Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-03-02

.
Die. - HE rsu;dsses IN this viIlAse,
n wedn6Ddass che 2Srd ult, It IS
ninuses \ = q o'risek. r. NJ. after ;
lingering - CLARK J. DURANT.
fn-ths SCI ysar e his age.
wb<,slss.s s~xfh rp<ns 70 receive tns
mortal part Which she gave to man. il
is then that y Feel and realize more
keenly Tho ioss of dear and hcnored
friskd; tAen il Is that we lock with anx-
ions interest to- the deeds OF the life
and TO theemanations of the hear. and
mind for those more enduring ulonu-
ments which time cannot efface nor en-
vious tongues defile.
Few men ever lived in our midst who
possessed nobler qualities of heart and
mind than our deceased friend, Clark ].
Durant. and he has gone down to his
grave honoured and respected by cur
whole people His genial manner, his
high and honorable bearing soon gained
for him the respect and confidence of
all. and in 1852 he was commissioned
Sheriff Of this county, to serve out an
uuexiired term made vacant by the death
of James johnson, and Was subsequently,
elected to the same position by = very
dat.ering vote. During the stormy days
Of 1860. he wasehosen bv the people
to represent our county in the Legis.
lature of our State; a time v hen passion
and political enmities in Maryland
ruled high in the couneils Of the State
and the halls q Legislation! and in the,
discharge of his legislative duties he
was diligent in protecting the interest
nj bis constituents and guarding the
honor of his State. and all his acts
were marked hy that couscientiousness
Of principle which was ever character.
is,ic OF his whole life. Before the close
of his legislative term, war. which had
been threatening, sounded its tocsin,
and the verv foundation of our noble
State began To shake and trelnbl-,- then
all eyes naturally turned upon the leg
islstors of the State.
In that perilous hour. our d-ceas.
el freud frarl.s>lv stepped e. the
fr,,nt, representing faithfully his trust.
ing constituency i'll d,.sence"f their Jus.
and i.arest rights, and like the pa,ri.
OTIS Of old. stood firmly and hravelv,
casting his vote in the verv teeth of
pointed bay"pets, till on the 18th of
September ofth- foll"win. year, he, with
ouly nine others Of that pa.rio. hand.
we're arrested at Frederick CITY and
from thence transferred to Northern
prisons. Long will he be remembered
by every true Snuthsru heart for this.
&" the writer, the most glorious act OF
his life Having served long confine-
ment in Forts Lafayette aud Warren.
he returned home 10 the bosom If his
devoted family in Impaired health and
broken fortunes, another Of the effects
prod "a by cruel war.
In 1868 he was appointed nv Gov
ernor Swami, on the part of the State,
one Of the three Commissioners to sur.
v-y the line IF R,iruai from the Dis
trict of Columbia u POINT Lookout liz
this comfy.
Hr was appointed clerk TO the Coun-
~ COMMISSIONER in ISL and has faith
fully served in that position for the
past four Years an5swas re-appcint-d
20 the same a few weeks before bis
Heath to serve for the ensuing two
years.
This brief sketch Of tho career Of cur
deceased friend shows tha; be occupied
a very prominent position IN public at
fairs and attcsts the unhound.d conf
deuce and respect Of MS frllow-men
He was indeed true and genuine
friend. man Of high and noble iun-
pulses. sociab!e aud agreeable COM
paniOn.
Within the domestic circle where he
wss test known and best loved, va
forbaar 10 cutter where all is mute, and
We shrink from ary attempt {" record
the gloomy pail that now hangs over
his grief stricken wife his ido!iziny
daughter May the guardianship of
God b. their protection. and His con
ISOLATION their SUPPORT
After intense aud protracted suffer
iuGs. which he bnte with grea, eeua-
nimity and patience, he passed away
without pain. and 80 gently did his
spirit glide away that the moment Of
departure was scarcely observed hy the
friends who watched at his side.
- ike shadow thrown
Sofilv and zee Is from passing cload.
Leath fell upon him