Representative Reuben Conlee View All Years

Mr Cochran, of Lee county, announced the death of Reuben S. Conlee, a member elect of this House from the county of Lee, in the following words, to wit:

MR SPEAKER:

It is with undisguised sorrow that I rise in my place to announce to this House the death of the Hon. Reuben Conlee, of Lee county, who died at his lodgings in this city, on Wednesday, the 23d of December last, at the close of a short but painful illness of only four days.

The deceased had passed the zenith of his manhood, and at the time of his death, was slowly wearing away into the “lean and slippered pantaloon of age.” But it is eminently the pleasure of the friends and relatives of the deceased, to look back along the life of usefulness and moral excellence that he pursued.

Since he sat his foot upon the floor of this House, as a member of this body, the seducer approached him, coiling himself in the scaly folds of his cautious bribery; but his manly virtue, patriotism and great integrity of heart, made him in vulnerable to their attempts, and he rose superior to offered wealth and favor, and was saved to his country and his family spotless and unblemished. And sir, though he fell beneath the stroke of the tyrant monster, far from his home and family, and a loving wife and numerous offspring were not permitted to smooth his dying pillow: yet he weakened the force of their grief by leaving them the grateful assurance that his dying bed was surrounded with long and tried friends, who tenderly administered to his every want; and more than all, that his mourning family might learn that his peace was made with his Creator.

After which,

Mr Cochran moved the following resolutions,

Which were read, considered and unanimously agreed to,

Resolved, That a select committee of three be appointed to address a letter of condolence to the widow and family of the deceased.

Resolved, That the members and officers of the Senate and House of Representatives testify their respect for the deceased, by wearing the usual badge of mourning for the space of thirty days.