The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1894-04-17


The Prayer Of the Blind Chaplain
Touching Tributes Paid to the Beloved
Deceased.
WAsHTNGToN, D. C, April 1G-Tte
funeral ceremonies Of the late Senator
Vance, Of North Carolina, absorbed the
attention Of the Senate to-day. The
opening prayer by the blind chaplain
NJ. MilburD, was devoted entirely to the
subject.
Senator Ransom, of North Carolina,
hen made the formal announcement Of
ne death of his colleague, in these
words:
MT. President, it is my melancholy
iuty to announce to the senate the
leaih Of Hon Zebulon Baird Vance, late
senator from North Carolina He died
on Saturday night last at 10 minutes
past 10, at his residence on Massachu
sets avenue, in this city. Though his
long continued and serious illness ought
. nave prepared all Of US for the sad
event, still beguiled by his own cheerful
and hopeful spirit none of US had deemed
nat the white horses were coming SO
rapidly to his door. His death shocks
rs to tie depths of our hearts. 1t is a
calamity, a sorrow, a deep public and
personal bereavement. a great man bias
fallen in our midst. A great patriot, a
great statesman, a great speaker, a great
hinker, a great actor has passed away
rom our sight for this life. He died at
his post of duty, with his complete ar
NOR on, with bis face to the front, cour
ageous, hopeful, useful to the last. Suf
ferings did not break down his proud
3pirit, dim his noble intellect, nor shake
is fearless fortitude. Full of heart but
still in the strength Of his eminent frcul,
les, crowned with exalted hOnors, but
still animated with yet higher aspirations
and promise Of doing good, physically
wrecked and overcome with incurable
malady, he stood firmly in the line of his
dutY and at the last moment gathered lis
robes around him and stepped with the
dignity Of a senator and the faith of a
christian from earth into heaven. 1t
looks as if by some prophetic intuition
ne had returned from the spring flowers
md genial skies of Florida to lay down
MS sword and shield on the very altar of
his country.
"This is not the time, sir, for the analy
sis of his character, for eulogy Of his
virtues, for the history of his Industrious
services. On some fitting day, | shall
tsk the Senate to do justice to his hon
ored memory. But, sir, [ should commit
very great wrong not to say now with
what unspeakable pain and infinite grief
The death of Senator Vance is to the peo-
ole of North Carolina.
For more than 40 years, in peace and
III war, he has been the most beloved
and the most h0nored son of that great
state. From the overlooking ocean
cross the hills and valleys, to the ma
jestic mountain tops, he was a familiar
and most dear object to the hearts and
Of all our people. Language a
not describe the admiration and love and
gratitude of all ages, of both sexes, Of
every class, condition and race, of the
whole people of North Carolina for this
great and good man, their benefactor
sud bulwark III prosperity and adversely.
~"Standing by his lfelese form TO day, it
IS my sacred duty, representing a com
Of nearly two million of south
erners, to shed upon his mortal ashes the
tears of their affection and deepest sor-
row. lie seemed as if by destiny to hold
III his hands the hearts of the people;
and at this moment the %thrObbing breasts
Of thousands are following bis silent
to the tomb If he had faults they
were bold, brave and open faults, and are
forever eclipSed and forgotten in the full
dliment Of q great and glorious life and
in the m~agnanimity of a noble nature
As | think of the nor in ,eryal at which
follows the beloved Georgian from the
doors Of his chamber TO their
last rest, it looks as if two tall oaks WhicU
stood over and shaded our hearth-Stones
mad fallen in the early evening, after the
torn and heat Of the day had passed
over, and before the shades of night and
had fallen upon their autumnal
Colquitt ald Vance had done
their duty to their country and their fel
lowmen. But l must not trust myself
At the hour of nine tonight
the committees Of the W houses Of cor
gress, the entire delegation of the State
of North Carolina and the special com
from the state, with the sad family
and friends, will leave the capitol of the
star spang!ed republic and bear the E.
of Senate Vance through the sis
ter state of Virginia to the beautf |
Capital of North Carolina, and then, e
take them TO his burying ground on the
mountain side overlooking the blue tor
rents Of the French Broad river, in sight
lovely Asheville, there leave them in