could not skilfully maintain, and rarely encountered an opponent in argument that he could not overthrow. His mighty heart glowed with a devotion to his country which no circumstance could chill. Warm in his nature, and generous in his impulses, he pre-eminently towered above the prejudices of the vulgar. As a political partisan, he was fearlessly honest, and his remarkable abilities rendered him a dangerous and formidable antagenist. In the heat of debate, and while grappling with the magnitude of his subject, he was often grand and overwhelming in his declamations. Lookers-on could behold the storm gathering on his brow, and see the lightnings of intellect flashing in his eyes. Whilst he was bold and unsparing in his denunciations against wrong-doers, his magnanimity never allowed him to cherish a feeling of revenge. In attacking the citadel of corruption, and shaking it to its foundation, he felt the deep consciousness of his responsibility to his God and his country. Modest and peculiarly unobtrusive in his manner, and strongly attached to his friends, he was beloved by all who knew him. He had the winning influence to make friends, and he possessed the power to make tyrants tremble in his presence. He was ever found on the side of right, and brought his giant mind to bear directly upon all that he believed to be morally and politically wrong. His manly voice was ever raised against oppression. He was opposed to every system that was calculated to degrade his fellow-man. The poor found in him an abiding friend, and the oppressed an earnest and zealous advocate. As a lawyer, he occupied a prominent and commanding position at the bar. Whether as a distinguished counsellor in the halls of justice, or as a citizen in private life, he illustrated by his own conduct the true character of the gentleman and accomplished scholar. It was at the fireside, surrounded by his family, where his private virtues were so beautifully exemplified. He was high-toned and honorable in all his social relations. Patriotic in his feelings, he took a lively interest in the education of the rising generation, and in all systems that he thought were calculated to promote the honor and glory of the State. He was free from all narrowminded sectarian bigotry, and had many friends among denominations with whom he honestly differed. All is over now. If he had any enemies while living, surely the narrow house of death in which he sleeps is big enough to bury all animosity. Let the living endeavor to emulate his many manly virtues, and generously forget all the little failings that are common to humanity. Think of the departed as ye would wish that others should think and speak of you when your eyes are sealed in death. A great man has left the world, who had but lately laid the ashes of his venerable father in the dust. Oh! little do the living know, or think in their dreams of ambition, how soon the spoiler may come and lay prostrate all the cherished hopes of the future. While freshly covered with honors and renown, he was preparing to return to the bosom of his family in San Francisco, the city of his choice. He was called away, however, in the flower of manhood, and he obeyed the summons. His appointed time was come, and he met his destiny. His name will live in our remembrance, and be enshrined in our affections. We mourn his loss, and feel as if the temple of the human heart was hung with the gloomy drapery of the tomb. Senator Baker. "GOD gave him reverence of laws, Yet stirring blood in Freedom's cause A spirit to the rocks akin, The eye of the hawk, and the fire within." THE proud "gray eagle" of the West has fallen by the hands repose. of traitors. The champion of freedom sleeps in undisturbed His eyes are closed in death, and he fills an honorable grave. Pierced by the bullets of an implacable foe, he gallantly fell on the field of battle, covered with glory and immortal renown. With the inextinguishable fires of patriotism glowing in his manly breast; with a perfect and heroic contempt of danger and death, he passed from time into eternity. He sleeps in his coffin as he perished, with his regimental garments around him. Millions mourn his loss, and wear the symbols of grief in respect to the memory of the departed. His personal friends cluster around his bier, and shed the honest and manly tears of sorrow over his honored remains. Well may the sons of freedom weep over the body of their illustrious brother. They shall no more behold him on our public streets; they shall no more listen in rapture to his stirring eloquence in our public halls. He is gone from our midst. It is but as yesterday since he delivered his splendid eulogy on the lamented Broderick. As they had been warm friends in this world, may their kindred spirits live in unity forever in a happier sphere! The death of Senator Baker is a great national calamity. He has left a vacant chair in the Senate Chamber which no man can so worthily fill. California has lost an abiding friend, the country a devoted patriot, and freedom an uncompromising and gallant champion. His whole career was as remarkable as it was brilliant. He was a Briton by birth, and an American by adoption. Justly proud of the race from whence he sprang, he beautifully exemplified by his own life how ambition, high toned and honorably directed, can successfully surmount all obstacles that lie in the way of poverty and obscurity, and ultimately reach the very summit of distinction. In early life we find him an humble weaver; in course of time we behold him the commanding statesman in the councils of his country. Swift as flew the shuttle of his loom when a lad, he rapidly conceived ideas in his active brain, and clothed them with all the charms and graces of an accomplished scholar. Kings and princes may confer honors and titles upon deserving subjects; but the deceased Senator received his credentials of intellectual nobility from his God. He was conscious of his own superiority, yet, like all truly great men, he was frank and simple in his manner. Pride and arrogance were strangers to him. He was ambitious to serve his country, and was at all times willing to die in its defence. A braver heart never beat within a human bosom. Knowing no fear, he never shrank from danger. Despising to sacrifice principles on the score of policy, he brought the workings of his mighty mind to bear against the gigantic efforts of traitors who sought the overthrow of the glorious institutions of enlightened freedom. He could not sanction with a smile what he cordially abhorred. Devotedly loyal, he refused to shake hands with despotism. He was an enemy to every system that interferes with human progress. Undisguisedly he was opposed to the traffic in humanity, and a formidable foe to the Southern rebellion and its abettors. "Is there not some chosen curse, Turn Senator Baker was no common man. In early life, he directed his footsteps towards the West. Destiny led him thither. ing his attention to the study of the Law, he soon became a conspicuous member of the Bar. His rare talents, and extraor dinary gift of language, commanded general admiration. In course of time, he won the confidence of the people, and an enlightened constituency sent him to Congress as their trustworthy representative. How often has the national hall of Congress rung with the rolling music of his voice, and the manly independence of his sentiments! In his character we find the mental qualities of the statesman, combined with the gentlemanly accomplishments of the gallant soldier. His capacity and bravery were abundantly tested on the plains of Mexico. shall leave the incidents of his Mexican campaign for his future biographer to chronicle. His political history on the Pacific coast is so well known, that a repetition of it would be too lengthy for the limits of an essay. Had his useful and precious life been only spared, he would not have disappointed the lofty expectations of his friends in California, and his constituents in We |