The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-11-04

year he was elected by the Legisla-
ture presiding judge of his judicial
circuit, which place he held till his
election, in 1854, to the Senate of the
United States, in which he took his
seat in December, 1855. He was ell
ected to a second term in 1860, and
served about four years, when he died
at his home in Woodstock, in Novem-
Der, 1865, after thirty-two years of
most valuable service.
But few citizens of Vermont have
been called to so many positions of
trust and honor as was Jacob Cola
mer, and few, indeed, have performed
such varied duties with stricter fidel-
| ity, with more marked ability, or re-
Elected greater honor upon the State
than he did. Some of her public men
may have shone with greater bril-
liancy, but none with a steadier or
more enduring light.
1t is not for me on this occasion to
enter upon an analysis of his charac-
ter, to speak at length of his public
services, or to do more than pay a
passing tribute to his memory. HS
was called, and justly SO o. sel1-made
man, but NatAre gave him the mater
ls.As with which to make a man far
above the common order. She en-
dowed him with great intellectual fac
ulties which he developed and culti-
waited to a high degree. He stored his
mind with vast and varied Tearing
tive memory always at ready COM
mand. A close student, with quick
perception, sound judgment, re-
markable executive ability, all his ac-
lions guided and governed by high
moral principle, he could not fail to
become eminent in whatever position
he occupied.
AS a lawyer, he was distinguished
for his uprightness, his thorough
knowledge of the legal science, his
skill in the conduct of causes, and his
power as an advocate, displayed 'by
the calm exertion of reason" before
juries and courts; as a Judge, for his
of the merits and dement's of every
cause presented for his consideration,
and for the clearness, vigor, and err
udition of his opinions. AS states
man, have only to point to his rec
ord for sixteen years in the House and
in the Senate, which belongs not to
Vermont alone but to the whole coun-
try.
His ten years service in the Senate
was closely identified with an import
ant period of the nations history to
speak of it would be to recall many
of the subjects that engaged the
grave attention of Congress previous
to the rebellion, the war legislation,
and the reconstruction measures that
followed upon the restoration of
peace, which time will not permit.
On the event of his death, Senator
Riddle, of Delaware, doubtless ex-
pressed the sentiment of the Senate
toward him when he said:
81 think Vermont has lost one of
her brightest jewels, the Senate one
of it's most courteous members, and
the country one of it's greatest states
men. He was great in feeling, great
in thought, and great in action"
Mr. Speaker, Vermont is proud to
present his statue to the nation to be
placed in the Hall with others of the
illustrious dead. There may it stand
long as the Republic endures in COM
memoration of the distinguished char
acter and services of him whom his
State has selected from her long list
of eminent jurists and statesmen as
the fit representative of one of the
most intelligent Commonwealths Of
the country.
Address of Mr.. LOring.
Mr.. Loring. Mr.. Speaker, / have
been requested to join in the cere
: mOny Of presenting to the Congress
of the United States a statue of one o.
: the distinguished statesmen of Yer
, mont, whose services in directing thu
: social and civil system of that Com
monwealth, which has placed her IL
l the front rank of her associates IL
this Union, can never be forgotten
2 and have endeared his name to he
l sons wherever they may be found
) To this request / respond with deel
: consciousness of the sacredness o
! the task. The Hall which once echoe,
!, the voices of the great men who shap
= ed our laws in the early period of tn
( Republic is now dedicated-I trus
s for all time to come-as a histori
0 national gallery to preserve the sol
: emn group of the founders of on
= States and the trainers and preser
| vers of our Government. To have wol
: a place in that assembly constitute
?. the full measure of America civil
: greatness; and the popular verde
which selects from the multitude O
,. the dead those who are to be immor
@ talized there is entitled to our pro
= foundest respect and admiration; TO
|. be he warrior or statesman who stand