Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-02-18

conspicuous part in the discussion,
of the House, and was one of the
committee of thirty-three appointed
J by the Speaker on $50 much of the
Presidents message as relates to the
perilous condition of the country"
Early in the debates he delivered a
speech which was regarded by his
associates as very able aud effective,
and expressing at that time the true
position of its mos: thoughtful
stlteSmen. His analysis of the state
Of the country at that trying epoch.
and his views of the duty of the
Government, now read like prophe-
Ley.
At the close of his two years in
the House he raised and commanded
a regiment, and served in the army
with honor to the close of the war
His whole heart was in the work;
and he devoted his entire time and
ability to its duties. When the war
was over he resumed his profession;
but the next year, 1866, he was elect
ed to the Senate and served a full
term, and was reelected in 1872.
The public career of Mr.. Ferry
while in the Senate has been 50
faithfully delineated in the main by
his distinguished associates that
there is little need to recount them
here; and, besides, / feel how mad
equate are any words of mine even
to express my reverence and admi-
ration.
He entered the Senate at the COM
mencement of the Fortieth Congress.
Great questions, among them the
problem of reconstruction, were on
our hands; with these, new relations
of the dominant and the late subject
classes as they emerged from a state
of war.
have seen it suggested by those
who have failed fully to apprehend
the true position of Mr.. Ferry, that
he was unduly conservative in his
tendencies on questions of recon-
strnction. On the contrary, it can
be said TO his credit that on these
measures he led the advance. His
speeches in the Senate and in the
conventions at home show that from
the outset he maintained with mas
terly ability, not only the right of
the nation, but its duty to secure
liberty, enfranchisement and civil |
rights to those who had once been
slaves. 1t is true, in connection with |
many leading men of the party, he
early favored a large amnesty to
those who had been in rebellion |
against the Government.
But in all his work in the Senate
his noble utterances in regard to the |
power of the nation to suppress re-
helhon, his denunciation of seces-
sion, his appeal for justice for the
slave, ally him indissolubly with the
great Republican leaders whose fame
is immortal.
1t would be pleasant service to
quote from his speeches and rehearse
his acts as proofs, if they were need.
ed, of his fidelity to liberty, and his
faith in the indistructibility of the
Union. There are no nObler actA or
utterances on record. But must not
detain the House longer with this
sketch, while others wait to unfold,
with better chosen words, his char
acter and services,
Before closing, however, let me re-
fer to the erowning glory of his life.
Mr.. Ferry had a strong religious ell
ement in his character. This was
with him a great controlling force,
and not sentiment. 1t added great
ly to his strength and upheld him
not only in great emergencies but in
the daily labors of lite. He loved |
to contemplate and discourse of the
Infinite God and the glory of His |
reign. He dwelt with rapture on the |
majestic prophecies of Isaiah and
the grand poems of the Hebrew min
strel king. His discourses on relig- |
ion became part of his beautiful |
life-work in his home.
1t was most beautiful and grand,
amid failing strength and long years
of pain, to hear him discourse Of
Rest at last,
Repose complete, eternal;
Love, rest and home.
No cloud obscured the effulgence |
of his hope or dimmed his vision
clear and high his intellect and his
faith rose above all storms and dalk-
ness, and sustained him in sweet
companionship amid the unrevealed
mysteries of pain. As his end drew
near he came back to his home, af-
ter brief absence. There, under |
his own roof, with the angels of his |
household about him, he passed to
his rest.
Thinking of trials past, and know
ing as we do how well he had
wrought for the future, trusting in
the merits of mis- dear Lord, he could
repeat the sweet lines of Bonar-
Beyond the parting and the meeting
shall be soon;
Beyond the farewell and the greeting,
Beyond this pulses fever beating,
> / shall be soon.
Love, rest, and home!
Sweet hope!
Lord, tarry not, but come.
Beyond the frost-chain and the fever,
shall Ee soon;
Beyond the rock waste and the river,
Beyond the ever and the never,
/ shall be soon.
Love, rest, and home
Sweet hopel
Lord, tarry not, but come.
Aye, the sweeter words of inspira-
tion-in the volume of the book it
is written; 'Lo, l come quickly
Even SO, come, Lord Jesus"
JOTTINGs BY THE WAY.
/ reached this town-Fremont-
on Saturday, and if the number of
teams and crowds of people on the
streets are any indication of lively
times and a good trade, then l think
the merchants of this city are to be
congratulated. 1t was like a circus
daY. or if you please. circus and I