E «^a^,^^«^%^\%\^?^\ >vv -^ .X. ^v^i^ l\^*V xVs ^ (jrfg^Jg&^^^J^jg^lj^'^ V*^ VV^ -^ ?P|. s\r^» «. . -.v t t> V, V «., 664 — |— n .C29 ^^^B^ U 5 ^^^B Copy2 ^^^B: v- UlPEi\ND CHMACTER'^P ^ 188^ I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. I Chap. .t^L<^_ifr I Shelf ...Q 1-9 U J" i UNITED STATES OP /AMERICA. % /f I ////////-/ MEMORIAL ADDRESSES LIFE AND CHARACTER Matthew ji.p. ARPENTER (A SENATOK FEOM WISCONSIN), UKLIVEREU IN TllK SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPEESENTATIVES, u. s, forty-seventh congress, first session, | ? s 1 - i so 3 January 26, 1882, THE PROCEEDINGS CONNECTED WITH THE FUNERAL OF THE DECEASED. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 188-2. f/ 2_ JOINT EESOLUTION to print certain eulogies delivered in Congress upon the late For- uaudo Wood, Matt. H. Carpenter, and Ambrose E. Burnside. Hesolved l>y the Senate and House of Kepresentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there bo printed twelve thousand copies respectively of the eulogies delivered in Congress upon the late Fernando Wood, a Represen^tative from the State of New York ; Matt. H. Carpenter, a Senator from the State of Wisconsin, and Ambrose E. Burnside, a Senator from the State of Rhode Island, of each of which four thousand shall be for the Senate and eight thousand for the use of the House of Representatives; and the Secretary of the Treasury bo, and he is hereby, directed to have printed portraits of the three above named Messrs. Wood, Carpenter, and Burnside to accompany their respective eulogies; and for the purpose of defraying the expense of engraving and printing the said portraits the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not other- wise appropriated. Approved February 15, 1882. 2 CMoM '■ ANNOUNCEMENT Death of Matthew H. Carpenter, A SENATOK FROM ■WISCONSIN. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, Tucsdai), February 24, 1881. Tlie Chaplain, Rev. J. J. Bui.lock, D. D., oifered the followiug PRAYER : Ahuighty God, our Heavenly Father, we adore Thee as the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, in whom we live and move and have our being, upon whom we are dependent for life and for all its blessings, and to whom we are responsible for all that we do. We thank Thee, O God, for Thy great goodness and mercy to us, especially for Thy preservation of us during the past night, and for the light and blessings of this new day. We commit ourselves to Thy guidance and protection. Preserve us from all evil, and be- stow upon us every needed blessing. Bless, we beseech Thee, our beloved country ; defend and deliver us from the dangers to which we are expased, from ignorance and superstition, from infidelity and licentiousness. May we long be a united and hajjpy people, a people who fear God and love riglit<>ous- ness. Bless, we jiray Thee, our rulei-s, tlie President, the Vice- President, the Senators and Represcntutiyes in Congress, and all who are in authority. May they rule in the fear of God and for the good of the people. 4 LIFE AND CHABACTER OF MATTHEW H. CARPENTER. Most merciful God, it hath pleased Thee in Thine inscrutable providence to remove by the hand of death one of the members of this body from the scene of his labors here; and now we pray that Thou wouldst look in tender compassion upon his bereaved family; comfort and sustain them in this hour of their sore trial, and wilt Thou enable those of us who remain to make a suitable improve- ment of this solemn dispensation of Thy providence. May we be sensibly reminded of the shortness and uncertainty of life and of the importance of being ever prepared for our departure, for we know neither the day nor the hour when we shall be called hence. We commit ourselves and all that are dear to us to Thy Fatherly care. Be with us in all the trials and changes of life, and pi'cpare us for the last sad change that awaits us uj^on earth, and finally re- ceive us into Thy Kingdom above ; we ask for Christ our Redeem- er's sake. Amen. Mr. CAMERON, of Wisconsin. I rise, Mr. President, to an- nounce to the Senate the death of my late colleague, Matthew II. Carpenter. Mr. Carpenter died at the i-esidence of his family, in this city, at twenty-five minutes after nine o'clock this morning. At some convenient time hereafter the Senate will be asked to consider resolutions commemorative of his life and public services. Before offering the resolutions which I hold in my hand, I desire to express the sorrow that I feel personally at the death of my col- league and friend. I desire also to express in some slight degi-ee the profound sorrow that the people of Wisconsin will feel at the death of their most gifted and distinguished rq^resentative. I offer, sir, the following resolutions: Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow of the death of Hon. Matthew H. Carpenter, late a Senator from the State of Wisconsin. Resolved, That a committee of live Senators he a])i)oiutcd by tlio Vice-Presi- dent to take order for superintending the funeral of Mr. Carpenter ; and PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE. 5 tliat as a mark of respect entertained l)y the Senate for his nieniory, his re- mains be removed from Washington to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in charge of the Serg'eant-at-Arnis and attended by said committee, who shall have fnll power to carry this resolntion into effect. Semlved, That the Secretary of the Senate commnnicate the foregoing reso- Intious to the House of Eepresentatives. Bcsolved, Tliat, as an additional mark of respect to the memory of Mr. Car- PENTKR, the Senate do now adjourn. Mr. PENDLETON. Mr. Pi>esident, I am sure that every mem- ber of the Senate has received witli deep sensibility the notice that is given to ns of the death of Mr. Carpentek, and that each one sliares very deeply and very largely in the sentiment of sorro\y ex- pressed by his colleague. I therefore second the resolutions. The Vice-President appointed as the committee on the part of the Senate under the resolution of the 24th instant, for superin- tending the funeral of the late Senator Matthew H. Carpenter, Mr. Cameron, of Wisconsin, Mr. Conkling, Mr. Logan, Mr. Pen- dleton, and Mr. Cockrell. The resolutions were agreed to unanimously j and (at eleven o'clock and sixteen minutes a. m.) the Senate adjourned. ADDRESSES ON THE Death of Matthew H. Carpenter, A SENATOR TKOM WISCONSIN. DELIVERED IN THE SENATE, Wednesday, Januafy 2'^, 1882. Mr. CAMERON, of Wisconsin. Mr. President, pursuant to notice heretofore given by nie, I offer the resohitious which I send to the Secretary's desk. I ask that they be read and considered at this time. The PRESIDENT j^ro tempore. The resolutions will be read. The Acting Secretary read as follows : Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow of the death of Hon. Matthew H. Carpenter, late a Senator from the State of Wisconsin, and extends to his afflicted family sincere symiiathy and condolence in their bereavement, Eeaoh-ed, That, as an additional mark of respect to the memory of Mr. Car- penter, the regular business of the Senate be now suspended in order that his former associates in this body may pay fitting tribute to his memory. Itesohed, That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to transmit to the family of the deceased, and also to the Governor of Wisconsin, a certified copy of these resolutions, with a statement of the action of the Senate thereon. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate these resolutions to the House of Representatives. Resolved, That, as a further testimonial of respect to the memory of the deceased Senator, the Senate do now adjourn. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Saulsbury in the chair). The resolutions are before the Senate. LIFE AND CnARACTEli OF MATTHEW II. CARPENTEli. Address of Mr. Cameron, of "Wisconsin. Mr. President : To-day Wisconsin asks the Senate to lay iisiilc its Calendar and unite with her in paying a last sad tribute of re- spect to the memory of Matthew H. Carpenter. Mr. Carpenter, by his character and public services, had en- deared himself to the people of Wisconsin. When he died every citizen of the State felt that he had suffered a personal bereave- ment. This feeling found expression in a great popular demon- stration at his funeral, in resolutions adopted by the legislatiu'e, in meetings of the bar, and in the unanimous voice of the press. ]My remarks upon the resolutions now under consideration will be mainly biographic. Mr. Carpenter wa.s born at Moretown, Washington County, Vermont, on the 22d day of December, 1824, and died in the city of Washington on the 24th day of February, 1881. He was christened by his parents "Decatur Merritt Hammond," and was commonly called "Merritt" Carpenter until subsequent to his removal to Wisconsin. In 1851, after he had argued a cause in court with extraordinary learning and ability, one of his associ- ates at the bar enthusiastically declared that the argument was worthy of Sir Matthew Hale, and that its author ought no longer to be called " Merritt " Carpenter, but should be named " Matthew Hale " Carpenter. This declaration struck the imagination of the lawyers present, and thereafter they called their eloquent young associate " Matthew Hale." So generally was the name of "Mat- thew Hale " applied to him that he was actually constrained to adopt it, and thus "Decatur Merritt Hammond" Carpenter, of Vermont, became "Matthew Hale" Carpenter, of Wisconsin. Fifty yeare ago Paul Dillinghuni, now one of the venerable ex- governoi"s of Vermont, was an iiiHueiitial citizen and a leading ADDJiESS OF MIL CAMEliON, OF iriSCONSUST. !j lawyer of tliat State. lie resided at Waterbury, Washington County, and was an acquaintance and frif'nd of the Cai'penter family. Mr. Dillingham saw young Merritt Carpenter when he was about three years of age, and was greatly attracted by the extraordinary physical beauty and the precocious mental develop- ment of the boy. It may be that the astute lawyer discovered in the boy of three years of age the germ of the great orator and jurist that he subsequently became. However this may be, Mr. Dilling- ham said to Mrs. Carpenter : " Send your sou to me when he is fourteen years of age and I will make a lawyer of him." When Merritt was five years of age he began attending the dis- trict school in his native village. So great was his mental quick- ness that he learned the tasks imposed ujiou him with little effort or study. His temperament was active and joyous. He was the leader in all boyish sports. His mother had not forgotten the promise of Mr. Dillingham to make a lawyer of her son. She was proud of her bright and handsome boy. She aided him in his studies and urged him to prepare himself for the career which she believed would open to him through the kind offices of Mr. Dil- lingham. In December, 1 838, when Merritt was fourteen years of age, he one day returned from school and informed his father tliat he had h:ul some trouble with the schoolmaster; that the cause of the difficulty- was the fact that ho knew more than his teacher, but the result was that he had been turned out of school. He further stated that he had determined to go to Waterbury the next morning for the pur- pose of entering Mr. Dillingham's office as a law student. The father, knowing well the positive and self-reliant character of his son, interposed no objection. On the next morning, in the midst of a Vermont winter, alone and on foot, but with cheerful confidence, he went to Waterbury, entered Mr. Dillingliam's office, stated that he was fourteen years of age and had come to study 10 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF MATTHEW E. CARPENTER. law. Mr. Dillingliam was pleased witli the manly liearliig and address of the boy. He not only admitted liim to his office as a student, but received liim in his house as a member of his family. Mr. Carpenter continued in Mr. Dillingham's office until 1843, when he was selected as a cadet to the Military Academy at West Point. He passed the required examination, and entered the Academy. In 1845 he resiinied his cadetship and resumed his legal studies. It has been erroneously stated in the newspapers since Mr. Car- penter's death that his resignation was in consequence of ill- health. He was never able, even while a cadet at West Point, to divest himself of the idea implanted in his youthful mind by his mother, that he was destined to be a lawyer. He resigned, not in consequence of ill-health, l)ut in order tiiat he might resume his legal studies. He pursued the study of the law with great indus- try from 1843 to 18-17, when he was admitted to the courts of Vermont. While a law student in Vermont he licard much about tlio learn- ing and eloquence of Rufus Choate; and upon his admission to the Vermont bar he determined to go to Boston and, if possible, to become a student of that great lawyer. Accordingly, in 1847, at the age of twenty-three, with an abundance of hope and enthusi- asm, l)ut with only a few dollars in his pocket, he went to Boston. He had never seen Mr. Choate, nor had he any letter of intro- duction to him. He ascertamed the location of his office by con- sulting the city directory. On the morning after his ai rival he called at Mr. Choate's office and learned that he was engaged in court, but could be seen at his chambers at a certain hour after court had adjourned for the day. At the hour named Mr. Car- penter presented himself and was shown into Mr. Choalc's pri- vate room. He stated briefly who he was, where he came from, and what lie wanted. So fav.'rable an impression did lie make ADDRESS OF Mli. CdMEROX, OF WISCOX^SIX. H upiiu Mr. Choate that he'at once received him as a student. Before INIr. Choate went to court the next morning, perhaps for the pur- pose of testing the tx'aining and mental capacity of hLs new stu- dent, he handed him a letter from a country lawyer asking his opinion upon a case stated. Mr. Carpenter even then possessed extraordinary powers for rapid and exhaustive legal research. He worked diligently on the case, and when Mr. Choate returned in the evening handed to him the result of his examination in the shape of a carefully prepared opinion. Mr. Choate read the opin- ion, and, without changing a word, said: "I guess I can sign 'R. Choate' to that, and ask my correspondent to send me a hundred dollars," which he accordingly did. Mr. Carpenter remained in Mr. Choate's office for upward of a year. He was then admitted to the Massachusetts courts, and iu 1 848 removed to Beloit, Wisconsin. He took his law library with him, which consisted only of the ^Massachusetts Reports and a few elementary books. Soon after he went to Wiscon&in he was at- tacked with a painful and dangerous disease of the eyes. He went to New York for treatment, and remained there until September, 1850, when he returned to Beloit, and formed a partnership with Mr. Cheeney, then a leading la\vyer at that bar. This partnership was not dissolved until the spring of 1856, when Mr. Cheeney retiretl from practice. Mr. Carpenter was district attorney of Rock County for one term of two years, commencing January, 1856. He never held any other office until he was elected to the Senate of the United States in January, 1869. Before 1856 he had acquired a load reputation as an industrious, painstaking, eloriuent, and able young lawyer. He first gained a State reiiutation by his argument in the quo xrurranto case against (xovernor Barstow. This was a remark- able case. Barstow had been governor for two years, and was the Democratic candidate for re-election. He was "counted in" by 12 LIFE Am) CEAlidCrEB OF MATTHEW II. CAUI'ENTER. the Democratic board of State canvassei^, and w;i.s inaugurated with great pomp aud an unusual display of military force. Bashford, the Republican candidate, claimed that a majority of votes had been cast for him, and that the "supplemental returns" upon which Barstow had been "counted in" were fraudulent. The action brought by Bashford, the Republican claimant, to get pos- session of the office of governor was the first instance in American history where the people of a State resorted to the courts to dispos- sess a de facto governor in the actual possession of the executive office. The interest taken by the people of Wisconsin in the case corresponded with the gravity of the principles and the magnitude of the results involved. The late Chief-Justice Ryan, James H. Knowlton, and Timothy O. Ilowe were counsel for Bashford, the relator. Jonathan E. Arnold, Harlow S. Orton, and Mr. Car- penter were counsel for Barstow, the respondent. It has been lately said that Mr. Carpenter was the leading counsel for Bar- stow. That distinction must, however, be accorded to Mr. Arnold, who then stood at the head of the Wisconsin bar. Mr. Carpen- ter was Barstow's junior counsel. He made only one argument in the case. This argument was read from manuscript. It was learned, plausible, and ingenious. It failed to convince the court, but it placed its author in the front rank of Wisconsin lawyers. Mr. Carpenter's early political affiliations were with the Dem- ocratic party. He adhered to tliat party long after he became a resident of Wisconsin. He supported Pierce in 1852, and Bu- chanan in 1856. He was an ardent and enthusiastic friend and supporter of Douglas in 1860. After the war began, in 1861, although still claiming to be a Democrat, he gave a hearty support to Mr. Lincoln's administration. In September, 1862, the Democratic pai'ty of Wisconsin hold a State convention aud adopted an address, famous in the political history of tiiat State, known as (lie "Ryan address." ADDRESS OF MR. CAMEROX, OF inSCOXSIN. 13 A Dumerous and influential faction of the Democratic part}', then called War Democrats, took ground against the doctrines of this address. In 1863 Mr. Carpenter united with other leading Democrats in a call for a mass convention of War Democrats. The convention was held at Janesville, and was largely attended. Mr. CARrENTER was the leading spirit, and made the principal sjieech. An address to the Democrats of the State was adopted, urging them to support the administration of Mr. Lincoln in all its efforts for the suppression of the rebellion, and advising a union of all citizens in favor of " conquering a peace," without regard to pre- vious political associations. The Republican State convention was held soon afterward, and responded to the recommendations of the Janesville address by nominating a Union ticket, composed of Republicans and War Democrats. The canvass that followed was very earnest and spirited. Mr. Carpenter actively participated in it. The Union ticket was elected by an overwhelming majority. From the day that Fort Sumter was fired upon until the sur- render at Appomattox Mr. Carpenter with voice and pen gave earnest support to the Union cause. No other man did more, perhaps no other man did as much as he, to rouse and inteusify the Union sentiment and the military spirit of the people of Wiscon- sin. Illustrative of his power and influence, I will venture to relate an incident: At one time during the war quite a large number of the foreign- born citizens of the State residing in one of the interior counties, in consequence of drafts and taxes, became discouraged with tlie pros- pects of the country, and after consultation among themselves de- termined to return to Europe. At this juncture INIr. Carpenter was sent for. He went where those dissatisfied and discouraged men had met together. He mounted a dry-goods box in the street, 14 LIFE AND CRAIIACTEH OF MATTHEW H. CARPENTEB. and for two hours addressed the people tliere asscnihled. For a few moments after his remarkable speech was concluded profound stillness, like that which immediately precedes the tornado or the earthquake, prevailed. Then a great shout was heard, and the men who liad determined to abandon their adopted country in its hour of darkness and peril, swayed by Mr. Carpenter's eloquence, at once enlisted in the military service and thereafter fought the battles of the Union with zeal and fidelity. For some years after the war Mr. Carpenter kept out of poli- tics and devoted liimself with great industry to his large and rapidly-increasing law practice. A banquet was given to General Sherman at Janesville in 1866. Mr. Carpenter was one of the guests, and responded to a toast which involved the Republican plan for reconstructing the States then lately in insurrection. His speech was strong, eloquent, witty, profound, and statesmanlike. In this speech he took advanced ground on many of the political questions that had arisen out of the war, and made an especially able argument in favor of confer- ring i\w. right of sufl'rage ujion the then lately enfrancliised race. He declared with much emi)hasis that the newly-acquired rights of the freedmen could be preserved only by placing the ballot in their hands. Mr. Carpenter was a brilliant advocate. He was more than this. He was a j)rofound and learned lawyer. His learning was not confined to one branch of the law. He was equally ready and equally admirable in every branch. His industry was extraordi- nary and his capacity for labor wa.s really phenomenal. He became a member of the Senate on the 4th of March, 1869. Here he served no period of pupilage. One the 17th of Marcli, only thirteen days after the commencement of his term, he made an able and elaborate speech on the bill to repeal the civil-tenure act. He was prominent in all the great d<'bates during his eiglit ADDRESS OF MR. CAMERON, OF WISCONSIN. 15 years of scrviee in the Senate. He defended liis own eonvictious with earnestness and firmness, bnt no bitterness was ever mingled with iiis logic or his eloquence. He possessed such real good nature and such genuine kindness that he could overthrow and vanquish an opjiouent without leaving a sting behind. About a year before his death he was advised by his physicians that he would probably die within a few months. He then care- fully studied his disease, and satisfied himself that the opinion given by his physicians was correct. With the black shadow of death hanging over him, he continued faithfully, and even with cheerful- ness, to do his work. His obligations to his numerous clients were carefully and conscientiously performed, while no duty in the Senate was neglected. By section 1814 of the Revised Statutes, the President is author- ized to invite all the States to provide and furnish statues, in marble or bronze, not exceeding two in number for each State, of deceased per'sons who have been citizens thereof and illustrious for their historic renown, or for distinguished civic or military serv- ices, such as each State may deem to be worthy of this national commemoration; and when so furnished the same shall be placed in the old Hall of the House of Representatives. Maine has sent William King; Massachusetts has sent John Winthrop and Samuel Adams; Vermont has contributed Ethan Allen and Jacob Collamer ; Rhode Island has sent Roger Williams and Nathanial Greene ; Connecticut, Jonathan Trumbull and Roger Sherman ; New York, Rol)ert R. Livingston and George Clinton ; Virginia, George W^ashingtou and Thomas Jeiferson; and the statue of the eloquent and gallant Edward D. Baker was con- tril)uted to this "noble galaxy" by a far-off State whose shores are laved by the waves of the Pacific sea. ' I trust that Wisconsin, in her own good time, will contribute a statue in enduring bronze or niarlile of our departed friend, 16 LIFE AXD CHARACTER OF MATTHEW H. CARPENTER. Matthew Hale Carpenter, and that the same will be placed in that noble and historic Hall, which in the " brave days of old " resounded with the glowing eloquence of Clay, the ponderous arguments of Webster, the acute and subtle logic of Calhoun, and the gorgeous rhetoric of Choate. Address of Mr. GARLAND, of Arkansas. Nearly a year has elapsed, Mr. President, since the clear, ring- ing voice and the charming language of Mr. Carpenter were heard in this Chamber ; yet those of us who were associated with him here have not become used to his absence. We cannot even now fully realize that his name has passed from the roll of living, acting men, as gently and noiselessly as the sunlight departs from the hills. Indeed, for .so long a time before he was struck down did he fill such a place in the public view, the chasm his death created is not soon to close or soon to be filled. It is now not quite seventeen years since I first met Mr. Car- penter, then young, joyful, buoyant, just beginning to rise before the popular gaze. He was then the very picture of health and bodily vigor, and gave more promise of a long life than any of the large crowd assembled in the Supreme Court room, where he was. It was then he argued before that court the Lawyers' test-oath case, reported in the fourth volume of Wallace's Reports. That argu- ment brought him fresh praise from all quarters and new laurels as well. From that time till his death, a short period indeed, his course was onwai'd and upward ; and yet a young man, he had won the triumphs that usually belong to much older ones, and in truth his career of honor closed when most men who achieve fame begin. While he was looking into the red of the morning the evening had grown around him, and the night came and gathered him in its folds. JDDMESS OF MR. GARLASD, OF ARKANSAS. 17 From the time I liave referred to till he turned his pale fac* to the wall there was between him and myself a sincere friendsliip, and in more than one instance did lie certify to that in substantial and valuable acts, and on more than one occasion did he serve in her troul)los the State that honors me with a seat here, and the peo- ple of that State have a kind and tender remembrance of Mr. Car- penter, which M'ill not be dimmed with the coming and going of the years. Mr. Carpexter w;i.s usually called a bright, a brilliant man; he was that, and more than that. With talent, with genius, he did not rely solely upon them, but he went back and gathered up the thoughts of the masters of the past, and these he read by day and studied by night, and stopped not short of the very fountains to drink of knowledge. While he was quick and bright, he was also cultivated, solid, and logical, and the weapons with which he was equipped for the battle of life were sharp and strong and of ethe- real temper, and with them he won a fame that will shine like a star above his grave. As Cicero said of Mucius Sctevola, so it may be said of ]\Ir. Carpenter — he was the most eloquent among lawyers, and the best lawyer among men of eloquence. The truth is, the demands in his profession and in public afliiirs upon Mr. Carpenter's time and energies burdened him beyond endurance, and he sank beneath their exactions. But amid all these, when the enemy was approaching and it was certain his hand would not be stayed, he bore up with that genuine good humor and flow of spirits that diaracterized him in health, with no complaints, no murmurs. Kind and genial, I believe he was the enemy of no one. He was devoted to duty, whatever that was and wherever it called him ; and no one who witnessed bis struggles against the inevitable in meeting the demands of duty could but be reminded of the Japanese fable, where the beautiful night moth sends those moths enamored of her to bring her fire till they fall victims to the flames. '2 c 18 IJFK AND CHAHAGTEU OF MATTHEW H. HARI'ENTEU. In cursory reading some little while ago, Mr. President, I found a short sentence, said to have been his production, whieli gives forth in plaintive language his view of this thing we call life. I will read it : The loves and fiiendsliips of individuals partaking of the frail character of human life may he shortly summed uj) : A little loving and a good deal of sor- rowing ; some bright hopes and many bitter disappointments; some gorgeous Thursdays, when the skies are bright and the heavens blue, when Providence, bonding over us in blessing, glads the heart almost to madness; many dismal Fridays, wheu the smoke of torment beclouds the mind and undying sorrows gnaw upon the heart ; some high ambitions and many Waterloo defeats, until the heart becomes like a charnel-house, filled with dead aifectious, embalmed in holy but sorrowful memories; and theu the cord is loosened, the golden bowl is broken, the individual life — a cloud, a vapor — passetli away. Probably thLs was the inspiration of one of those moments of sadness that at times come to us all. But it is a faithful summary at last. He had seen and felt all that he said. Still his life, with its share of trials and crosses, was a success and is full of good ex- ample, stimulating lessons, and niil)lf encouragement to the young men of the land. Born and reared with no wealth, with no pre- vious family name or prestige to rest ujjon, alone with his own great mind and energies, he arose from the very groundwork of society, and became one of the wonderful men of this wonderful age and of this wonderful country. It is needless for me to speak of his public services. The Senator who has just spoken, once his colleague on this floor, has given them to us well and ajitly. They are of record all round and about us and are now a part of the nation's valued property. His loss to his country is great, to his friends and family beyond estimate, but to all let the hope come that the tear-drop of sorrow that is shed to-day will be caught up and made to glow and s])arkle in tlie rainbow of promise of to-morrow, without which hope life's bur- dens and charges would be unbearable. And let friends and fam- ily all know that his name and fame will be treasured tenderly in the land and "that Ills memorial shall not depart awav." JDDIIESS OFMH. LOO AX, OF ILLINOIS. 19 Address of Mr. Logan, of Illinois. ]Mr. President: It is witli no ordinary feeling of .saduess that I rise to say a few words in reference to the character and memory of our deceased friend and former associate in the Senate, Mat- thew H. Carpenter. Otiiers wlio have preceded me liave given the date of his birth, early education, and ex.eperience in early life. Sir, his nobleness of character and greater tenderness of heart made him beloved by all wlio knew him well. Frank and cordial in his greetings to all, he was ever ready to extend a helping hand to those in need. The last time he was out of his home was to ask that an unfortunate friend be given employment. He had been very ill, but was convalescing when this person appealed to him to make the effort in his behalf. ISIastering by his great will power the jihysical weakness of the hour, he ordered .his carriage, and by the assistance of a servant entered it and drove to a depart- ment in this city, sought the chief, and earnestly presented his friend's cause, and, as one can imagine, was successful ; returning home much exhausted, he took his bed never to rise asrain. Sir, I wish I had the power to properly portray the loss our country must feci in the death of our brother Senator, but I have no^. I am aware, however, sir, that in speaking of the dead who have long been closely associated with us in life we are naturally inclined to r"fer only to the brighter characteristics of their lives, and to extol their talents and virtues, showing that our better natures arc touched by the grief and sad bereavement of others, and that the envy and jealousies of human nature are lost in tears of sorrow. The ordinary duties of public life have a tendency to draw our attention to the mercenary side of human character, and but seldom load us to look upon the brighter, nobler, and greater traits of 20 LIFE AND CHABACTEB OF MATTHEW H. CARFENTER. man's nature, so that except on occasions of tliis kind (when the tender chords of the heart are touched) does the mind turn back over the pathway of the life of others to gatlier up the flowers strewn along it, that they may be presented as mementoes to the nation and friends; but with our hearts touched and softened we are led for a time to study the better part of human character, and forget the trivial things that are apt to be the more considered in our daily intercourse with each other. ]\Iau is not perfect. The deceased brother of whom we sp'3ak to-day was but a man. He like others may have made mistakes, but, sir, they were of such in- significance that soon they will be lost to memory; while on the other hand the nobler and better points of his character were many, and well marked, and of a nature to impress themselves vividly upon the minds of all who were intimately acquainted with him. He was a gentle and kind husband and a most generous and indul- gent father ; .his home bore tiic impress of these virtues, and now by its silent gloom gives out the deep affliction of his once bright and happy family, as before mentioned. One of the well-marked characteristics of the deceased was his generosity aud kiudness. Tiiis he showed in many ways and on all occasions. A beautiful compliment w;\s once paid to a Senator, which was that "the consciousness of having unintentionally used a discourteous expression would bring a blush to his face." It might with equal propriety be said of Senator Carpentee, that the consciousness of having wounded the feelings of a brother Senator would have given a much deeper wound to his own heart. As a debater in the Senate on important questions he but seldom found his equal. He reached his conclusions by careful and thorough investigation. His convictions reached M'ere clear on sub- jects often more or less clouded with doubt in the minds of others. He never left the investigation of a question without having a decided "yes" or "no" to give in reply. This was doubtless due ADDRESS OF ilR. LOGAN, OF ILLINOIS. 21 in a great measure to his long training in the discission of difficult and complicated legal questions, where a decided position was neces- sary to success. His method seemed to have been to fix upon wiiat lie conceived to be the one strong point in the case, and then to turn upon it all the light afforded by authorities and logical reason- ing. All who have heard him will bear witness to his clear rea- soning on all questions which he debated. No matter how difficult and complicated the question might be, his own views were so clear and distinctly set forth that the most unlearned listener was enabled to comprehend his position and reasoning. His great strength as a debater consisted mainly in his logic, which was precise, almost mathematical, in its demonstrations; but when he did resort to irony or ridicule, it was terrible in its effect. The only way to meet the effect of one of his arguments was to attack his premises. When once he had his line of ai'gumeut he followed step by step to the logical conclusion, no matter how ultra or startling the conclu- sion might be. His appearance on the floor and his voice were in exact accord with the mental characteristics mentioned. The expression of his countenance, his tones in speaking, even his very attitude, beto- kened a feeling of confidence that fiivorably impressed his hearers and riveted their attention. His words came forth wfth such clear and ringing sound that every syllable would be distinctly heard and understood. Not only did the mouth speak, but the whole man seemed to take a part in giving utterance to his views. Yet he spoke with an ease and gracefulness that was peculiarly his own. Usually feeling too confined in the narrow space of his seat, it was his custom to step into the aisle that he might the better give -free expression to his thoughts. His method of tlionght and mode of reasoning, as a natural con- sequence, had a tendency to carry him to the extreme point in the direction his convictions led him on all the (picstions of the day. 22 LIFE A\D CHARACTER OF MATTHEW H. CARPENTER. His position, therefore, on important measnrcs and problems was always radical, and it may be truly said of him that ho never gave an "uncertain sound" in expressing tiiem. Whatever may be thought of the views he maintained on any of the political issues of his day, all must admit that they were distinctly stated, clearly understood, and manfully and ably advocated. Although exceedingly jealous of the honor of his government, yet even on questions where this was involved he aj)plied the same rigidly logical method of reaching a decision as to the justice of the case, and allowed no other consideration to swerve him from his course. Mr. Carpenter was beyond (luestion one of the great orators of his day. When the history of the present age is written it will undoubt- edly pronounce Mr. Carpenter lus one of the great men of his time — great in legal ability, great as an orator, and great as a de- bater, ^nd also as having occupied a high position as a statesman. And when it reaches the page where his death must be recorded, it will be with a deep sigh of regret that the nation should have been deprived of the services of one so able while yet in the strength and vigor of manhood. In his personal intercourse he was always kind and affable, list- ening with the same patience and attention to the humblest citizen as to the most influential. Naturally of jovial and pleasant dispo- sition, he wa.s extremely fond of laying a.side for a time the cares of his public position and entering into free and social intercourse; but even here he seemed most delighted when the conversation par- took of that character indicating an elevated range of thought. As a lawyer he was a profound thinker and brilliant advocate; he was a great student and a very laborious man; his mind was a vast storehouse of legal lore. If equaled, certainly not snrj^assed, in that fervent elo(|uence and clear logic which made him a power ADDRESS OF MR. KELLOGG, OF LOUISIANA. 23 before any legal tribunal. His life as a lawyer was unsullied in everything which looks to professional honor. But, sir, he is gone from our midst; he is mourned by the bar, l)y the Senate, and by the country; he will I)e heard no more in this Hall; his voice is hushed forever. Sir, soon after his death we took his remains to his home in Wis- consin and there quietly laid them down in the tomb, where " lie sleeps the sleep that knows no waking." A mighty throng had asseml^led in Milwaukee to receive the remains ; the immense num- ber of people who came out stood with bathed cheeks and sobbing hearts, giving evidence of the great affection they had for him and of the great loss they had sustained in his death; and well might his friends weep and mourn at their own and their nation's loss. For, sir, his was a great loss. Mr. President, lessons are constantly being taught us, by the demise of our friends, that we arc traveling the same "broad road" to death. The tomb is silent and gives forth no warning to the living, but there is a still small voice that constantly whispers, "A life beyond," where a power shall "unseal the thunders " and give " v^oice to the g-raves." Address of Mr. KELLOGG, of Louisiana. Mr. President : The death of a distinguished a.ssociate in this body imparts new emphasis to the public laboi's with which his talents and energies were identified. A great man is never so great ;us when he passes behind the veil; his silence is eloquent with the remembrance of his past deeds. The distinguished Senator whose lamented death now occupies the attention of the Senate was so versatile in his attainments and in his sympathies, and so many-sided in his character, that it is filtinff there should be anions his former associates wlio now unite 24 LIFE AND CHARACTER OF MATTHEW U. CARPENTER. in a tribute to his memory, those representing wide divergences of geographical lines and grave differences of political opinion. It has often occurred to me siuce Mr. Carpenter's untimely death that the scenes and natui'al surroundings of his childhood — scenes with which I am personally somewhat familiar — may have exercised no little influence upon his later career. He was born at Moretown, Vermont, on the side of a mountain, down which and past his dwelling rushed a stream called Mad River, hastily impa- tient of all obstacles, at times swollen with rains or melted snows, a torrent resistlessly impetuous in its force, and at other times spark- ling in the generous sunlight and filling the pleasant valleys below with liquid music. The varied moods of nature in his mountain home were reflected in his after life, and gave tone and color to his maturer years. Shadow and sunshine chased each other through- out his whole career. What deeper grief, for instance, could assail an able and ambi- tious young man just entering life than total blindness, prolonged through nearly three dreary years? Yet even through this dark- ness rays of sunlight streamed. He had found in that great Mas- sachusetts jurist, Rufus Choate, a friend who had seen the capacities that were in him, who had poured out before him his stores of legal knowledge, and who stood by him with Samaritan benevolence until, happily, his sight was restored and he was enabled again to enter the arena of life. There is no question that this period of enforced seclusion and reflection exercised a marked influence on Mr. Carpenter's future. More familiar hands than mine have sketched the subsequent career of the rising young lawyer; how, after migrating to Wiscon- sin, his consummate attainments forced him out of the compara- tive obscurity of the little town of Beloit, in which he first settled, into wider fields of labor. I refer, in passing, to liis enthusiastic adherence to Stej)hen A. Douglas and his theory of " squatter sov- ADDRESS OF JUn. KELLOGG, OF LOUISf.lX.t. 25 crcigiity," and his subsequent liearty support of the National Gov- ernment when it was called upon to determine by force of arms whether the majority should be coerced by the minority, only as instances of that love of freedom which he liad brought with him from his home in the mountains of Vermont. Elected to the Senate in one of the most momentous periods of the nation's history, it needs no words of mine to recall the services that he rendered. They are written in the chronicles of the time. He entered the Senate grandly equipped for the discharge of hia duties. Erudite in law, of mature years and quick perception, and with marked abilities for debate, he stepped at once to the front and held his ground to the last. It may be that his adroit, self-confident power of fence, cultivated by long experience at the bar, sometimes tempted him to wield the rapier rather than the saber in defense of a public interest. When the maintenance of republican govern- ments established in some of the Southern States, under the acts of Congress passed subsequent to the war, became the subject of burn- ing debate in this body. Senator Carpenter adopted views which brouglit him into sharp antagonism with that other illustrious Western Senator, Mr. Morton, of Indiana, who also has been called to take his place in the silent halls of death. The memory of that contest will be fresh in the minds of many now present. It was a struggle of intellectual giants, of consummate skill and dexterity of thrust and fence on the one hand, and of mighty force and direct- ness of aim on the other. Into the merits of that controversy it is not my purpose to enter, nor would it perhaps be decoroas for me to do so. They have been referred to the arbitrament of Time. Nor do I wish to awaken the echoes of the past further than to say that in my belief, founded upon remarks which Mr. Carpenter made to his friends in later years, had his life been spared a little longer, some opinions which he then urged upon the Senate, with all the forceful logic of which he was so great a master, would perhaps 26 LIFE JXD CHARACTER OF MATTnEW H. CARPENTER. have beeu changed, aud some concUisious arrived at on too liastily assumed premises would liave been modified. And if any feeling of resentment may have been indulged within his party because of his course at times, it was disavowed long before his death, and there is no Republican, North or South, to-day who would not in proud remembrance of his public service lay his hand upon the uru of Matthew Hale Carpenter and say, as said Brutus, " In this I bury all unkinduess." It has beeu well remarked of him that his mind worked by impulse. An illustration of this fact the Senate will perliaps pardon me for recalling, even though some of the incidents may seem trivial. When one who is held in affectionate remembi-ancc has passed beyond mortal ken, even slight reminiscences often have value, especially when indicating distinguishing points of character; and this particular instance illustrates not only the peculiarity to Avhieh I have referred, but that marvelous power of memory which formed one of Mr. Carpenter's most extraordinary gifts. In the summer of 1873 Mr. Carpenter visited New Orleans on the invitation of prominent citizens, chiefly his heretofore political opponents, to deliver an address upon the political situation. He then saw Louisiana with his own eyas for the first time. The marvelous fertility of its soil, the beauty of its semi-tro{)ical prod- ucts, the absence of the evidences of enterprise and thrift and careful husbandry, and the all-engrossing attention bestowed upon political broils arrested his attention, and on the impulse which these surroundings gave him he made a speech the brilliancy and force of which will not soon be forgotten. He spoke extempo- raneously for nearly three hours, amidst a scene of great excitement, with frequent interruptions. Leading newspapers of New Orleans had ai'ranged to lay before their readers a verbatim report of the eloquent Senator's oration, and the audience, which packed the largest theater of the city, as ADDHESS OF A[H. KELLOGG, OF LOUISIJXA. 27 well as liuiulreds of others wiio had beeu unable to obtain admission, looked eagerly for a report of that address. It never appeared. From a partisan stand-point it was not what was either expected or desired. The wisli of the people generally to read what he had said was communicated to Mr. Caepentek, and a stenograjjlier was placed at his disposal. With some reluctance he consented to attenijit to reproduce his address. Pacing rajjidly the floor of his room, pausing every now aud then to collect his thoughts and recall the surrounding incidents of the occasion, he dictated the speech, as he remembered it, interruptions included, and it was published. Afterward a transcript of the short-hand notes of his address as actually delivered in (he first instance was procured, and on a com- parison it was found that the two speeches, uttered three days apart, and without the aid of note or memorandum, varied scarcely the turn of a sentence or the substitution of a word. Of the influence which Senator Carpenter exerted in this Senate I need not speak. I believe that not one of his associates in this l)ody failed to appreciate his innate and cultivated powers more than did he himself. Although affluent in resources aud opportunities for their use, he seemed unambitious to achieve great distinction in American politics. He surprised fame, but never deliberately pursued her. The same restive temper which imjjelled him to abandon the discipline of West Point in two years some- what distinguished him in his later years, dos2)ite the professional reputation which he justly won. Notwithstanding the license of view permitted to his profession, and of which he sometimes availed himself in this Senate, all who knew him well knew that his instincts were Republican at the root. While he may not rank as a very great statesman, while his Republicanism was a trancpiil faith rather than an impetuous passion, he will be remembered as one who devoted his great jjowers to the public weal, and as an advocate whose courage when roused, and whose brilliance, coherence, and 28 LIFE ASD rn.iR.WTER OF MATTHEW H. CAHrEXTER. strength of argument before Senate, court, and people were tributary to honest ends. Choate — the Edmund Burke, perhaps, of our country — predicted a brilliant future for his young student, but Mr. Carpenter found, as did his distinguished teacher, greater provocations to eifort at the bar than in legislative halls. Through the work of this and future Senates will run threads of national purpose in connection with which will be felt the subtle and familiar touch of his unseen hand. Had he been permitted to survive the next ten or fifteen years, there is little doubt that he would have commanded public attention and added to his fame in much greater measure. His views and hopes for the future were honorable alike to his country, his head, and his heart. On the eve of battle a great soldier has often drawn upon the ground with his sword his plan for the morrow ; there are deep traces in the memories of some of projects which were dear to his heart, but which his arm may never compass now. He was wholly unselfish, with every title to the love of his friends, to the respect of his political enemies, to the gratitude of many whom he genuinely served, and to the pride of his country. The remembrance of the breadth of his legal attainments, the brilliancy of Jiis eloquence, the exuberance of his wit, his magnetic charm of manner, and the generosity of his nature will long survive, and in the Valhalla of the heroic dead who have done valiant deeds in the cause of human progress I venture to believe that the name of Matthew Hale Carpenter will hold an honored place. Address of Mr. Bayard, of Delaware. Mr. President: To "weep with them that weep" is an injunc- tion difficult indeed to disobey when the cause of mourning is the death of a man so highly endowed and accomplished as our late associate, Matthew H. Carpenter, of Wisconsin. AVDHESS OF MB. BAYARD, OF DELAWAnE. 29 It would be useless iteration to attempt portrayal of Lis ciu-eer aud character after the full and interesting history of both, just recounted to the Senate. But, responding to the request of those who held close relations to our deceased friend and brother Senator, I add my expression of sincere sorrow for his loss, and pay this humble tribute to his memory. Mr. Carpenter first became a member of the Senate on the Siune day I did; our personal acquaintance was then formed, aud kindly relations were soon established between us which although never of close intimacy continued unbroken until his death. This period since March, 1869, has been fruitful of issues and events of the gravest public interest and significance, and their dis- cussion in this Chamber has oftentimes been accompanied with nat- ural and deep feeling, which found its expression in prolonged, earnest, and excited debate. In such times and amid such scenes ray personal knowledge of Mr. Carpenter has been gathered. He entered the Senate with high repute as an advocate and jurist, and was well equipped and trained for the duties of his post, so that at once and naturally he took rank as an acknowledged leader in the councils of the party in majority, and the deliberations of the body. With but little prior parliamentary experience, his remarkable versatility and facility of acquisition exhibited itself in his rapid aud easy mastery of the rules of the Senate and the duties of its presidency, to fill which he was repeatedly chosen by his associates. Ilis familiarity with, and ability in discussing, points of constitu- tional aud statutory law, together with his unrivalled intimacy with judicial decisions, caused his arguments and opinions to be received at all times with exceptional and attentive interest. The easy flow, the careless grace and persuasiveness of his methods and manner of reasoning, his felicity of diction and pleas- ant elocution, all combined to win assent, and render disagreement from his propositions a difficult task. 30 LIFE AND CnARACTICn OF MATTHEW H. CAUrKXTER. As, an orator, he possessed gifts of a high order, for he was always natural, simple, and affecting, free ft-oiu mannerism and vociferation, never posing for efiPect, nor bedecking his speeches with the artificial flowers and tawdry accessories of theatrical prep- aration. In addition to a wide range of sound legal learning he had embel- lished his mind with a good acquaintance with belles-lettres, so that his speeches were never disfigured by the uudraped angularity and poverty of ornament with which mere law learning so often marks its professors. He was never prosy nor tedious, Imt almost uniformly l)rillian(, forcible, and instru('tive. It was delightful to witness the play of his fine faculties and note the ease with which his mind did its work. Although a close and laborious student, yet in the Senate or the forum, "the smell of the lamp" was seldom to be detected in his speeches; and, while the effects of preparation were felt, the appear- ance ol" effort was concealed by the smooth working of his intel- lectual machinery. He was a man of generous and impulsive nature, with a fertile mind well stocked with ideas, and lavish in their outlay. Warm- hearted, open-handed, large-minded, with a certain characteristic profusion in his intellectual expenditures, as if conscious of an overflowing reserve that mocked the calculations of ordinary econ- omy, his powers were wonderfully at his command, and in facility of thought, and even still more in the expression of his thought, I never met his superior. His charities were liberal and bestowed without ostentation. Gentle-hearted and affectionate, a kindly liumor played around his utterances and healed the wounds so often and heedlessly inflicted in the heated and lieady currents of debate. In this Senate Chamber, the scene of some of liis many triumphs, ADDHESS OF MI!. liAYMUl, OF DELAWAlUi. 31 ill tlie presence of those who were his witnesses, may justly be applied to him the tribute of Moore to Sheridan: Whose fancy, as bright as the lirc-lly's light, Plaj"c