The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-02

ever erred it was when the sympathetic and
merciiul side of his character was approached
be said 10 his credit that he was I'm
his feelings tender a woman. He WAS the type
OF class OF men fast passing away, who will oc
eupy II. the history of this great State place to
which the youth Of the future will look with fas
cilated eyes for examples to emulate. and for the
record of virtues to follow. He grew up amid such
surroundings as made him from experience well
fitted TO discharge the duties of the Governor of
plain, hardy people reared chiefly amid the scenes
and associations which follow first upon the set
Elements of the pioneer He was self-made man
in the best sense OF the term, aud the results OF
the efforts in that direction made HIM the peer of
any of lndiana's long line of distinguished Gov
ernors. Identified closely with the history OF
politics OF the State almost since its organization
covering periods when the zeal of party fire
burned hercely, and political excitement ran
high, and moral as well as political honesty was
tried TO its utmost IL can be said truthfully of
him and 1t gives me pleasure 70 say Of him, no
even besmirched his fair aud honored name. As
q Magistrate, humbly performing official duties
| for the accommodation and benefit OF his
neighbors this period of his official life l. pointed
To "a pure and Just. As a member of the Iegisla-
ture for long period OF time HIS course In this
department of public life is as spotleSs the
vestmcnts OF his burial. As member of Con
gresS his record L. a clear the sun OF MONDAY
and admired. and died as deeply and sin
cerely regretted as any citizen whom death ever
called away, When a good man dies the Nation
mOurns, ana the great, kind, sympathetic heart
OF Indiana will long mourn the death Of James
ID. Williams.
HON. J. II. KENNER.
There is an old custom in Ireland that whoever
meets funeral train he turns about and Joins
the procession to the last resting place of the de-
parted. | desire, IS a mark of respect TO the de-
ceased. to add word upon these resolutions.
| The yaStDess OF our country, ITS varied and
ever-changing resources furnish n diversity of
Questions and call for the most extensive
ability and care OF her citizens. In 1851, when
Charles sumner, then young man, walked
down the aisle of the United States Senate
/ into the arena made famous by the battles
/ of the giants, Webster Clay and Calhoun, he was
met by Thomas Benton, of Missouri, and grasp
/ ing Sumner by the hand he said: sumner, you
have entered on the stage too late. Our great
men have all gone: Calhoun is dead and Clay
Webster are also gone. and with them have gone
the great questions arising upon the Constitution
The last of these was the National bank ball. and
/ IL Is settled forever. You have nothing To do but
| To wrangle over sectional and unimpOrtant local
questions" Alas. how limited is human vision.
The sun that TO Benton seemed to
be sinking into night upon the
/ great constitutional questions at once
rose In great splendor upon greater questions and
! there was no night; and Charles Sumner at once
led the van, and was the grand leader in the dis
cussion OF the greatest question that ever chal-
lenged the ability and attention of the American
people The deceased was not man that would
be pronounced great as men In public life are
usually gagged, but he had the ability TO care
fully guard and detect small extravaganccs
/ which, II left dncared for, grow into corrup
| tiOn and great waste. lie had the reputation of
honesty, and I'm all my observation OF his politi-
\ cal life have cause 90 believe that at the
behest of party he swerved from the line of strict
/ integrity. but, standing here to-day, after the
/ earth has incOsed him, and after the bitterness
aud animosiues of political campaign have
/ lice may he dOue 20 his memory. Mr.. Speaker,
/ the peculiar ability OF Governor J. ID. Williams
was long aud wen spent I'm the interest of this
State; the State L. largely benefited thereby. and
his memory is entitled to the reverence Of the
people. cordially second the resolutions OF the
Committee
HON. W. DAVIS.
The reputation Of such men as our late la
mented Governor Williams Is a matter OF just
pride to the State of Indiana-it is indeed. leg
acy 10 the whole country. | live in and repre-
sent n constituency IN the extreme northern por
ton of the State. yet may say that the esttma-
ton i'm which the memory of James d. Williams
Is held In LaPorte County, on the shores OF Lake
Michigan Is not lest than that which Is accorded
here at the State Capital. Could the
wishes Of thousands prevail. the good
would be immortal; such men AS James
who knew him best could set the time for his de-
parture. blessings brighten they take their
flight. Now, while we did realize during the life
time of Governor Williams that he was "A good
and useful man. honest conscientious and capa-
BILE, we can not but feel that still higher eSti-
mate should be placed upon his worth now that
he Is gone from amongst us.
He belonged TO that class of persons who, by a
native force Of character. natural sagacity aud
plain, Old-fashioned common sense, which, with
the balance OF principle enabled him - rise
above adverse circumstances. compensated for
defects. triumphed over obstacles, and made him
one Of the most prominent and useful men in
the State Of Indiana. We have here In his career
the spectacle presented OF young
Hooser, deprived OF early advantages, uneouth
in his personal appearance, winning his
way 10 financial success, and doing honor to the
Legislative branch of our State Government for
many years. till finally the people said: Come
up higher: you have been faithful To the trusts
reposed In you; take now the highest position
Indiana can give you. And now Throughout his
term Of eilice Governor we find the same simple
habits, destitute of variety or osteutltion, his
office open to all, his car as easy gained as
when a private citizen. never criticised Sc
verely except for what was thought by
some to be too free uso of the pardoning
respect II may truly be said that even kts faingS
leaned To virtues side Now, on occasions of
this kind. it is crcditable to human nature that
animosit5es arc forgotten. Former differences of
opinion and policy cut no figure on these occa-
siOns, for few natures deprayed TO fail TO
do justice even to an enemy when he has passed
away. James ID. Williams had, so far as 4 know,
no enemies when living. and certainly none now
when dead. The practical consideration is that
his example should be 81 lasting and substantial
benefit TO those that remain. Those responsible
ties now rest upon other shoulders, and !
wish nothing better to him who succeeds 10 the
same high position held by the departed than
Department of the State of Indiana that at the
close OF his Oicial term OF Office he may be enti
tied to the same grateful remembrance now ac-
corded To the departed.
Speeches were made by Senator Brown,
Mr.. Mitchell, of Washington; Teter, of Clay;
Hamilton, of Boone, and Floyd, of Wayne,
which we are unable to publish.
The resolutions were adopted by rising
vote