Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-02-17

volt at solitude and whose chief happi
ness is in association with kindred spir
its, where heart can beat in unison with
heart and swell with the loving burden
of fra'ernal sympatby,-who gather
around them the genial and the entbu.
siastic Of all ages and bind them to
their affections as with chords Of steel
They bring q weird attraction with
them, when they enter q social or bust.
ness circle, which 10 almost irresistible;
they challenge the esteem, and loving
friendship Of their companions and re-
ceive the respectful admiration Of the
stranger.
To this latter class, Chapman Bill
lingsley belonged, unless l misunder.
stood bis character. OF commanding
form and 6ne ply sique, be would natu-
rally attract attention wherever be might
be But there vas more than this in the
man; there was the innate gentlemanly
courtesy which eusouled every action
30 that We felt, that here was one Of
natures noblemen, with whom polite
mess was an Inherent constituent of
character and courtesy an unavoidable
habit. His manners belonged to that
old school, which has SO few represen.
tatives ut the present day, but which
We like to think of a. peculiar to the
American gentleman. Kind and defer
entail, not only to those of his own or
superior age, but also to the young
whose acquaintance he seemed to en-
Joy as one whose heart never grows old
apace with his Jody, he made acquain.
tances without effor. and developed
them into frierGs W :. singular rapid.
ty. Then his relations with every mem.
Der of the Senate were Of the most &c.
NAL and kindly nature, unbroken BY the
acerbities Of political contention or the
warmth Of earnest advocacy of differ.
ent views.
From his very nature he was com.
pelled to take enthusiastic views of what
ever cause he espoused, and in debate
his enthusiasm would always find ut
terance in glowing words and strong
ex expressions. but these were not associ.
ated with want Of ofappreciation of what
was due to the honest convictions and
earnest feelings Of his opponeots.-
Hence be was fair opponent as we'll
as warm friend. He espoused no cause
with lukewarm attachment, but with
his whole soul, and left no proper ef.
fort untried TO achieve success. When
failure, however, attended his efforts,
be gracefully surrendered and properly
recognized the success Of bis opponent.
There was an earnestness in his voice
and gesticulation that compelled those
who disagreed with him to give him
earnest attention and profound respect.
His was native eloquence that w-lled
forth from the inner man, and show ed
itself in every intonation, every express
sion. every gesture.
As Chairman Of the Committee on
Education, he showed great anxiety and
interest in the importance Of the SUBJ
ject under his charge, and was earnest
in his efforts to advance the Public
Schools SO that they might afford am
pie means for the rudimentary instruc-
ton Of the children Of his native State.
The Normal School, from . which We
hope to derive most Of the teachers in
the future for our schools, was an ob.
ject Of special solicitude. He was duly
attentive to its wants and took an ac-
tive part in the legislation which Sc.
cured for it the elegant, comfortable
and commodious edifce that is hence.
forth to be its home. Nor were his ef-
forts in behalf Of Education confined to
those of his own race. Recognizing the
imperative necessity of Education for
all who are endowed with citizenship in
our nation. he labored with all the
earnestness of bis nature to secure an
increased appropriation for the colored
schools of our State. But while thus
attentive to the needs and requirements
of the children Of the whole State, so
far as their rudimentary instruction was
concerned. he was also alive to the ne.
cessity for encouraging and fostering
those academic institutions that were
devoted to preparation for the higher
departments Of know ledge, and for the
admission Of the Jealous student to the
domain VI classic and polite culture.
Prominent among these was the Char.
lotte Hail Academy, of whose Board he
was the President, and for which he
entertained al! the enthusiasm of an ar
dent youth for the lovely object Of his
hearts admiration. How b. plead for
aid and assistance to her need, lovingly
recounted the men of distinction be had
numbered among her instructors and
the prominent Mary landers she had ed.
ucated within her wallis. every one will
recollect who occupied q seat in this
chamber during the Session of 1874
Charlotte Hall was to him q subject of
ceaseless eulogium and unfailing a,trac.
ton.
But the strong and eloquent, the
Courteous and sympathetic must alike,
with the weak and timorous, the rude
and selfish, pay the debt Of nature.
Death Is no rcspecter Of person and
With impartial hand eIscts IRON all the
tribute that frAil humanity must raw to
His kingdom. The young and the old,
the rich and the poor. the Learned and
the unframed, the gifted and the ig.
norans. must submit to His power
Our brother has Welded up bis life to
the great Giser OF life. aud his place in
this Body, before the end Of the period
for which an attached constituency bad
elected him as their Senator, has been
vn~nfaI In hn..~~ e. 49,.