Mr. CATTELL. Mr. President, I am pain fully oppressed with the reflection that the 1st wo which it becomes my duty to utter in this Chamber must be words of sadness, such as are befitting the announcement just made by my colleague, that death has again invaded the senatorial circle. You have listened to the official announcement that Senator WILLIAM WRight, of NewJersey, is no more. He closed a long, active, and honorable life on the 1st day of Noyember last, at his own home, in the city of Newark, where he had lived for nearly half a century surrounded by his family and friends, ministered to in his last hours by those he loved best on earth, and sustained in his passage through “the dark valley” by the consolations of the Christian's faith. Of his life and character my colleague, who knew him more intimately than I o did, has so fully and in such fitting terms that there is little left for me but to o express my full in all the kindly words which he has Sal(1. It has already been said that Mr. WRIGHT was a business man, a merchant and manufacturer, and I beg to add that he was a worthy type of that large class whose enterprise and energy have done so much to develop the resources and promote the prosperity of our great country. He was a self made man, the architect of his own fortune, and throughout a long business life, in which he accumulated his large fortune, he exhibited the leading traits of a true merchant, intelligence and integrity, combined with industry and energy. He was also a man of political distinetion. NewJersey, the State of his adoption, honored him with highest positions within her gift, having twice elected him to a seat in this body, and I can bear testimony to his fidelity to the principles and measures of the political party which invested him with official power. I had not the honor to serve with him in the Senate, but I am sure he brought to the discharge of his duties here a sound and discriminating mind, with a store of valuable information in regard to the trade and commerce and manufactures of the nation which could not be otherwise than useful and important to the Senate and the nation in the position he for some years occupied of chairman of the Senate ComManufactures. I am aware that during his long senatorial career he never ventured to enter the arena of debate in this Chamber. I am not surprised at this. Mr. WRIGHT was naturally a modest man, a virtue not so common in these 1866. 149 latter days as to be altogether despised. He made no claim to facility in the forms of speech." Merchants and men of business are seldom men of many words. They are usually men of action, of deeds. They write their thoughts in the enduring monuments of great enter prises which mark a nation's progress in her onward march to a higher civilization. The active, earnest, stirring life of a business man, with its engrossing cares and mani fold anxieties, especially in this country where the brain is always run to its maximum capa: city, affords no time to cultivate the flowers of rhetoric or the graces of elocution. If you would have facility in the forms of speech, readiness and efficiency in debate, with the power of eloquence and the graces of oratory, “The applause of listning senates to command, ” you must look for these high attainments in the learned professions to which the scholaos and men of culture of our land so naturally gravitate. But if you would originate “enter prises of great pith and moment, ” if you would open up intercourse with far distant lands, with Ethiopia and the islands of the sea, and widen the boundaries of your Christian civilization, you must then look to the men of action. the men who control your trade and commerce and send their white winged messengers into every sea under the heavens, carrying the Bible and the missionary to the uttermost parts of the earth. Nay, more, if you would put a girdle about the earth, along which to send the flashin lightning as the courier of your thoughts an wishes through “the dark unfathomed caves of ocean' m continent to continent in the twinkling of an eye, you must call from the counting room the indomitable will, the sleep less energy, and the sublime faith of an American merchant to perform the service. If then, the fact be admitted that my late colleague hesitated to engage in the discussions of this august body, let it be remembered that his busy life afforded neither time nor opportunity for training in this direction. He studied men rather than books; and I am sure, acknowledging the value even in this Chamber of such knowledge as he possessed, you will appreciate the modesty and approve rather than condemn the motives which impelled him in such a presence as this to remain silent. That Mr. WRIGHT was a kind hearted, court eous gentleman, scrupulously regardful of all the proprieties of domestic, social, and public life, the Senate and all who knew him will bear testimony. His private character was I believe without a stain. He enjoyed the respect and confidence of the people with whom }. lived so long, and occupied a prominent place in the business community in which he moved. He lived to a good old age, having passed the allotted years of 3 score and ten, and now “he rests from his labors.” And here, perhaps, having paid my tribute of respect to my departed colleague, I should pause. But the Senate will indulge me in a single reflection. 4 times during the current year the angel of death has thrown its shadow over this Hall. Collamer and Foot and Lane and WRIGHT have fallen at their post of duty. And shall we not, draw from these lessons following each other in such rapid succession fresh admonitions that we too are mor tal; that senatorial robes are as vulnerable to the shafts of death as the tattered garments of the lowliest poverty? And gathering instruction and wisdom from these solemn events remembering that life is short and duty pressing: “And our hearts though stout and brave Still like muffled drums are beating Funeral marches to the grave, ” shall we not draw therefrom fresh motives for renewed activity and zeal in the performance of the grave duties that lie before us, and in view not only of the brevity of human life, but also of the uncertain tenure by which it is held, be led to adopt the invocation of the Psalmist, “So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom?”