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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Journal of the Confederate Congress --FORTY-EIGHTH DAY--MONDAY, January 20, 1862.
OPEN SESSION.
Congress met pursuant to adjournment, and was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Hoge.
Mr. Macfarland announced the death of John Tyler, a Delegate from the State of Virginia, and moved the adoption of the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the Congress has heard with the deepest sensibility of the death in this city on the morning of Saturday, the eighteenth instant, of the Honorable John Tyler, a member of this Congress from the State of Virginia.
Resolved, That as a testimony of respect for the memory of this illustrious statesman and honored patriot, the members of this Congress will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days, and will attend the funeral of the deceased at twelve o'clock to-morrow.
Resolved, That a committee consisting of one member from each State be appointed to superintend the funeral solemnities.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this body in relation to the death of the Honorable John Tyler be communicated by the President of Congress to the family of the deceased.
Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, the Congress do now adjourn.
Pending which,
The Chair presented a communication from the speaker of the house of delegates; which was read, and is as follows, to wit:
House of Delegates, General Assembly of Virginia,
January 20, 1862.
To the honorable the President of the Provisional Congress.
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to you the inclosed preamble and resolutions, unanimously adopted on Saturday last by both houses of the general assembly of Virginia, in honor of the memory of the late John Tyler.
With sentiments of regard, I am, your obedient servant,
CHAS F. COLLIER,
Speaker pro tempore Virginia House of Delegates.
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
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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 theretofore occupied. He came from his retirement. He advised separation in peace, or war to vindicate her honor. 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 to 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 public life 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 a 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.
Unanimously agreed to by house of delegates, January 18, 1862.
WM. F. GORDON, Jr.,
Clerk House of Delegates.
Unanimously agreed to by senate, January 18, 1862.
SHELTON C. DAVIS,
Clerk of Senate.
Committee appointed on the part of the house of delegates:
Messrs. Barbour, Newton, Anderson of Botetourt, Hunter, Sheffey, Blue, McCamant, Rives, Jones, Saunders of Franklin, Mallory, and Grattan.
W. F. GORDON Jr.
Clerk House of Delegates.
Committee appointed on the part of the senate:
Messrs. Branch, Robertson, Collier, Isbell, Newman, Johnson, and Wiley.
S. C. DAVIS, Clerk of Senate.
January 18, 1962.
Mr. Bocock offered the following resolution; which was read and agreed to, to wit:
That the communication just read, together with the accompanying proceedings of the general assembly of Virginia, be spread upon the Journals of Congress, and
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that the Committee of Arrangements of this body be directed to invite the cooperation of the committee of the general assembly of the State of Virginia in arranging for the funeral of the deceased.
The Chair announced the following as the committee under the resolution of Mr. Macfarland:
Messrs. Bocock of Virginia, Curry of Alabama, Johnson of Arkansas, Ward of Florida, Crawford of Georgia, H. C. Burnett of Kentucky, Conrad of Louisiana, Harris of Mississippi, Bell of Missouri, Smith of North Carolina, Boyce of South Carolina, Atkins of Tennessee, and Oldham of Texas.
The question then recurring upon agreeing to the resolutions of Mr. Macfarland, and the same having been seconded by Messrs. Hunter, Rives, Wigfall, Venable, and Rhett, the vote was taken, and the resolutions were resolutions were unanimously adopted.
And the Chair declared the Congress adjourned until 12 o'clock m. to-morrow.
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