Southern Literary Messenger Volume 28-29; Devoted to Every Department of Literature and the Fine Arts (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1859 Excerpt: ... avowing his desire to return to private life. After Congress adjourned, he came home in feeble health--with depressed spirits and looking very badly. His constituents, however, would not hear of his giving up the public service. On his reaching Prince Edward C. H., his old friends came crowding around hjm, as usual, not only to welcome him back, but to importune him to abandon his purpose of retiring, He was at last prevailed upon to speak to the people, and give an account of the public affairs at Washington, if nothing more. On ascending the steps, he was assisted by his faithful and devoted personal friends, John James Flournoy and Samuel C. Anderson. He looked pale, emaciated and dejected. Every eye was fixej upon him, every whisper hushed. Leaning upon bis cane for support, he surveyed the crowd with a look of unutterable tenderness and deep solemnity, and said, --" Fellow-citizens f--I am an old man and worn out, --grown old and worn out in your service. Two and thirty years--with the exception of a single term--have I served you to the best of my poor abilities. These thirty years make sad changes in a man. When I first was honoured with your confidence, I was a very young man, and your fathers stood almost in parental relation to me, and I received from them the indulgence of a beloved son. But the old patriarchs of that day have been gathered to their fathers--some adults remain whom I look upon ns my brethren--here they are clusteringaround mo to-day. But the far greater part were children, --little children, --or have come into the world since my public life began. I know your grandfathers, and men muster-free, who were boys at school when I first took my seat in Congress. Time, the mighty reformer and innovator, has silently and slowly, but su...