."BssAs! 887 tf. I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, U ^ ^ ^ Chap. _..h. .C &. 4- Shelf ITES OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ^ MEMORIAL ADDRESSES LIFE AND CHARACTER LEWIS BEACH ( A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW YORK), DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND IN THE SENATE, FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION. PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF CONGRESS. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. • 1887. ^a A ^^ JOINT RESOLUTION providing foi- printing eulogies delivered in Congress upon the late Abraham Dowdney, John Arnot, jr., Lewis Beach, AVilliani T. Price, 'Williani H. Cole, and Austin F. Pike. Resolved hij the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Ameriea in Congress assembled, That there be prmted, of the eulogies delivered in Congress upon the late Abraham Dowdney, John Arnot, jr., and Lewis Beach, late Representatives in the Forty-ninth Congress from the State of New York, and William T. Price, late a Representative from the State of Wisconsin, and William H. Cole, late a Representative from the State of Maryland, twelve thousand five hundred copies each ; of whicli three thousand copies of each shall be for the use of the Senate and nine thousand five hundred each for the use of the House of Representatives. Sec. 2. That there be also printed of the eulogies delivered in Congress upon the late Austin F. Pike, a Senator from New Hampshire, twelve thousand copies ; of which four thousand copies shall be for the use of the Senate and eight thousand copies for the use of the House of Rej^re- sentatives. Sec. 3. That the Secretary of the Ti-easury be, and he is hereby, directed to have printed portraits of the said Abraham Dowdney, John Arnot, jr., Lewis Beach, William T. Price, William H. Cole, and Austin F. Pike, to accompany said eulogies, and for the purpose of engraving and printing said portraits the sum of three tliousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the Tieas- ury not otherwise appropriated. Api)roved. March 3, 1887. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE Death of Lewis Beach. In the House of Representatives, December G, 18S6. Mr. Hewitt. Mr. Speaker, it is my painful duty to an- nounce to the House that since its adjournment in August last, two members of the New York delegation have died, Hon. Lewis Beach, avIio represented in this House the Fif- teenth Congressional district, and Hon. John Arnot, Jr., who represented the Twenty-eighth Congressional district, I do not propose at this time to do more than make this sad announcement, knowing that the House will hereafter take such action as will be appropriate in the circumstances. But I send to the desk resolutions which I ask to have read by the Clerk. The Clerk read as follows : Resolved, Tliat the House has heard with sincere regi-et tlie announce- ment of the death during the late recess of Hon. Lewis Beach and Hon. John Arnot, Jr., late Representatives from the State of New York. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate the foregoing resolution to the Senate. Resolved, That as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased Representatives the House do now adjourn. The Speaker. The question will be first on agreeing to the first and second resolutions. The first and second resolutions were unanimously agreed to. 3 Life and Character of Lewis Beach. In the House of Representatives, February 8, 1887. Mr. Viele. Mr. Speaker, I su"bmit the resolutions I send to the desk. The Clerk read as follows : Resolved, That this House has heard with profovmd sorrow of the death of Lewis Beach, a Representative in Congress from the State of New York. Eesolved, That all other business be suspended in order that fitting tributes of respect may be paid to his memory. Resolved, That these resolutions be communicated to the family of Mr. Beach. ADDRESSES ON THE Death of Lewis Beach. DELIVERED IN THE TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS. Address of Mr. Viele, of Ne^v York. Mr. Speaker: These resolutions are offered for the con- sideration of the House in pursuance of an honored custom that permits us to perform the sad duty of respect for the memory of our lamented colleague. Mr. Beach was born in the city of New York on the 30th day of March, 1835. In that city his early boyhood was spent, and having ac- complished the necessary preliminary education he entered the Yale Law School, where he graduated in the year 1856, at the age of twenty-one, was admitted to the bar the same year, and commenced the practice of law in the city of his birth. In 1861 he removed to the town of Cornwall, Orange County, New York, where he combined with the practice of law the, to him, genial pursuit of farming, following the example of many illustrious men. At the same period he devoted a portion of his time to literary pursuits, contribut- ing many interesting and instructive articles to various periodicals and newspapers. In fact his mind was always active in matters connected with the varied interests of 5 6 LiJ(i cmd Character of Lewis Beach. life, and he gave a great deal of time to the study of social problems, especially the laws of sanitation. He subse- quently published a history of the town of Cornwall. Hav- ing shown a warm interest in public affairs, he was elected a supervisor of the town in 18G9, and filled other public posi- tions. In 1880 he was placed on the Presidential electoral ticket, but having received the nomination for Representative in Congress from the district in which he resided he resigned his place on the electoral ticket and was subsequently elected a member of the Forty-seventh Congress and was re-elected to the Forty-eighth and to the Forty-ninth Congresses. It was near the close of the first session of the Forty-ninth Congress that, after having devoted himself with untiring assiduity to his duties, he found his health impaired, and, had he yielded in time to the solicitations of his family and friends, he could probably, by taking a respite from his arduous labor, have recuperated his energies; but such was his conscientious devotion to his duty that he undertook to fight off the insidious approaches of disease until it was too late for him to rally from its effects. He had barely strength to return to his home when he was overtaken by the dread destroyer. The peculiarity of Mr. Beach's character, and that which marked his whole career as a member of this House, was his steadfast adherence to his convictions of the right in spite of all opposition, from whatever source it came. No argument, no inducement could persuade him to swerve I'oi' an instant from the course lie had marked out for himself to pursue. No Representative could possiljly be more de- voted to the interests of his constituents. No member of the House was more industrious and inde- fatigable in his efforts to rulHll all the duties of his positic^n. Address of Mr. Viele, of New York. 7 The first in liis seat and the last to leave it, he followed with assiduity every detail of legislation, scanned every measure, and watched every resolution. But, above all things, he was almost painfully conscien- tious in regard to any delays in the transaction of the pub- lic business. He felt that those measures that related to the interests of the country at large should at all times take pre- cedence over the claims of private individuals, no matter how just they might be. For his efforts in this respect he acquired the temporary ill-will of many who felt annoyed at the persistency with which he interposed objections to what he regarded as obstructions of the ordinary business of the House. And yet no one for a moment doubted the sincerity of his motives. To those who knew him best he did not hesitate to express the feelings of sorrow and regret at the pain and annoyance he knew that he caused to others by the discharge of what he considered his solemn duty to the country. He was almost morbidly sensitive in regard to what he considered a loss of time in the transaction of the public business caused by obituary proceedings. He believed that it was the duty of Congress to set apart the Sabbath day for such exercises as being more appropriate to the occasion and as a great advantage to the public business. Having by a careful calculation ascertained that in one session alone nearly a month was lost by the motions and exercises inci- dent to the death of deceased membere, he offered a resolu- tion that all such proceedings should take place on the Sabbath, and if his spirit is allowed to know what we are now doing it must rejoice that his death has in no manner impeded the course of legislation. No man possessed a more kindly disposition, a warmer heart, or a more generous nature. To do an act of kindness 8 Life and Character of Lewis Beach. was to him a source of the deepest pleasure, and lie was always ready to go out of his way to serve another without feeling that he thereby conferred an obligation. He always had a pleasant word for any one, and never spoke a harsh word except in denunciation of an act of wrong or injustice. In his domestic relations he was beloved as a husband and father, and his whole time was divided between his devotion to his family and to his official duties. He knew no pleasure or enjoyment beyond them. Among his immediate friends and neighbors Mr. Beach was warmly esteemed. The triple life that he led of farmer, lawyer, and legislator brought him into close relation with all classes of people, and all found in him a ready and willing counselor and friend. He possessed an intuitive knowledge of the wants of his constituents, and the humblest among them never sought his advice or assistance in vain. With these brief remarks, Mr. Speaker, I yield to others who may perhaps have known him longer, although I doubt that any more fully appreciated than myself the sterling qualities, both of mind and heart, that he possessed. Address of Mr. Bacon, of New York. Mr. Speaker : I should fail entirely to express the senti- ment of the district which Mr. Beach formerly represented in this body did I not take advantage of this opportunity and this time to bear public witness to the feeling of profound grief with which the announcement of Mr. Beach's untimely death was received throughout the whole section of country in which he lived. By his faithful services to the interests of his constituents Mr. Beach had elevated himself from the position of a newcomer in that country, an unknown man, to the place of the most prominent resident of his district. Address of Mr. Bacon, of Xeic York. 9 His people had learned that no claim they could make upon his services was refused, that no man was too humble for him to recognize or help, and no man's position was such that it was possible for him to be awed or in any way dis- turbed by his denunciations. It happened to him that he was selected to run upon the Democratic ticket for Representative in Congress from that district at a time when the district was in much disorder and there was no little difficulty in the Democratic i)arty. He was elected, though almost at the time of his election unknown to a large portion of his constituents. By the time he was elected a second time, so faithful had he been to their interests, so attentive to their demands, that it was almost impossible to find a man willing to contest the elec- tion with him, and his election therefore from the first was a foregone conclusion. Again, and contrary to all precedents in my district, con- trary to all rules of parties since it has been a district. Mr. Beach was nominated a third time, and elected without serious opposition. No one, sir, seemed to be in better health— no one in the fullest vigor of life could have rendered more faithful serv- ices to his people; and his death came as suddenly upon his constituents as it did unhappily to them. I was present at his funeral at his modest but exceedingly beautiful home. I saw gatliered there men from all por- tions of his district, men who lived upon the banks of the Hudson where it is almost as wide as a sea, and men who had their homes up in the mountains where the trees bridge across the streams that find their outlet through the capes of the Delaware. I saw there men who were mechanics and men who were merchants. I saw there bankers, brick- makers, and saw there also, above all, and perhaps more 10 Liife and Character of Lewis Beach. numerous than any other class, the veterans of the war, and I saw the evidence on all sides of a deep jiersonal bereave- ment. The district has had no more faithful servant; it can have no more beloved one at any time. It is not my place, it is not within my power, to tell this House how he performed his public duty in this place. But I cannot pass the oppor- tunity of bearing to this House the message of sympathy in the grief which it feels from the persons whom Mr. Beach represented as a member upon this floor. Address of Mr. Henderson, of Iowa. Mr. Speaker : It is a sad duty to pay tribute to the mem- ory of a dead colleague. But this duty becomes lighter when one can speak without reserve and with candor touching the merits and the character of the departed Representative. Though a sad duty on this occasion, still it is mingled with pleasure, since our deceased friend possessed those qualities of head and heart that invite the freest and fullest commen- dation from those who knew him. I had the pleasure of knowing well Mr. Lewis Beach, of Cornwall, N. Y. Prior to the Forty-eighth Congress I did not know him personally, but during the long sessions of the Forty-eighth and Forty-ninth Congresses he and I, with our families, lived in the same house; and as members, so to speak, of a common household, and of the two Congresses named, I came to know him intimately. I knew him as a representative of the people, as a neigh- bor, and as a friend. As a legislator he had some critics, but no enemies; some whom he annoyed, but none whom he angered. No man, perhaps, in the Forty-eighth and Forty- Address of Mr. Henderson, of loiva. H ninth Congresses interfered more with special legislation than did the deceased; but I am clear that this was always done with a conscientious desire to do what he conceived to be his duty to the people. He was an independent man and fearless, but his highest ambition seemed to be to bravely prevent an unnecessary and unwise expenditure of the pub- lic money. He aspired in a marked degree to represent the agricult- ural and the laboring interests, and this aspiration had for its foundation sincerity and zeal. Such men are often called demagogues. Those who knew Mr. Beach best will acquit him of being that, and concede him sincerity, zeal, and cour- age in making the objections which so often thwarted us all in our efforts at legislation in this body. There were few harder workers in the House of Repre- sentatives than Mr. Beach. He was always at liis post of duty in the House; and hardly a night was he absent from his desk, working with the greatest patience and industry. He attended to the correspondence with his people, and sought in every way to meet their wishes in the thousand little details which so fully tax the strength and patience of a Representative of the present day His nature was kind and his disposition obliging; he was a man of clean purposes, clean thoughts, and clean life. His open nature, his unvarying good temper, his genial manners, made his presence always pleasant and welcome to his friends. He was a strong partisan, but this was only visible in the field of political conflict, and at moments when brave men should assert their honest political convictions. He never needlessly obtruded his political views upon those differing from him in politics; and in the parlor, in the home, and in all his social relations he dropped the politician and became 12 Life and Character of Leivis Beach. the genial, companionable gentleman, and the warm-hearted, obliging friend. Though he was strong in his district, thougli a potent factor in this House, perhaps the highest compliment that I can pay to his memory is to say that his greatest strength was in his own home. He was fond of pleasure, but he wanted his family to share his pleasure with himself. He was fond of society, but it never had charms or strong attractions for him unless his own family formed a part of the social life. When not absolutely called away by his public duties his evenings were always spent with his family. His workshop was there; the family was his re- public; and he sought to make each member of it inde- pendent and happy. He who will honestly speak plainly of the simple life of Mr. Beach, bringing out his every-day acts, and opening his whole life as God saw that life, ^Y\\\ pay the highest and most eloquent tribute to his memory. He has been missed by us all ; his district will have diffi- culty in finding a more faithful Representative; and none but the stricken hearts will ever know how irreparable is the loss in his quiet home. An honest, earnest, active, kind, good man left us when Mr. Lewis Beach died. Address of Mr. Hewitt, of Ne^v York. Mr. Speaker : The fact that within a brief period three members of the New York delegation have been stricken down by death, and that they all belonged to the same polit- ical party, naturally arrests attention, and appeals to the im- agination as something out of the usual course of nature. With the exception of Lewis Beach, no one of these mem- bers was a man of conspicuous mark in the House, but they Address of Mr. Hewitt, of New York. 13 were all greatly respected, and, so far as they were known, beloved by tlieir immediate associates. In regard to Mr. Beach I shall have but little to say, because I am informed that his career and his services will be fully recounted by other members ; but I do desire to say in regard to him that he was a thoroughly honest man, who not only had convic- tions but the courage of his convictions. He had carefully matured his opinions, and with him it was a matter of con- science to adhere to what he regarded as the very truth, without turning aside for expediency or temporary success. It has been thought that his range of statesmanship was too narrow for the broad field of duty spread out before the House, which is to determine the destinies of the country, and to deal with questions of the greatest interest to this and succeeding generations. I think that Mr. Beach, at times, found his principles in conflict with the immediate interests of his constituents. When he was thus embar- rassed he never failed to make clear what he regarded as the sound view for the whole country, but he usually cast his vote so as to represent the wishes of the people who sent him here. This conflict of conviction with the duty which a Representative undoubtedly owes to his district often de- tracted from the weight which his opinions otherwise would have had with the House. Again, he thought that the rules of the House were suffi- cient for the conduct of its business, and that the public interests would better be subserved by a rigid maintenance of the rules, with only such exceptions as were made neces- sary by unforeseeable contingencies. His habit of objecting to the suspension of the rules was therefore founded upon an opinion deliberately formed, that in this way he could best serve his people and the country. Through his long term of service he was most diligent in his attendance on 14 Life and Character of Lewis Beach. the House, and all would admit that he cast his vote and his influence from motives of the highest honor, so as to preserve a conscience void of offense. The memory of Mr. Beach will long he held in great respect by the members of this House who had learned to know his virtues, and who had found in him only those faults which are incident to the character of every member. Address of Mr. O'Neill, of Missouri. Mr. Speaker : I came here to-night to pay a slight tribute to the memory of Mr. Beach, one with whom I was inti- mately associated. During my first winter in Congress we occupied adjoining suites of rooms in the same hotel, and it is in that close communion where you are brought together every day and every night that you begin to realize the hidden worth of a man which is not manifest always in his discharge of public duties. In all my experience among men I have never known a more earnest or a more conscientious and faithful represent- ative of what he deemed to be his duty than Mr. Beach. He had a conscientious fearlessness that carried him so far that he was willing to stand in this House solitary and alone, objecting to the consideration of measures that he thought should have been brought up at a regular time and presented in accordance with the regular mode of procedure. While he incurred for the time being the hostility of men when he objected to special measures they desired to pass, still that earnest, steadfast purpose of Mr. Beach to discharge his duty ultimately won the respect of every member in this House. And when, after his lingering illness, the sad news came that Lewis Beach, of Cornwall, was dead. I know Address of Mr. Holman, of Indiana. 15 that every member felt that the American people had lost a fearless, an earnest, and an honest representative, and that Congress had lost one of its most useful members. Address of Mr, HoLMAN, of Indiana. Mr. Speaker: I became acquainted with Mr, Beach soon after he entered Congress. He was a modest, unassuming gentleman, and during the earlier period of his Congressional experience not inclined to take a very active part in the current business of the House, but from the beginning he manifested a lively and earnest interest in all matters of legislation and became at an early day one of the most vigi- lant and attentive of the members. It was soon apparent that Mr. Beach as a legislator was fully imbued with the principles in government common to the school of Demo- cratic politicians of the earlier period of our political his- tory. It was apparent that he drew from the teachings of Jeffer- son liis opinions as to the scope and domain of a republic. He believed that a plain and frugal government, securing protection and justice to all men, and leaving all else to the energy and unrestricted enterprise of the people, was the best political system that human intelligence could devise. Mr. Beach was severely consistent in his course as a legis- lator with this theory. His sympathies were uniformly with the people. He resisted with earnestness and fidelity every encroachment of corporate power or concentrated wealth on individual rights, and sought to limit the expend- itures of the Government to the actual requirements of the public service, leaving nothing for splendid embellishment or to tempt the cupidity of the unscrupulous. 16 Life and Character of Lewis Beach. Mr. Beach was a courteous, cheerful, and pleasant gentle- man, devoted to liis interesting family, fond of society, and anxious to enjoy friendly and pleasant relations with those around him, and in the main his relations with gentlemen in this Hall and on both sides of the House were cordial and pleasant. Yet these social qualities were made subordinate to his sense of jDublic duty. He believed that any tendency in Congress to loose methods of legislation, especially in appropriations from the public treasury, was fatal to economy in government. He saw that much of our legislation, es- pecially in private bills, involving the expenditure of the public money, rested on the courtesy of unanimous consent, in which the objection of a single member seemed to be an act of personal discourtesy to the gentleman moving the measure. He questioned this method of legislation as a surrender of the duties of the Representative to the demands of kindly relations between gentlemen in daily intercourse with each other, and at a later period in his service in this House sought to restore the methods of actual legislation. It must be admitted that in attempting to carry out his views in this respect Mr. Beach, while arousing antagonism on every hand, bore himself courteously, bravely, and well. No man ever attempted a reform, especially in methods of legislation, however supjDorted by a sense of duty, without encountering unpleasant incidents and, at least, partial disappointments. Yet I am sure that Mr. Beach, who manifestly was never actuated by any other motive than a sense of public duty in his effort to secure legislative reform, when he left this Hall never to return left it with only kindly feelings in his heart toward all the members of this House, and I am sure that all gentlemen here, even those who questioned most his methods of legislative reform, recall to mind Lewis Beach with Address of Mr. Holman, of Indiana. 17 feelings of kindness, and concede to him integrity of pnrpose and the honor of a manly effort to carry his views of public duty into effect. I knew Mr. Beach Avell during tlie period of his service in this Hall. He honored me with his confidence, and often consulted with me on public measures. I can, therefore, speak witli confidence of his character as illustrated by his career in Congress. While he was not a great leader or superior in statesmanship he was a valuable member of this House. He was a fearless and manly representative of the people. No temptation could shake his integrity. He was animated by an earnest desire to promote the public good, and the record he made in this Hall will bear, for all time, enduring evidence of the fidelity and singleness of purpose with which he fulfilled the high duties of a representative of the people. The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and the House accordingly adjourned. H. Mis. IGO 2 PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE. In the Senate of the United States, December 7, 1886. Mr. Miller. I ask to have laid before the Senate the mes- sage from the House of Representatives regarding the death of Messrs. Beach and Arxot, late members of that body. The President jjyo tempore. The Cliair submits the message from the House, which will be read. The Chief Clerk read as follows : In the House of Representatives, December 6. 1886. Resolved, That the House has heard with sincere regret the announce- ment of the death during the late recess of Hon. Lewis Beach and Hon. John Arnot, Jr., late Representatives from the State of New York. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate the foregoing resolution to the Senate. Mr. Miller. Mr. President, I offer resolutions Avhich I ask may be read. The Chief Clerk read as follows : Resolved, That the Senate has heard with deep sensibility the an- nouncement of the death of Hon. Lewis Beach and of the death of Hon. John Arnot, Jr., late Representatives from the State of New York. Resolved, That the Secretary communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives. Mr. Miller. I simply desire to say that at some future time I shall ask the Senate to listen to some remarks which I shall make on the lives of these distinguished persons, and after the adoption of these resolutions I will move an ad- journment. The resolutions were agreed to unanimously. 19 20 Life and Character of Leicis Beach. Mr. Miller. Mr. President, out of respect to tlie memory of the two Representatives mentioned, I move that the Senate do now adjourn. The motion was agreed to, and the Senate adjourned. In the Senate of the United States, March 1, 1887 Mr. Miller. Mr. President, I ask that the Chair lay be- fore the Senate the message of the House of Representa- tives communicating the resolutions of the House of Repre- sentatives on the death of Hon. Lewis Beach. The President p?'o tempore laid before the Senate the resolutions of the House of Representatives; which were read, as follows : In the House of Representatives, February 22, 1887. Resolved, That this House has heard with profound sorrow of the death of Lewis Beach, a Representative in Congi-ess from the State of New York. Resolved, That all other business be suspended in order that fitting tributes of respect may be paid to his memory. Resolved, That these resolutions be communicated to the family of I\Ir. Beach. Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions be communicated to the Sen- ate. Mr. Miller. I send resolutions to the desk, which I ask may be read. The President j)ro tempore. The resolutions submitted by the Senator from New York will be read. The resolutions were read, as follows : Resolved, Tliat the Senate receives with sincere regret the announce- ment of the death of Hon. Lewis Beach, late a member of the House of Representatives from the State of New York, and tenders to the relatives of the deceased the assurance of their sympathy with them under the bereavement they have been called to sustain. Resolved, That tlie Secretary of the Senate be directed to ti-ansmit to the family of Mr. Beach a certified copy of the foregoing resolution. Address of Mr. Miller, of New York. 21 Address of Mr. Miller, of New York. Mr. President: Mr. Beach was well known to many members of this body as a vigilant, conscientious, and liard- workmg legislator. He was three times elected to Congress and faithfully represented the interests of his constituents' It IS believed by his family and friends that his constant attention to his public duties laid the foundation of tlie disease which proved fatal. Mr. Beach was in many ways a strong man. He made his personality felt in the community in which he lived by taking a prominent part in all matters of public interest He was honored by his neighbors, who conferred local offices upon him, and was finally chosen Representative in Con- gress. His service in the House marked him as a man of great energy and determination, and as conscientiously devoted to what he believed to be right. Mr. Beach was an educated gentleman who devoted his time to the practice of the law, literary pursuits, and farm- ing. His delight in rural pursuits led him to make his home on a farm at Cornwall, on the Hudson, near the city of Newburg. He was chiefly instrumental in bringing about the centennial celebration of the disbandment of the Revo- lutionary armies under Washington at Newburg after the treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain had been negotiated. As a member of the joint Congressional committee which had that celebration in charge, I met Mr. Beach at Corn- wall, and enjoyed the hospitality of his 'elegant country home. Thus I came to know Mr. Beach better than I had known him here in his public life. However severe and determined he may have been in the discharge of official 22 Life and Character of Lewis Beach. duties, ho was a most genial and liospitable gentleman in his own home, and it was these qualities which endeared him to his friends and neighbors. Mr. Beach will be greatly missed by the community in which he lived. • His place in Congress may be filled, for our country is rich in the number of citizens who are capable of filling any position in the Government, but the death of a man possessed of the qualities of Mr. Beach, in the prime of life, with all his faculties at their best, cannot but be a great loss, not only to his friends and neighbors, but also to the whole country. The President pro tempore. The question is on the adop- tion of the resolutions. The resolutions were agreed to unanimously, and the Sen- ate accordingly adjourned. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 787 574 3