Mr. FESSENDEN. Mr. President, among the distinguished men who, during the past ten years, have occupied these seats, I regarded Senator Comamsn as having no superior. He was not among those, if an such may be found, selected through his own s ill in political combinations, in reward for part services, to advance the interests of personal followers, or on account of individual popularity. With great directness, not to say abruptness, of speech, extreme tenacity of opinion and purpose, and apparently a somewhat proportionate disregard of the opinions of others when differing from his own, he was not likely to gather around him, and retain the attachment of, a, party devoted to himself, or to interest large numbers of men in his individual success. Notwithstanding these obstacles in his political nth, few among our eminent public men have cen more successful in attracting and retaining the confidence and regard of the people among whom he lived, and inspiring with profoun respect those With whom it was his fortune to be associated in the conduct of public affairs. That this was so may be accounted for in some measure by the character of the people whom he so long and so ably represented, and in a still greater degree by the possession of intellectual and moral qualities which over shadowed all such trifling defects, if so they may be considered. The small but noble State of which he was a most distinguished citizen has long been accustomed to look for its official representatives among those most eminent for virtue in private and for capacity for usefulness in public life. It has ever seemed to act upon the idea that public trust should be confided to the most aithful, and public honors conferred upon the most capable and deserving of its sons. Thence it has followed not only that its domestic affairs have been well and ab] conducted, but that its weight in the councils of the nation has been largely disproportioned to the extent of its territory and the number of its people. Mr. COLLAMER was the possessor of qualities which could not fail to attract the attention and to secure the confidence of a people able and disposed to estimate men at their true value. Though his love of approbation was largely developed, he was more anxious to deserve than to receive it. Ambitious to secure the respect of others, he never forgot that without his own it would be worthless. Gifted by nature with cat quickness of a prehension, discrimina mg powers of a big order, a just thinker, an admirable logician and withnl a student both from we and habit, he was not but become an able lawyer, mere distinguished erliaps, for the exactness of his prolcssional earning than for the extent of its range. That learning, however, embraced all the subjects coming within the sphere of his practice, and involved with the pursuits of those among whom he lived, and whose interests he was called upon to irotect. tilarrying to the bench of his State such habits of stud and thought, and such intellectual pow ers, an with themanmst delicate conscientious ness, he could not be otherwise than an eminent and u right magistrateeminent even among the able and learned men who, from its earliest history, have adorned its judicial annals, and given to American law character and renown. this not, however, for me to speak of him at len th, either as counselor or judge, inasmuch as never happened to witness his efforts at the bar or upon the bench. Yet, though living in another, and not an adjoining, State, his professional and judicial reputation was such as could not be confined within the limits of his circuit, and his name had been familiar to me long before it was my good fortune to meet him where, nion a broader theater, and at a great crisis in is countrys history, requiring the exercise of the best powers of the human mind, he was destined to perform a most useful and honorable part. Our lamented associate brought to the Sen ate, at the commencement of the 34thCongress. a rich experience in legislation, gath ered in the halls of his adopted State, and in the national HoRep. “ith a man like him time never was sulfered to pass unimproved. Intrnsted with public affairs, to make himself familiar with all that pertained to them, to master the details of business, and togluard with vigilance the public interests, were to imsolemn and religious duties. To this end he spared no labor, however severe, and shrunk from no task however burdensome. With such habits, and thus rie in intellect and experience, he commenced is senatorial ca recr, not, like many others, with everything to learn, but fully armed, master of his weapons, and ready for the great conflict upon which he was about to enter. Time never finds a great occasion without finding also, earlier or later, the men fittedto meet it. Familiar with his countrys history, learned in its laws, thoroughly imbued with its principles of government, in the best sense a patriot, thoughtful and wise in council, firm in purpose, and s otless in character, our associate and frie was admirably fitted to meet the duties of a perilous hour. How well and bravely those duties were performed we can all bear witness. Spared to see the clouds of civilWar which had so long dark ened over his beloved country finally dissipated, and the sun of peace rising in unobscured brilliancy, he passed away from earth too soon, as it would seem to our imperfect vision and while very much to which his sagacity and prudence, might have largely contributed still remains to be done. Conspicuous in the debates of the Senate, Mr. COLLAMEB, though of prepossessingpersonal appearance and ready in speech, was not remarkable for oratorical power, and at no ins to ornament his discourse with rhetorical illustration. His remarks were always suited to the occasion, and confined strictly to the question in debate. Plain, simple, and unpretending in manner and style, always severely lo ical and master of his subect, he was invariab y heard with attention, an with the expectation, never disa pointed, that new light would be. cast u might have been previously discussed by others. His speeches wereWell considered, but never assumed the shape of orations, carefully writ ten out, adorned with rhetorical flourish, and “pointed with inverted commas.” The closet was to him a place for prayer and thought for forgiveness o injuries, real or faucied, and for the cultivation of goodwill to man, rather than a laboratory of vituperution, open or covert, whether of men or measures. quick at repurtee and somewhat impatient of interruption, his ntequestion, however elaborately it ! l1ll retorts were sometimes caustic, but had no tinge of malice. lf their sting was lcltit left no wound; while the rich vein of humor, which never failed, and an inexhaustible fund of apposite and amusing aneedote, always illustrative and most happily related, rendered his efforts alike interesting to a miscellaneous audience and instructive to his associates. You and I, Mr. President, have long known and felt how delightful our lamente friend was in private and social intercourse, how playful and genial was his wit, how fertile he was of aneedote, how keen of observation, and how instructive his conversation, both in lighter and graver moods. No one of his associates in this Chamber can, better than myself, bear testimony to his kindness of heart, his readiness to impart information and give the adiiintage of his learning and wisdom to those about him whenever sought or needed. Seated by his side, session alter session, for many cars, I habitually asked his advice and songht his aid whenever einbarrassed by doubt or if licult. The patience with which he listened, and o ready kindness with whichlie responded, imparting from his rich store all that was need ful, compelling me to make his thoughts my own, could not but secure in gratitude and win my alfection. i venerate and loved the man as one regards an elder brother, upon whose superior knowledge and wisdom, and unscllish singlcness of heart, he feels that he may, in all emergencies safely rely; and I grieve for his loss as one aments the breakin of a link in that chain of lifes pleasures which he gecls to be growing shorter and shorter day by ay. yAt a period like the present, calling for so much wise experience and unselfish devotion in our national councils, the lossof such amen cannot but be severely felt and yet, in the in scrutable ways of Providence, it well happens that the termination of no single life is ever permitted to produce more than a momentary ripple upon the great ocean of human affairs. Whatever impress the individual may make upon the time in which he lived is soon trodden outby myriads of advancing footsteps. other hands take up the unfinished work, and it goes on without any perceptible stay or interruption. The noblest ambition of man is, therefore, to perform well and faithfully the part assigned to him, and he is fortunate if content with what he may receive, and humbly thankful if spared responsibilities beyond his ability to bear. It may be truly said of our departed friend that he was true to his own conceptions of duty, bothin public and private life and if he was not without a love for worldly distinction and eminent place that love was subordinate nlways to his convictions of right, and his highest aim was to serve faithfully, and to divine acceptance, as a Christian soldier, in the great battle of life.