The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1882-07-14
BAKER OF OREGON.

O1S1IOO1N, - III
BAKER OF OREGON.
A Tribute to Noted senator-The Reeen
Services at Balls Bluff, where the States
man Lost his Life-Hon. H. c. George on tn
Life and Services Of This Noted Man.
Hon. NJ. c. George, of Oregon
who has just been reelected to Con
gress, delivered the following trib-
ute 10 the great orator of the Pacii,
coast, Senator Baker, of Oregon, a
the recent Decoration Day services
near Balls Bluff, Va, where Baker
lost his life. 4He esaid. Upon thi.
national cemetery, this "once darl
shadow Of the valley of DEATH" the
fatal battle ground of Balls Bluff
fell many noble. gallant soldier
But among all the brave, true mer
who died upon these heights Of Lees
burg, none could have been braver
none could have been truer, than
Edward Dickenson Baker. lie was
a Senator from my State. The first
words he ever uttered in that august
body, the American Senate, were in
spircd by the grandeur, the sublimity
of the natural scenery of the wild
West - that of the great chasm
formed by the torrent of the Colum-
bia breaking through the mountain
range, the Cascades, between the
everlasting snow-capped Mount St.
Helens and Mount Hood, "where
rolls the Oregon, and hears no sound
save her own dashings." For time
lie had laid aside the robe of an
American Senator for the sword of
an American soldier, as once before
he had gone from the halls of the
lower House of Congress to serve in
tbe war with Mexico.
HE HAD THE OFFER
Of major-geueral's commission, but
as its acceptance involved his resig-
nation as United States Senator, he
declined to accept the high distinc-
tion and honor. From-the very first,
however, the presentiment of death
mas upon him. He felt, and SO ex-
pressed himself, that he would never
come from the struggle alive. And
the dark wings of that dread mes
senger hovered Ger him, until, on
this fatal battle ground, it dropped
its fearful talons to bear aloft the i'm
mortal spirit of the soldier statesman.
THE LIPS THAT SPOKE
the words Of wisdom and courage
were here sealed forever. The eyes
that beamed with all gen;leness and
love were here closed in the dim, dull
luster of death. The voice, which SO
often in most beautiful cadcnces
waited upon the air the brilliant
word-paintings of the fervid imagi-
nation, or proclaimed in mighty
strength the truths tLat live forever,
was here stricken into the paralysis
and silence Of death. The true, warm
heart that throbbed with patriotic
devotion for the cause of liberty and |
humanity, poured forth upon this
battle field its fe-blood in defense of
his life's principles. The great brain
the seat and organ of such subtle
strength and power. whether striv-
ing with a Lincoln or Logan in the
tribunals of justice, with a Douglas
or Smith in the arena of political
debate, or coping with the polished
Breckenridge and the adroit Benja-
min in the forum of the Senate-was
here pierced and shattered forever
by the deadly rifle ball.
Of his column, bravely cheering his
nen, and proclaiming that he wonld
not ask them to go where he was not
willing to lead. His noble, lifcless
form was borne from this field rended
with rifle bullets and bayohet wounds.
Wrapped in bloody shrond, with
banners dropping above his pnlseless
orm; with melancholy dirge floating
lpon the respondent air; amid the
hearts of his countrymen
lrooping like the flowers upon the
breast of the departed, he was borne
rom this consecrated ground to re-
,eive that "mournful tribute which
he majesty Of the American people
offered to the unreplying dead"
HE NOW SLEEPS
lear the rolling pillows of the far off
Pacific. His body is inferred in
Lone Mountain cemetery near the
Golden Gate, where, years before, on
is dedication, in the spirit of fatal
as it were, no had ex-
"Hither shall come the pale
maiden from the fearful ahoties Of