The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-04-28

citing day ever witnessed in the United
States Senate. Il terminated the Hon.
H A w. Tabor's career in that august
body, and it seemed as II the whole Ma
ton rose up as one man and bewailed
the hour in which the patriot and states
man Quilted the scenes of his labors and
triumph& Early in the day the streets
were alive with people hurrying to the
capitol The flags we're hung at half
mast and In many . shop window APP
peared the portrait of the retiring
statesman trimmed with Grape and i'm
mortelles The Hobbies q the Senate
chamber were ornameuted with such
notices y 1.-THE Nation Mourns."
- He was the Noblest Roman, !" :" Gone
but Not Forgotten" etc. Senator
Tabor chair was one mass of tube-rosos
and smilax. and numerous floral de-
signs were piled upon his desk. Tho
galleries were filed to Overlooking with
the most beautiful and accomplished Ia
dies of the Republic. and the floor Of
the Senate chamber was crowded by
eminent persons who had been invited
to witness the BELOVED and great mans
departure from the arena of int 'lectual
and political combat. Among the nota-
bles present were s. j. Iilden. Horatio
Seymour. Gen. Hancock. Roscoe Conk-
ling. Charles Francis Adams. arl
Sch RI, jefferson Davis. W.. II. English.
Robert Toombs,. w. T. Sherman, Jay
Gould. George William Curtis. w. H.
Vanderbilt, Resell Sage, w. H. Bush,
Joaquin Miller. K. B. Hayes, u. s.
Grant and harles A. Dana When
Senator Tabor entered the room. bear
ing new patent leather gripsack. and
wearing superb trousseau of broadcloth
and diamonds. the vast crowd became
hushed as the grave. It was generally
remarked as the Senator passed down
the aisle, looking pale and calm. and
bowling modestly to the right and left,
that his appearance bore striking re-
,semblance to the popular steel engrav-
ing OF Mary. Queen of Scots. going to
execution. He proceeded at once to
his old pla Q. from which he had thun-
the world and will live in all history as
the grandest monuments to his genius.
Opening his gripsack. he proceeded to
stow away in it the coun less pamphlets,
volamesand papers that had accumulated
during his long term. TWAS touch
ing spectacle. Strong men wept like
babes. and several ladies, notably the
wife of the Spanish ambassador were
borne out of the gallery in swooning
condition. When the dust-enveloped
treasures had finally been deposited in
the grip-sack. Senator Tabor took his
seat, and Senator Edmunds, as Presi-
dent pro tenn. called the Senate to or
der and inforl ed them that the time
had come when they wou'd have topart
with their most venerated and esteemed
associate lie alluded to the ingrati-
tude of the public, to that base born in
appreciation which had robbed the
highest council of the Nation Of its
ablest mem er. He paid q glowing
tribute 10 Tabor sagacity, erudition
and eloquence, and exprvss ed the belief
that without his cler head 10 direct.
the Senate would hereafter drift along
like = rudderless bark upon tenn +
nous ocean. Senator Hoar followed in
an eloquent apostrophe to Tabor. whom
he addressed as the Admirable Crich-
ton OF American craftsmanship. Sena-
ntor Sherman submitted ser,e, of res.
olutions lamenting Tabor's departure,
and eulogizing him as the first and fore
most man among the people of our glo-
rious land llond applause). Senator
Cameron seconded the resolutions in q
speech that betokened his deep emo
ton. The resolutions were unanimo e
ly adopted. Senator Tabor maintaining
his characteristic modesty to the last,
and abstaining from voting. The Sem
ator arose to speaS. There were tears
In his eyes and his voice was very
It were impossible to do
scribe the delicate beauty of hts re-
marks and the intensity Of the scene
that transpired during their delivery.
As he proceeded 10 recount his serv-
ICES, his love of country. and his devo-
hon to the public veal, the men
groaned and sobbed in speechless
agony, and whole plattoons of police
we're kept busy carrying insensible
ladies' out of the galleries. When
Thomas II. Benton left the United
tates Senate after q thirty years. term
there was every demonstration of grief
but no such desolation and woe as were
ON this occasion. The Senate
stool up as Tabor passed from the
midst of them. and as he vanished
through the storm doors of the cham
Der. his late colleagues fell upon each
others necks and cried as If their hearts
would break. Alright there was torch
light procession in ex-senator Tabor's
honor. TWAS an imposing affair, num-
oering twelve thousand persons in line,
md the entire American navy on wheels
md gOrge0usly illuminated. Tabor. nc