652 JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS [Mar. 18,

ful dispensation has excited in the bosoms of colleagues and
associates, and cordially unite with your honorable body, in
the disposition to. pay all proper and becoming respect to the
memory of the deceased, in acknowledgment of his estimable
character, his many virtues and faithful public services. In
accordance with the action and suggestions of your honorable
body, the Senate will now adjourn.

We have appointed Messrs. Young and Spates on the part
of the Senate, to attend the funeral obsequies of the deceased.

By order,

A. GASSAWAY,

Secr'y.

Mr. Vickers seconded the adoption of the message, and
said:

Mr President :

A few weeks after convening in this chamber, so renowned
for its historic associations, and the scene where men of true
greatness and distinction have assembled to deliberate and
act, with dignity and ability, in the grave affairs of State, it
was announced to us that an estimable member of the other
House had been suddenly called away by his Maker. That
occasion was one of solemnity, and inspired us with the truth
and reflection, that human life was held by a feeble tenure,
that the issues of life and of death, are in the hands of our
Creator, and that we should be ready to depart, whenever, in
His Providence, His messenger shall come. In the language
of Scripture, it may be said, "We are strangers before thee,
and sojournevs, as were all our fathers." "Our days on the
earth, are as a shadow, and there is none abiding," "There
is but a step between us and death."

How have these truths been again realized in the demise
of our deceased friend and co-laborer, in the other branch,
and whose sudden and unexpected departure has filled us
with sadnesi. The deceased, representative from Montgo-
mery, was in apparently robust health a few days since, at-
tending to his public duties with assiduity, and with the pros-
pect of health and usefulness before him; engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits, with a full competency, and in the enjoy-
ment of domestic happiness, with his beloved wife and chil-
dren, he was solicited and induced to leave his happy home,
to serve the State in the peculiar crisis of her existence.
Those who knew him best and how to appreciate his worth,
made the demand upon his services, and he made the sacri-
fice for his country's good. While here, in constant per-
formance of his public duties, he illustrated the maxim, that
he is most honorable who is most useful.

The deceased enjoyed not only, in a high degree, the re-
spect and confidence of his constituents, but he was worthy