26 EEPOET OF THE SECRET AEY. 



fectlv secure in his well-earned fame. It was said by one of the Latin 

 poets that no man should be esteemed happy before his funeral. In 

 this case the sad rites have been performed, and to the end of a most 

 useful life he kept the faith. 



In his career we have an illustration of the beauty and excellency of 

 our republican institutions. His education was limited, but his honesty 

 and patriotism had no bounds. He did what conscience dictated to be 

 done and put his trust in those he served. He loved not license, but 

 liberty as delined bv Cicero — ''the power to do what the law permits." 

 He was true to his constituents, and in return they gave him those 

 priceless gifts of freemen, their gratitude and lidelity. 



He represented a State small in population and wealth, but rich in 

 the character of its people and rich in the long line of able, pure, and 

 distinguished statesmen she has given to the National Councils. The 

 horizon of his usefulness, like that of Collamer, Foote, and Edmunds, 

 extended beyond the State of Vermont. He was broad as the Union 

 itself. 



From 1855 to 1867 he was a member of the House of Kepresenta- 

 tives. In 1801 private industries had become prostrated and bank- 

 ruptcy threatened the Kational Treasury. Secession had alreadj^ 

 commenced the work of dissolution, when he prepared and pressed to 

 enactment the tariff laws of that year. AVaiving the question of pro- 

 tection, the necessity" for revenue alone demanded its passage, and the 

 beueiicent results gave national reputation to its author. He came to 

 the Senate in 18()T, and continued a member of that body until the 

 date of his death, having received six successive elections b}'^ the legis- 

 lature of his State. In the Senate he stood at all times for a sound 

 currency. He had deplored the original issue of United States notes 

 in 186:^, and, true to his convictic 'is of right, in after years he consist- 

 ently demanded the performance of the nation's pledge that they be 

 redeemed and canceled. He believed with all his heart that the gold 

 dollar .shoidd measure values throughout the commercial world, and, 

 unmoved by the clamors of hard times, he persevered in his faith until 

 the fultillment of his prophecies has broken the stubborn unbelief of 

 millions. 



Through his eiforts the statues of distinguished Americans now 

 adorn the old Representative haU of the Capitol, where his own so 

 well deserves to be placed. 



Largely through his exertions came the building constructed for 

 the State, War. and Na\-y Departments; and the last legislative act of 

 his life was to provide a building for the use of the Supreme Court 

 of the United States. To us who knew him so well it brings pro- 

 found pleasure that he lived to see the Library building completed, 

 which not only in its purposes but in the splendor of its architecture 

 does honor to the nation. Somewhere within its walls a modest tablet 

 should at least connect his name with this magnificent structure. It 

 is no less a monmuent to his memorj^ than is St. Paul's Cathedral to 

 the memory of Sir Christopher Wren. 



For the last eighteen years he was a regent of this Institution, ever 

 watchful of its interests and prompt to increase its usefulness. In 

 the grandeur of his countiy he felt the patriot's pride. He sought to 

 make its capital city worth v of the people to whom it belonged; and 

 the Smithsonian Institution was regarded b}' him as a chief factor in 

 its future greatness and renown. 



