The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-02-03
Eulogy on Robert Toembs, by ]. F.
calhoun, Jr.. Of Dte' West, s. G..

The kingliest of Georglans is dead Robert
Toombs Is no more. tOne OF the brightest
and South Carolina claims place aiming the
chief mourners over the event and bows III
sorrow over his laureled bier. -
He has gone from among us. His trumpet
toned voice will never more be heard. no
more shall We witness any of those splendid
exhibitions of his oratOrical powers In debate,
when he bore down upon All opponent Win
the swoop OF an eagle from ms empSreah
ing torrent spunned with rainhoWs the ground
lightning from an Olympinn brain! His ac-
tive, vigorous mind will no more participate
in, tie councils Of the nation! His spirit has
left a world of trouble, care and anxiety to
join the spirits of those patriots and states.
men who have preceded him to brighter
and better world.
the shadow OF his former great self. Ills
splendid physique, months ago, suffered I'M
pairment ut tile advance OF age, and the
proud tread and commanding presence, presence gaH,e ',e
place to the bent form and the unsteady gait
of the feeble old man. In me morning, az az
high noon, and even beyond the meridian o oi
his manhood he was intellect ually the peer OF
the common range. His mental operations
were quick as lightning, and like the ileht-
ming they were dazzling in their briiliancy
and restless In their play IL was s;ooIIv onkG Tic
mighty Mississippi sweeping ma)estlcaliy
along It's track way, bearing do"m every y,,ji ~
stacle that opposed its restless current, Wnlie
! the prairics on either side were wrapped ~
rushing flames. Even during the years ol ms
decadcnce there were occasions when the al
most extinct volcano gloWed again WIN Hs
former fires. when the IVY mantied Keep ol tile
crumbling castle resumed It's pristine dehance
with deep-loned culverin md ponderousmaace'
lie has been most flttngly styled the Mira
beau OF the period and IN oil Occasions eHn,,,'
tied wonderful intellectual and physical pow
ers. But the rich life, riotous IN its aIi"ence
! Is spent at last. The deeps through whiGn
! 1t swept In thunderous majesty, ana ne ane
shoals over which it tumbled noisily, are
drained and bare. The fury OF the storm -
over; the thunders are husnea, Inc g,d. tLgmdG
nings spent, only O few scattering ,ciouos
| fingered around The closing scene, renecl ing
in gorgconshues The light of the great depart
| ing luminnry. Quenched Is the imperlous
life. Stilied Is the mighty eari ,out oote a,nn.
tions. Pulselcss the splrndid form. III eyer
God made the body Of mortal man to snine
with the hope and inspiration OF tmmoriil.
ity, surely here 1t was: In the spiemuor ratT ~
in the vitality that sparkled In his eyes ana
rushed through his veins, in the ease win
which he conquered, and the heights TO
which lie scared, In the scope ana ireeuom
and Loundless comprehensions OF MS pow
crs, there wns little suggestion OF decay.
Dazsted by his kingly beauty and majesty,
one might have said, "Surely he VIII conquer
death.T But the course Of nature IS un.
weary ard are folded, and the strong man tot
ters To the welcome grave. The glory fades
from the check and the light dies tn the eye:
The majesty departs from the pallid brow
or d the rich blood fnlters in the vein. the
tongue that summoned for.y miller people
to war babies unneaningy in It's hollow cay
ern. The fingers that easily SIT this conti'
In two bent the air Pithf,nl'y ynr fpr gaha gtho
bent Senators to his will. and that forged
eurth's bloodiest revolution scklied Ger ra, a.
last with uplifted shadows, creeps aimiessIy
within the wallis Of rnemOry and weeps or
latghs alike with itself. There God In his is
wise and Infinite mercy comes and enos II
all! His gentle hand clasps the wandering
fingers His kiss touches the Numbering
lips. This is peace at last: Georgla's glorious Gus
son sleeps. The unrardoned rebel. anu
grant old Southern patriot awaits IN unorok,
en- stiffness the final Judgment of God. And
Dcath touching the tranquil face with his un-
! speakable socmnity rcvivcs therein some
thing of the majesty and beauty OF youth
that his peore gazing through the nsd miS5 S,m U'
best when lie stood among Eneh In his kingly
splendor.