Mr. CRAGIN. Mr. President, love for my native State, sympathy with her people in their double affliction, and great respect for the character of her departed Senators, prompt me to utter a few words on this solemn occasion. Few members of the Senate have known sole MON FOOT longer than I have. Running back into the years of my boyhood is the memory of this able. pure, and accomplished man. More than 30 years ago I looked with pride and admiration upon his noble and manly form and eagerly listened to his eloquent words. It was my fortune to have been born and reared within 30 miles of where both the late senators of Vermont long resided, and I can truly say that my political faith was in part derived from their teachings. Judge Collamerresidedin mynativecounty, and my 1st vote tbr memberof I Congress was given for him. Only a few weeks ago the death of that great and good man was fitting] announced in this Chamber by his distinguised colleague whose de arture we now deplore. What we do for the end must soon be done for us. In his concludin remarks on that occasion he seems to have ha a presentiment that his own remainin days upon the earth would be few. He saidg: "Mr. President. he whosedeath we now lament is gone. to be with us no more. His work on cartlris one: he strikes a golden harp among the seraphim on high. His preceptsandhis example are left to us for our instruction and our profit. Ha Dy, indeed. will it be if we shall so profit by them that we shall be ready. as hewasrca. for the final summonsin that hour which is coming to as all and to someof us not far off. when this world and its worthlessnem shall fadefrom our sinking vision.” These solemn words may now be spoken of him who 1st uttered them, and again to us. finely, this life is short, very short. Man is here today and gone tomorrowl He is as the transient grass“in the morning it springeth up and flouris eth; in the evening it is cut down and withereth.” The great highway of life is thron ed; some are constantly falling in the race, an others are coming to take their places; and the world moves on as before, passin, generation after generation, into the awful s adow which no eye except that of faith can penetrate. It is not my purpose to speak of the public career of our Idmented friend, but simply to draw attention to his general character, and the example of his life. His social, moral, and mental qualifications were well adapted for use, and a so for show. Of fine, command in personal appearance, he always bore him self with great urbanity and dignity of manner. He was one of nature s noblemen. His features, his preportions, his manners, his mind, all indicated a man. God set the seal of greatness upon his brow, and lanted within the elements of goodness an loving kindness. His was a heart of honor, and a tongue of truth. He was strong in his convictions, and bold in their utterance. He was a firm advo cate for freedom and human rights and a most devoted lover of the republic. e was one of the most perfect models of integrity and propriety that Iever knew. Honor, with him. was a cardinal virtue, and he had a most perfect taste for forms and ceremonies. He abhorred meanness, scorned duplicity, and despised tricker. In his case there was no poverty of soul. He always looked and acted the perfect man. The mantle of truth, which is the garment of beauty and exalted manhood, he always wore. He was a sound, practical, and learned man. 25 years ago he was a fluent and captivating speaker; but even then his can dor, truthfulness and facts, were the great elements which carried convictions. He was never to my knowledge a great talker. He spoke only when he had something to say, and he never fiiiled to have listeners. Like his colleague, Judge Collamer, he had great contempt for worfiy pretenders; and he did not thin it the highest attainment of a statesman or a scholar to be able to marshal words into high sounding sentences. with the superlatives in front. His exampleto the aspiring young men of his State an country was of inestimable value. He taught them lessons of temperance. truth fulness, honor, and all the social and moral virtues of noble manhood. He carried his morality and honor into politics, and by his teachings and example convinced the young men that honesty and straightforward mnnliness is the best policy in every relation in life. He did not believe in that miserable heresy, that everything is fair in politics, and that the scramble for cities is a game that justifies unfair means and falsehood. In this he and Judge Collamer were much alike. The result of such examples and such teachings is that Vermont has the purest political atmosphere of any State in the Union. I consider this no small compliment to my native State; and I claim it as a great honor to her public men. Men in public life are greatly responsible for the morals of the people. Men in high positions exert a vast influence upon ambitious young men, and their examples are powerful for good or evil. If they would allpsternly and religiously imitate the example of the 2 lamented Senators of Very mont, bribery, corruption, and political trickery and buseness would be unknown, and we might all have greater hopes of the Republic. 2 morepure, just, and upright statesmen never race and dignified the Senate Chamber. 0th, in an eminent degree, combined the qualities that make the perfect man and Christian statesman. The lives of both of them have illustrated, what we should all regard, that character is the one thing valuable; that reputation, which is the mere shadow of the man, is, in the lou run, of infinitely lessimportance. Vermont as great cause for mourning. Twice has she been stricken within a few months, and her 2 most eminent and respected citizens have been taken away and I are now buried in the shadow of her green mountains. High position could not shield them, rent ability and moral worth could not save them from the arrows of death. They have gone the way of all the earth; but they have left bright and honorable records as a legacy for their own State and as examples for those who may occupy like positions. These noble men have con!rred great honor upon their State; and the people thereof will long hold them in road and grateful remembrance. The loss of crmont is the nations loss, and we do well to express a nations sorrow. By this sad event, we who occupy these seats are called to contemplate the summons which will soon come to each one of us. senators, behold the point toward which all human things converge the gravel It is appointed unto all men once to die. A few brief years will bring each one of us to the end of lifes journey and finish our earthly record. When we shall have arrived at the last moment of our existence here below, and the sight of the natural eye becomes dim, God grant that, looking hcavenward, we may be able to exclaim, With our departed friend, “I see it! lsee it! The gates are wide open! Beautiful! Beautifull”