The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-02-07
MEMORIAL SERVICES.
The Late VIM R. Barksdale.
Ia ahe House % Representatives.
wed esday, Jam. Fl, 1877
sGeHaarks Of Hon. Al. G. Garter, Of
Warren


DIR SPEAKER:-I feel that / would be
doing All Injustice 10 the memory of NY de-
parted friend a. well a. mySelf if | Above, !
this present opportunity to pass without
al ling my testim ,nial as 20 his virtues
AID his high moral standing gentleman.
.lr. speaker. memory calls back the mo-
ment " hen first | met William Rus, Il
Barksdale 1t was during lie stirring can
VISs OF 1869 when, as on know, the pOit-
zeal lever was at its height. 1t was a.
Gren ria, where | had an appointment TO
address the Republicans OF that locality.
Fifteen hundred people surrounded me OF
DO IA pIrties, and ia the midst OF my address
/ ci>co}e ell that would need protection
ana ii friend. cast my eye over that vast
crowd and discovered the calm, impaSsive
face OF the depai ted Representative, and
ieit that that man among them all would be
be my friend, uOtW Outstanding our poliCicai
differences Alter the speaking had ceased
/ sdluttd him and stated my Case and found
him To be a gentleman-a man VINO could
Use above political differences and Law
aside the prejudices OF the times and be a
man. Since mat time / have closely OBJ
served his actions up to the time l met him
as a member of this House. During our as
sociation here he did but exompIify my
former opinion of him aud the words that
fell from those lips that are now chilled
with death will remain with me forever
Tie remarks made upon the Lien Law
come TO my mind. Standing upon tn
hu0., uloa the Sp &c now occupied by the
gentleman from Marshall, he plead before
the House for the passage of that bill, and,
in his appeal To this House, lie uttered these
words : First let Us secure the honest re-
pect OF the negroes. aud how l. this to BE-
doncE l. can be accom- plishCd by only one
process, that is to deal fairly, honestly and
truthiuily with them in all our tran sactions
which regret TO say hes not been done in
all instances" These words coming from
the man they did fraught with experience
OF COOL years impressed them selves upon
me as trust it did upon the other m III ber-
OF this House, to be carried through them
TO their constituents to be acted upon.
Surely we should ali wish this, and endedv-
or t. not only carry his quest to our re-
spcctivc homes, tut eudeavor to act upon it
ourselves, and to produce truit from the last
Injunction of this statesman, and in this
manner secure to the State of Mississippi,
that peace, prosperity and plenty which was
mis- paramount desire.
lie was a man who passion nor prejudice
could not sway from the path Of justice, II
in his advocacy of 4 measure the ii DuSe APP
plauded, he was uuchang ed-still the calm
dignified gentleman. Ii solitary and alone.
he was still William Russell Bark sdale-tle
same calm smile lighting his face, feeling
secure in hi position his cOucience die
tated To him what was right. and not his
Prejudices. Is this not an example TOR us
to emulate? Ought we not to follow in the
footsteps OF one who we were 50 proud 20
honor? Yes; let uS each and all study 10
become Il. ore like him in his discharge of
duty. and To carry cut the many wise in
functions he mas given US, 50 that at the
last day, when il will be our time to lay
aside the cares and trials of the world, we
may leave behind us as bright record. as
pure character, as unblemished honor as
our departed cO-worker.
May lie, who has seen fit to take from our
midst so bright jewel, and who temprrs
the wind TO the shorn lamb, give to those
he has Ieft for Il while that comfort and res
Lonation. which Lie alone can give.