Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1895-01-24

The very sight of their graves brought
back to their hearts his tender devo-
ton to their sons. And the papers and
the wires with the rising of almost ev-
ery sun bore to their bosoms the news
of his success, his triumphs and his
honors. They were proud OF him; they
admired him-they loved him. These,
these were the foundations, the solid
foundations of his place in their minds
and in their hearts. From tie wind
beaten and storm-bleached Capes OF
Hatteras to the lark blue mountain
tops that divide North Carolina and
Tennessee there is not a spot from
which the name of Vance is not echoed
with honor and love. But his influence
and his fame were not confined within
State lines. : =
In many respects he was very remark
able. In one he was slngularly so, He
never affected superiority to human
frailty. He claimed no immunity from
our imperfection. He realized that all
of us were subject to the same condi-
lions, and he regarded Inc practiced
humility as q cardinal virtue and duty.
Senator Vance was happy in his mar
ried life. In his early manhood he was
married t. Miss Harriet Newell Espey,
of North Carolina. She was a woman
of high intellectual endowments, of un-
common moral force, of exemplary
piety, and exercised a great influence
Tor good over her devoted husband
which lasted during her life. Their
union was blessed with four sons. who
survived their parents. His second
wife was Mrs. Florence Steele artin,
of Kentucky, a lady of brilliant intel
lect, of rare grace and refinement, who
adorned his life and shed lustre and
JOY on his home.
All during the fatal malady that end
ed his life. with sleepless affection, with
t~ireless tenderness, with holy duty, she
was by him until the last b. cath came,
and he expired in her arms, in the sol
ace of her love.
He loved the Bible as he loved NO
other book. All of his reverence was
for his God. He lived a patriot and a
| philanthropist and he died a Christian,
This is the sum of duty and homer.
He has gone. His massive and ma
jestic form, his full, flowing white
locks. his playful, twinkling eye, his
calm homelike face, his indesci liable
| voice have left us forever. He still
lives in our hearts. The great Mira
| beau in his dying moments asked tOl
| music and for flowers, and for perfumes
| to cheer and brighten his morta
eclipse.
Vance died blessed with the fra
GRANGE of sweetest affections, conse
Grated by the hottest love, embalme6
| in the tears and sorrow of a noble PEG
pie. The last sounds that struck hi:
ear were their applauses and gratitude
| and his eyes closed with the light o
| Christian promise beaming upon hi.
| soul.
- A. -s-lA xf 49, 1GNl 81 --1 1a-
we took his casket from these walls
We pore it III the Potomac
through the bosom of Virginia, clos
by the grave of Washington, almost il
sight of the tombs of Jefferson a
Madison. over the James, Over tn
North and the South Roanoke, owe
the unknown border line of the siste
States-to the sad heart of his mothe
Stale. The night was beautiful. Tn
white stars shed their hallowed rad
ance upon earth and sky. The s~erenit,
was lovely. The whole heavens a.
most seemed ii happy reunion of tn
consultations. With the first light @
day the people, singly, in groups, j
companies, in crowds, in multitudes
met us everywhere along the way
both sexes--all ages-all races--al
classes and conditions. Their sOrrO
| w as L n Ol1O - LIZ OAOoNS 4A 11AOA l.
ing, ready to drop every moment i
showers.
We carr led him to the State Hous
in Raleigh. the scene OF his creates
trials and grandest triumphs; the hear
of the State melted over her dead sor
Her brightest jewel had been take.
away. We left Raleigh in the evening
and passing over the Neuse, over tn
Yadkin, over the Catawba, up to tn
summit of the Blue Ridge, we place
the urn with its uoble dust on the bro,
of his own mountain, the mountain b
loved so we'll. There he sleeps in peac
and honor. On that exalted spot tn
willow and cypress, emblems of sorro
and mourning, can not grow, but tn
bay and the laurel, the trees of fame
will there flourish and bloom in pei
petual beauty and glory. There w
his great spirit, like an eternal sent:
mel of liberty and truth, keep waite
over his people.
Senators, | feel how unable | hav
been to perform this sacred duty. ]
would have been one eff the suprem
joys OF my life to have done justice t
the life and character of this great an
good man, to have enshrined his men
DRY in eloquence like his own. Blu
whatever may have been the faults {
these words, l have spoken from
heart full of sorrow for his death an
throbbing with admiration and prid
for his virtues.