The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-01-31
ERemarks by Hon. Henry H.. MnI'
drOV.

MR.. SPEAKER: | feel that an excuse Is
scarcely necessary in presentIhS Trip
ute of respect to the memory OF the
distinguished subject of the resolutions now
before the House. His services as pubic
man are too signel to require apology Iof
Offering a tribute to his memory.
He was the friend CT my boyhoOd.
knew him well; and, as far as 1t was my
| pleasure to know him, he never turned his
! back upon a foe, nor deserted friend In
| time of trouble. Honest and CONSCIENTIOUS
| in his convictions. he had the moral cour-
! age to make himself felt. whenever and
wherever he was called upon to act. Faith
| ful in the discharge of duty, ever Watchful
/ of the interests contided to his care, he was
| :. par e1celIence" a man to whom important
| trusts should be contideI.
| There is scarcely page OF the acts OF
/ 1876. coy ering useful and proper legislation,
| that does not bear impress of the faithful
work of the subject of these resolutions
and if he was living to-day, to speak OF the
| great work performed by the Legislature at
| its last session. he might with much truth
| GCclare magma pdrs fu'
Possessed of mind capable of the grand
est thoughts and the most splendid concep-
| tious,-like the great river on the western
| border Of our State-too great 10 be leVied
aud confined by any limited channel, there
seemed to be nothing that required mental
effort that lie could not master; and no sub
iect could be touched by him that was not
made luminous with the scintillatlons OF
| his genus ana l1teileCJual power
Wherever he walked he was felt to be ''a
man among men," 1t is no mere idle enco-
MUM to say that the vacuum caused by ms
death can scarcely be filled. L regarded
| VIM. K. Barksdale as one of the most supe-
rior men | ever knew. With his mind stored
with a fund of useful knowledge, anG
sharpened by constant contact at the bal
and in the forum, he was perhaps WIthou
an intellectual superiorin the state !" her
| first knew him he was the same lndetatlS Il
/ Ioh he 4nln a
termination to succeed in all that he under
took, the same courteous and affable gentle
: man, the same true friend and Independent
foe that distinguished him in his matur'
. manhood.
Intellectual, cultivated and brave, he wa
a splendid type of a Southern gentleman
, OF the most exemplary habits. lie was
model for the young men OF the State G.
pattern after.
having known him first at the Universit.
: of Mississippi; but before he stepped upol
) the Threshold of manhood, every one wh
, knew him there predicted for him life o
great usefulness and honor They prophe
: sled that Barksdale would be bright std
in the diadem of MissisSippIS useful a ~
: brilliant men. Leaving the State Universe
sity short time before the late war began
after having there had conferred upon hin
! the highest honors of that Institution, h
applied himself first to the study of elocu
+
study can be attested by those present to
dav; and believe only short time befor
the war had he settled himself for the prac
. tice of the law as profession.
[ do not now remember whether h
was ..war man. before the recent arme
conflict between the States began, bu
, whatever may have been his position befoT
= the guns were first fired at Sumter, so 500
i as il was known that it could no longer .
( an engagement of words only between III
: | North and the South
] "He girded on his armor and fearless rushe
T TO war.
d Twas his bold ia k the fearful strife to try
: and if necessary in a cause he believed Wa
: just.
= For his country nobly dare to die"
+ l did not know him as a soldier, but frol
: all reports of him, it can be truthfully sal
IS that like Henry of Navarro, when he Il
the armies of the Huguenots, if not h
) white plume, his bright blade could ever
is seen. and his cheering voice could be heal
y in the foremost rank and in the thickest
e the fight, along the s'battle's bloody margt
s wherever Confederate soldiers of his con
e. mand were called upon TO do their duty.
lie He was of nature never TO snlrk POI
= sibility, but always performed whatev,
re work he had to do fearlessly and taitl
p fully. 1t is scarcely necessary to go out
r. this House for evidence of his great fidellt
lie to duty. At the last session of this body |
D was placed upon many important con
L. mittees, aad upon them all his superior il
$ telligence and great force of character w
e. felt.
in Take him all in all and | doubt if he hs
~ a superior in the State. He was man
n brain, pregnant with the grandest though
&c and most comprehensive reasoning.
III As as an orator, his genius, language al
e fancy never failed him. Capable of ascen
II, ing to the highest realms of splend
I'd thought yet he was not SO grand that
s. could not at times stoop down and gather
er flower by the wayside, His eloquence W
a not like a ripping stream that meander
he its way along, but like 3 torrent that swe
n its passage TO the sea.
he As lawyer, so completely had he trai
ed ed his mind aud so fully had he master
ag his profession as science, that it seem
1t, but single stride with him from where
ne began to the front rank of that professic