeals to human
fears and superstitions, as we'll as by all
the appliances of education. To this
course shall certainly take no exception.
But each case must, at least, stand upon
and be judged upon, its own causes, ex-
cuses, or merits-whether committed un-
der the influence of insanity positive,
partial, or momentary-or with deliber-
ate, sane, and intelligent purpose. AS to
the influence Ofexample, perhaps it may
be over-estimated. The instructive love
of ifeand the instinct We dread of death
will always prove sufficient general
guarantees against twill always con-
fine the danger within very narrow
limits and 1 have Nsometimesss suspected
that there h even more danger of two
few, instead of too many, committing the
rash act" Catos, and Brutii, and
Zenos, and Cummings are never very
numerous.
know of no one who can be injured
or much affected by my death at present.
Even more valuable man than myself
is soon forgotten.
/ have no fears for the future. Ibe-
lieve in the right. know things in the
great beyond ought to be made right, and,
therefore, / believe they will be. How,
or by what means, do not propose to
guess This, however, constitutes my
simple faith. / believe in virtue and
practical morality, in their most enlarged
sense-to do all the good in our power,
and to prevent all the we can. l believe in
knowledge, in truth, in science, and am
not inclined to indulge in mere beliefs.
believe in experience and observation
and their natural positive results, and
attach but little Importance to mere
hearsay evidence on any subject. "Noth-
ing is easier than lying" except to be
under mistake. Mere probabilities ought
to be handled with caution; improb-
abilities are unworthy of respect, and can
only be established by incontrovertible
testimony. Religion or religious belief,
without truthfulness and practical
morality, is delusion and snare-the
shadow WITHOUT the substance. One is
hollow and deceptive, the other solid and
reliable. One resembles sounding brass,
the other refined gold. One is fuctuat-
ing as incontrovertible currency, the
other fixed and stable.
Such views are mine, although none
may doubt their being honestly enter
tanned, have prevented my becoming
what is useful in the society where my lot
has been cast; yet am so constituted as
to be incapable of Discrimination.
have been what the world calls I'M
fortunate. l have often failed in my
best efforts. Ihave enjoyed almost won
derful health of body and mind. With
very few exceptions, l have been enabled,
under extraordinary trials, to preserve a
serene cheerfulness. lam cheerful even
now. But ! find myself at this juncture,
with absolute want, or miserable state
of dependence, staring me in the face. l
do not perceive how can make myself
useful, or contribute to the advancement
DR. happiness of others / have camly
surveyed the field. Moreover, l have
ust at this period met with severe and
shocking disappointment, which strikes
ne like fatal blow. When the shock
irst came the first impulse was one of re-
eminent, but reflection enables me to
conquer it.
AT last have come to the conclusion
hat further struggle is hardly worth |
"After lifes ftful fever he sleeps we'll"