The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-03-03
A GEN OF ORATORY.
From BeOsnt Speech Made By Indiana's
Eloquent Senator, Mr.. VOORHEES,.
Hon. William III. English Heard the Effort
and Reports Its Effect i'm washingtoz.

Hon. William H. English, who has Jus,
returned from Washington, says that Senator
Voorhees, made little impromptu speech in
the Senate few days ago that has probably
done more to establish bis fame as an
orator than any of the more extended
efforts ever made by that eloquent
senator. 1t was wholly unexpected, the
occasion being only a proposition to pay
funeral expenses and some arrears OF
salary to the heirs of the artist Brumldi who
died recently, after devoting 26 years Of his
life in frescoing and otherwise beautIfying
the National Capitol, and to whom really
our country is very much indebted for the
splendid decorations which make that build.
Ing equal, If not superior, to any legislative
building in the world. Mr.. English GAYS
that Mr.. Voorhees, glowing words
seemed to electrify senators who so well
knew the aged artist and had so long moved
among the beauties of his creation Senator
Anthony, the oldest senator in service, COM
plimented the speech highly; as. in fact, did
every one, without distinction Of party
Not only senators, but every one who was so
fortunate to hear the effort, spoke of it
in the warmest terms of praise, and il was the
theme of conversation and commentator
all over the city.
AhC AOlAOWluS c4lIuCl lIOul the congress
ional Records report of what Mr.. Voorhees,
said will give only faint idea of the ad-
dress Mr.. English says only those who
witnessed the senator's impressive manner
and looked upon the surroundings of its de-
livery. can fully realize the exquisite pathos
and beauty of the speech.
Mr.. Voorhees, said:
have ventured, however, in the bill Just
introduced, to ask Congress to apply the re-
manning 600 of the appropriation OF March g.
1873, 10 the payment of the funeral expenses of
the great artist who has Just passed away. May
L not be pardOned some brief mention of the
wonderful genius, so long, so gently, and so
beautifully associated with TINS Capitol? He
oled poor, without money enough TO bury his
worn-out body, but how rich the inheritance
he has left 10 the present and succeeding ages
During more than a quarter of q century he
lowered along these walls from the basement
TO the dome, leaving creations of imperishable
beauty wherever hts touch has been. Where
ever he paused by panel, or was seen sus-
brilliant conceptions of his fertile and culti-
waited mind. We can form no correct idea of
the extent, the variety, and the perfection of
times forgetting our pressing cares, and look
ing in detail over his field OF labor.
Almost every committee room announces
to the eye by historical or allegorical paintings
in frescO the duties TO which it is dedicated.
Who ever passed through the room of the
committee on military affairs without feeling
that the very genius of heroism had left there
its immortal inspirations? Who would mis-
take in after ages the use to which the room
Tor the committee on naval affairs had been
devoted? The painter has told the whole
story in a silent but in an undying language.
Who would not know that he approached the
room OF the committee on patents when
glancing up he beholds Robert Fulton over
the door, with his little steamboat in the dis
tanee plying in a small stream as it once did
on Rock creek between this city and George
town? As you seek the committee on Indian
affairs you find Columbus, Las Casas and the
hapless Indian, recalling the whole history
of the Indian Looking down
the ceiling of dhe library committee
room are paintings denoting belles-lettres,
ture. And so / might continue through the
whole range of public affairs showing that to
the unrivaled skill of the painter MIR. Brumidi
added the resources of the historian and full
knowledge of the workings of our Govern
ment, The poetry of the artist, if l may so
express it, had also its field of display. To one
who recalls the great forests of the West before
they were swept away, the birds and the speci-
mems of American animals with which he has
adorned a portion of this Capitol must be a
source of unceasing enjoyment. The birds es-
pecialIy are all there, from the humming bird
at an open flower to the bald eagle with his
fiery eye and angry feathers. have been
told that the aged artist loved these birds as a
father loves his children, and that he often
fingered in their midst as if a strong tie bound
him 10 them. Doubtless he heard, OF seemed
TO hear, their woodland voices. he loved the
beautiful objects ana forms of this beautiful
world. and
To him who I'm the love of nature holds
Communion with her visible forms, she speaks
A various Language; for his gayer hours
She has a voice of gladness, and a smile
And eloquence of beauty; and she glides
Into his darker musings with mild
And healing sympathy, that steals away
Their sharpness ere he is aware.
Mr.. Brumidi was engaged at the time of his
death on what he regarded as the greatest
work of his life. He was unfolding with the
scroll of American history, from the landing
of Columbus to the present day. He earnestly
desired to live long enough TO complete this
ocf Ton DNnf hn hos 1aff NNaNNfx~
chair, and his great design unfinished, as
others have done and will continue to do In
other places. AT no distant day some memo
rial Will be erected in some appropriate place
in this Capitol to his memory. He who beau
titles the path way Of life, who creates images
of loveliness for the human eye TO rest
He Will be crowned by the gratitude
of his own and OF succeeding generations. In
the older countries OF Europe, where the pro-
fession of art has higher rank than here,
Brumidi would have had a public funeral. and
his remains would have been deposited in
ground set apart for persons of distinction. In
England he would have had place and q tab
let in Westminster Abbey. 1t matters little
however. whethef we or those who come alter
The walls of this Capitol will hold his fame
fresh and ever increasing as long as they
themselves shall stand.
The painter and the sculptor live in their
works and achieve an Immortality which be-
longs to no other class. When you and /, Mr..
President, and all who hear me, have passed
away and been forgotten; when these active
times in which we now strive with each other
are looked back to a remote period of an
tiquity, and viewed through the mist and
haze of perhaps thousand years; when this
Capitol, like the Capitol of Rome, may have
gone to decay and been covered by the mold
and dust of far-reachtng centuries, the anti
quarian will be found revealing TO wonder
ing world the frescoed beauties Of these walls,
and with them the name of Constantine Bru-
midi.
The Situation.