The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-25

Editor Of The Washington Herald: ]
notice in the very interesting and valu-
able "reminiscences Of DIR. E. ]. Edwards,
which he writes for The Herald. under
the heading History Builders as found
on the fourth page of the issue OF April
49, a short statement by the late Senator
Clingman. of North Carolina. In regard
to Gen. Breckenridge. who was serving as
Vice President of the United States in
the administration Of President Buch-
anan. Senator CIingman is quoted as
saying: My recollection Of Gen. Brock
inridge Is a very happy one. First Of all.
he was. l think. the handsomest man /
have ever met in public life. He was of
most kindly disposition, and there was
always a sense of strength Of intellect
and character behind his cordial and
most graceful manner. He was an ad-
mirable speaker. I have heard. although
of course, as Vice President. he had no
opportunity for making any speeches.
l have thought that this kindly allusion
to Vice President Breckenridge was hard
~ what that magnificent man deserved,
and If DR.. Edwards will refer to the
Congressional Records of January. lso9.
he will agree with me that the history
of Congress contains scarce any speci-
men of elevated oratory superior 10 the
speech Of Gen. Breckenridge when the
Senate vacated the room now occupied
by the Supreme Court for the new Cham
Der where its sessions have since been
held 1 quote but a sentence or two, but
1 am sure no one can read them without
an intense desire to peruse the extended
original. Near the close he says:
The Senate is assembled for the last
time in this Chamber. Hereafter
the American and the stranger. as they
wander through the Capitol. will turn
with instructive reverence to view the
spot on which so many and great ma
terials have accumulated for history.
They will recall the images of the great
and good, whose renown is the common
property of the Union: and chiefly. per-
haps they will linger around the seats
once occupied by the mighty three. whose
names and fame, associated in life, death
has not been able to sever; illustrious
men-in their generation sometimes d.
vided, sometimes led and sometimes re-
sisted public opinion-for they were OF
that higher class of statesmen who seek
the right and follow their convictions.
There sat Calhoun, the Senator infiex-
ible. austere: oppressed. but not over
whelmed by his deep sense of the i'm
portance Of his public functions: seek
ing the truth, then fearlesslY following
it-a man whose unsparing intellect COM
PEELED all his emotions to harmonic with
the deductions of his vigorous logic. and
whose noble countenance habitually wore
the expression of one engaged in the
performance of high public duties.
This was Webster's seat. He, too.
was even such a Senator. Conscious OF
his own vast powers. he reposed with
confidence on himself: and. scorning the
contriyances of smaller men, he stood
among his peers all the greater for the
simple dignity of his senatorial demeanor
Type of his Northern home. he rises
before the imagination in the grand ana
granite outline of his form and intellect,
like a. great New England rock repelling
a New England wave. As n writer MS
productions will be cherished by states
men and scholars while the English ton
que is spoken. AS senatorial orator
his great efforts are historically asso-
ciated with the Chamber. whose very air
seems vet to vibrate beneath the strokes
of his deep tones and his weighty words.
.'On the outer circle sat Henry Gay
with his impetuous and ardent nature.
untamed by age. and exhibiting IN the
Senate the same vehement patriotism and
passionate eloquence that OF yore electri-
fed the House of Representatives and
the country.
His extraordinary personal endow-
mentS. his courage, all his Hooic yuan
ties invested him with an individuality
and a character which in any age. would
have made hin, a favorite of history. He
loved his country above all earthly OBJ
iects. He loved liberty in all countries
Illustrious man, Orator. patriot. phllan-
thropist-his light at his meridian was
seen and felt in the remotest part OF the
civilized world And his declining sum-
as II FASTENED down the west. threw
back its level beams. in hues OF mellow
ed splendor, to illuminate and to cheer the
land he loved and served so WELL
And now, Senators. We leave this memoir
able Chamber bearing with US unim-
pairCd. the Constitution We received from
our forefathers. Let US cherish 1t with
grateful acknowledgement to the Divine
Power. who controls the destinies OF EN-
hires and whose goodness We adore
The structures reared by men yield to
the corroding tooth Of time. These mar
bile walls must molder into ruin. but the
principles of constitutional liberty, guard
ed by wisdom and virtue. unlike material
elements. do not decay. Let us deVoutly
trust that. another Senate. in another
age. shall bear to new and larger
Chamber. this Constitution. vigorous ana
inyiolate, and that the last generation Oh
nosterity shall witness the Deliberations
of the Representatives of American states
still united. prosperous and free.