The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-01-24

| uiet'iy.
Manfuly he bore himself in the great
struggle, battling for the right against wealth
arrogance, and power. Dsdaing the codes
and dogmas of honor, falsely 30
called, he planted himself upon the
eternal principles of self-defense and per-
sonal preservation until victory crowned
his efforts and the voice of his country
called him to the second position in the
nation.
Mr.. Wilson's industry was uptlripg and
knew M bonds. He allowed himself
neither recreation nor reposc, but, amid all
the vast and multiplied labors of his official
position, devoted himself with unfaltcring
courage to the second great work of his
life, the gathering up and preserving the
facts and fragments relating to the rise
and fall OF the slave power in America, in
order that some future Bancroft may write
the history OF that gigantic struggle and
glorious victory. The work he performed
was immense, and just and generous
posterity will award HIM the need Of praise
which is justly and honestly his due for his
invaluable services in the cause of justice
and equal rights.
Of his long and honorable career in the
national legislature need not speak 1t is
| a part of the history of our country, and
the world knows it by heart.
His Ilerculean labors at the head of the
senate committee on military affairs during
the war for the supremacy OF the govern
ment ia beyond description, and can be
fully known Only by those who were his
associates in anxious solcitude and toll.
The great Lincoln leaned upon him in
the dark hours as firm support, while
every pulsation of his heart, during the
whole term OF bis official life, was for the
honor and welfare Of the republic, for
human freedom, and the emancipation and
eniranchisemcnt of the oppressed.
Among the foremost OF the patriot band
to whom, under God, we are indebted for
universal liberty, peace, and a redeemed
and reunited country, stood Henry Will
son. He never ilnched or faltered when
the hearts of the timid quaked with fear
he was alSays hopeful and courage GUS /;
when others doubted and turned back he
stood firm as a rock in midocesn until the
storm had spent its fury and peace again
brooded over the face of the great deep.
When GRIM isaged war had smoothed
his wrinkled front, and the dark clouds
which had lowered upon our country were
10 the deep bosom of the ocean buried. he
wa among the frat to counsel forgiveness
and brotherly love and no man rejoiced
more than he did in the era of good feeling
inaugurated al Lexington and Concord,
Ticonderoga and Bunker Hill, at the late
centennial celebration and he looked for
ward with longing anxiety and joyous
delight to the great exposition oil Phila-
delphia, in 1876, when he hoped to witness
the final burial of the last sad relic Of the
great civil strife, and the principles 1t had
forever settled, and which he had helped SO
much to crystalline aud establish should be
honestly and in good faith accepted
by all, the rights of all men every re-
spected, and peace aud good fellowship
once more reign throughout the whole
length and breadth of our favored republic.
Vice-President Wilson was not, perhaps,
great as an orator, n scholar, or u states
man but he was great in industry, in the
power of intense and continued spplica.
ton, in toll, in courage. in assiduous con-
scientious devotion to duty.
lie was great in honesty and integrity, in
his moral courage, and in the faith and
practice of christianity.
lie marched, by the power of his own
will, his idomitable industry, and his pa.
triotic impulses, from the bench OF the
shoemaker to the senate of the United
States from his humble calling at Natick
to the responsible duties at Washington.
In all his conduct, both public and private,
guiding star. No hope of earthly reward
or preferment could swerve him from the
path of duty and no threats could silence
his voice or cause him to abatc his ardor In
the great work to which he had cOnse-
Grated his life Amid the storms and tenn
pests of political life, when the loved and
honored were suspected and shaken like a
reed, he stood proudly forth, pure and, un-
defied No stain Of corruption ever tar
nshed the luster of his bright escutcheon
and no hribe ever left its plague-spot upon
his hand. Surrounded during his official
life with the Establishments OF power and
the destinations of wealth, he preserved
his character, and died comparatively poor.
While many of the gifted and mighty were
swallowed up in the whirlpool of dssipa-
ton and crime, he walked among them
with charmed life, and came out of the
furnace with not SO much as the smell of
fire upon his garments.
Every noble cause and genuine reform
found in him an eloquent advocate and al
ardent champion. lie represented in an
eminent degree the noble elements of our
American nationality. His life was the
natural and generous outgrowth OF our free
institutions and Of our higher and purer
civilization. HIS character and history
demonstrate what industry, WILL delermi
nation, aud integrity can accomplish, and
show the value and advantage of steady
perseverance and continued and honest adj
herence to conscientious convictions.
He lived to see the great work of his life
accomplished the political equality Of all
men securely imbedded in the organic law.
ana the emancipated and enfrauchised
bondmen standing as the honored repre-.
sentatives of American freemen in both
branches of the national legislature.
If he had ambition, it was an ambition Ia
do right, to advance the welfare of his fell
low-men, and be reckoned among the
worlds benefactors. If he desired posi-
ton, it was because il would enable him
to accomplish more for humanity and rem
der greater service to his country.
HIS convection was clear cut and as firm
as the granite hills OF his native state he
believed in political parties, and loved his
own almost to idolatry but no partisan
blindness prevented his seeing its errors
and no timid time-serving policy could
deter him from pointing them out and de-
manding their correction.
If he had faults, they were of the mega
tive kind, and were so mixed up with bold
and generous deeds that the world would
scarce discern them.
1t is well that he died under the roof and
almost upon the very spot where he had
won his earthly laurels and helped to
achieve one of the greatest victories record
ed upon the pages of human history.
With worldly honors thick upon
him and the prayers OF grateful
and generous nation filing the whole land,
his spirit took it's flight from the portals OF
the national capitol, with the shackles
struck from four millions of bondmen, The
| aiming record of n Well-anent Ito aud n