The mournful
intelligence of the decease of John Tyler, after a brief illness, has cast a
gloom over this General Assembly. The sad news will spread throughout his
native State with painful effect. It will be heard throughout the Southern
Confederacy with deep and abiding sorrow. He has filled a large space in the
history of his country. Heaven has blessed him with length of days, and his
country with all her honors. He has secured, we believe, a blissful
immortality.
For the page of
history his fame is destined to occupy, it is proper briefly to recount the
many offices he has filled. From youthful manhood to green old age he has
served his country faithfully, as a member of the House of Delegates, where his
ripening intellect displayed the promise of usefulness and attracted attention;
as a member of the Executive Council, where his wholesome advice lent wisdom to
authority; as the Governor of this Commonwealth, where his administrative
powers gave efficacy to law, and his execution of the will of the people
expressed by their representatives was rendered pleasant by kindness and
courtesy; as a member of the first convention called to amend the State
Constitution, in which body his ripened experience gave his counsel the force
of wisdom and prudence; as a member of the House of Representatives of the
United States, standing firm amid the rage of party spirit, and remaining true
to principle and to right; as a Senator representing this State in the Senate
of the United States, in which he shone conspicuous for his strict adherence to
constitutional obligation and for his manly defense of the rights of the States
and the honor of the country. As Vice-President of the United States, presiding
over the deliberations of the Senate with dignity and impartiality, preserving
the decorum of a body that then was a model for legislative assemblies; as
President of the United States, when the national honor and reputation were
acknowledged unimpeached and unimpaired in every land, and the powers of the
earth looked up to the new government as an exemplar of morals and of power
worthy of respect and imitation. He thus, step by step, ascended to the
eminence from which he surveyed his country, peaceful and glorious, and calmly
retired in dignity to a private station, happy in the contemplation of a bright
career, happy in a refined and prosperous home, happy in the circle of family
and friends.
His State called him
again into her service. She was to be assembled in convention to resist
oppression, and to withstand a galling tyranny against which her best men
chafed. His services were invoked to aid in maintaining the high position she
had heretofore occupied. He came from his retirement. He advised separation in
peace, or war to vindicate her honor. He was again selected a commissioner to
tender to the government at Washington the terms upon which Virginia would
remain united with her former sisters. He was honored with the presidency of
that Peace Conference. His manly appeals for justice were uttered and unheeded.
He returned and recommended separation and independence. His advice was taken.
It became necessary to form and establish another government for the new
Confederacy. He was appointed by the Sovereign Convention of Virginia a member
of the Provisional Congress. While occupying a conspicuous place in the eyes of
the Confederacy, and the new government was assuming its permanent basis, he was
elected by the people a member of the first House of Representatives of the
Confederate States, with a fair promise still of usefulness, to stamp his
wisdom upon the enduring monuments of a new national existence.
But it pleased the
Almighty to check his career, and take him to himself. Such is the brief
outline of the career of John Tyler. In private he was the perfect gentleman,
the warm-hearted, affectionate, social, and delightful companion; it may be
said of him, his kind hand ministered to the wants of the distressed.
Resolved, by the General Assembly, as the testimonial of a nation's
sorrow for the death of a great and good man, that a joint committee of the
Senate and House of Delegates be appointed to confer with a committee of the
Congress of the Confederate States to make arrangements for his funeral and
burial.
Resolved, That with the consent of his family his remains be deposited in
Hollywood Cemetery, in the city of Richmond, near the remains of James Monroe,
and that the Governor of this State be authorized to cause a suitable monument
to be erected to his memory.
Resolved, That these resolutions be forthwith
communicated by the Speaker of the House of Delegates to the Congress of the
Confederate States, with a request that they concur therein.
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