The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-02-24
By SENATOR MORRIS

By SENATOR MORRIS:
Ma. PRESIDENT; God holds Executiy,
Session here to-day No lips need kisi
the evangel to preserve tie secrets oi
our chambe now. The kirg of Terror.
is our Sergeant-at- Arms He holds the
keys and guards the doors We are in
the silent precincts of the dead. The
gayel falls, the roll is called. Far down
the list of Senators, "Vertner," greets
our ear. Alas no echo answers "here. y
His seat is vacant. Afertionate hands
have draped is-he is dead
Our hearts are deeply, strangely
moved Whispers low, softly pass be-
tween grave Senators, and their sad
faces gaze in wonder 81 the work of
Death-the work of God.
Deep sorrow is telephoned to softened
eyes, and tears gently sparkle in the
genial fires of sympathetic love. and are
wasted in the wide ocean of nope.
The Senate Committee, in the lone
hours of night, met his remains en- route
to his home. And with stricken wife
and friends, all kept the sacred vigils Of
the honored dead, and reverently, loving
ly guarded his precious remains to his
home by the side of the great river, and
urned them in the tomb.
Mr.. President, he was small of stature.
But we recall his manly dignity, courtly
manners and his genial face divine. He
had sweet voice, warm heart and a
clear head He was lovable and an
able man,
1t is said that man is dangerous
whose face repels child at first sight.
None beheld Senator Vertner's face, but
would gaze again. His interesting coun-
tenance first arrested, then captured,
then imprisoned your love and esteem.
He was well -balanced-a good as
well as strong man. But those who
knew him best must praise him most.
He sprang from the IONS of an honor
able ancestry. | first met him this
session, and | saw at once he was man
of mark, and that | could respect, trust
and love him. Hi. face was his letter of
introduction to me
In this Senate, by common consent
for he excited no jealousy nor petty
envy-his name was already high in the
niche of fame He was here among his
peers, in this consecrated hall, where
every pillar, and arch stand mute wit
nesses to the work of our departed great
men, scores of whom by their genius
and labors, have blazoned their names
in the sparkling galaxy, both Of State
and of national fame.
If the lowIy, the vicious and criminal
even, demand the charity of our silence,
and our maxim should be on every tomb
engraved praise or silence here" then
how graciously may we eulogiZe our
friend Who had conquered the foibles
and frailties of our nature, and had so
conspicuously and successfully adorned
his mature manhood with the noble
private virtues allied 10 his public
career.
He has left US legacy, brother Sem
ators, bat we must not forget his stricken
wife and household. Like the wounded
bird, her lonely walls and sorrows will lull
his eternal sleep; but we, in common with
the people of this great State, shall
place upon its broad shoulders Affections
too great for her, and assure her heart
of our profound sympathy, md share
her this heavy stroke.
The rains from heavens vault, that
fall upon fourteen States, fill the great
stream that rolls by his tomb. Let the
green grass and perennial flowers,
watered by affection tears, be his mau-
soleum Let these waters in their cease
less roll, kiss perpetual life into the
green mantle, and spreading flowers DER
his sleeping ashes and the music of the
murmuring waters will blend with the
low refrain of the wild birds, and sing
a perpetual lullaby to his eternal nem-
orv,