l, and wrote several books descriptive of scenes
and incidents of his journeys. He also wrote historical works.
He entered, as an author, a lecturer, and a speaker, many fields
of research, and in all sustained his reputation as a brilliant
writer and speaker, always interesting and often eloquent, a close
student who fully mastered his subject, and withal a man of generous
impulses, kind and cheerful nature, a true friend, and a faithful
public servant. This all can be said truly and without exaggeration
of Mr. Cox. He did not contemplate death when I saw him last.
His untimely death was the first news I received on my arrival in
New York from a journey abroad. I am told that he met the common
fate of all with patient confidence and an assured hope and belief
in the doctrines of the Christian faith and the promise of future
life.

It is fortunate that man cannot know the future, and especially
that future beyond human life. Socrates, when condemned to death,
consoled himself with the inconceivable happiness in a future state
when he would converse and associate with and question the mighty
array of heroes, patriots, and sages who had preceded him. He said
to his judges, "It is now time to depart--for me to die, for you
to live. But which of us is going to a better state is unknown to
everyone but God." We cannot lift the veil, but may we not share
the hope of the wisest of men that our farewell to associates who
go before us is but a brief parting for a better life?

I have been frequently assailed for my part in the passage, in the
spring of 1864, of a law to encourage immigration. In reporting
this bill from the committee on finance, on the 18th of February
of that year, I said:

"The special wants for labor in this country at the present time
are very great. The war has depleted our workshops, and materially
lessened our supply of labor in every department of industry and
mechanism. In their noble response to the call of their country,
our workmen in every branch of the useful arts have left vacancies
which must be filled, or the material interest of the country must
suffer. The immense amount of native labor occupied by the war
calls for a large increase of foreign immigration to make up the
deficiency at home. The demand for labor never was greater than
at present, and the fields of usefulness were never so varied and
promising.

"The south, having torn down the fabric of its labor system by its