he was sent to Camden as yardmaster. Diligence and competence soon earned him promotion; he rose through the various grades to be general superintendent, vice-president, and finally president of what is now known as the West Jersey and Seashore Railroad Company.

General SEWELL'S active political career began in 1872 with his election to the State senate from Camden County. He served three three-year terms in the senate, and was its president while the Republican party had control. He fathered the resolution creating a commission to suggest amendments to the State constitution, and led the fight for their adoption. He also took a conspicuous part in the passage of New Jersey's general railroad law and of the railroad municipal tax and municipal corporation acts.

In 1881 he first entered this body, having been chosen to succeed the Hon. Theodore F. Randolph. Six years later he failed of reelection, the legislature having a Democratic majority on joint ballot. But in 1895 he regained his seat, succeeding the Hon. John R. McPherson. In 1901 he was elected for a third term, only a fraction of which he served. His last appearance in this body was at the extraordinary session called by the President which terminated March 9, 1901.

In his own State he long exercised an exceptional influence in party councils. He headed our State delegations to the Republican conventions of 1876, 1880, 1884, 1888, 1892, 1896, and 1900, and was New Jersey's recognized spokesman in all those gatherings. His power in the State organization was sometimes disputed, but never overthrown. On the contrary, it grew with time, for it was based on unquestioned capacity, courage, loyalty, and integrity.

In all the heated and prejudiced struggles of faction no one could justly reproach WILLIAM J. SEWELL with a broken promise or a dishonorable betrayal.

Of his service in this body I need say little. Here, where his character was intimately known, his sterling virtues were amply appreciated. He made few speeches. The part he played was not spectacular. Yet the work he did was eminently useful and lasting. His judgment on all important legislation was sought and valued. He was a tower of strength in council. His voice was potent in all decisions on legislative or party policy.

In manner General SEWELL has been charged with a certain brusqueness and coldness. There was a hint of military precision in his attitude. He sometimes carried directness to the point of bluntness, but this manner reflected only his own deeper tendencies of thought and character. He believed in openness, in candor, in plain speaking and straightforward action. He scorned concealment and indirection, and he detested shams and insincerity.

To all who knew him intimately this surface roughness covered a tender and generous heart. Always open, always high-minded, he won the ungrudging respect of his opponents, while attaching his friends to him in ever-tightening bonds of trust and love.

His life was gentle, and the elements

So mix'd in him, that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, "This was a man!"

ADDRESS OF MR. COCKRELL, OF MISSOURI.

Mr. PRESIDENT: It is eminently fitting that to-day the Senate of the United States of America should lay aside its legislative labors in order to pay its last tribute of respect, friendship, and honor to the memory of Hon. WILLIAM JOYCE SEWELL, late a Senator in this Chamber from the State of New Jersey.

General SEWELL was born December 16, 1835, in Ireland, came to this country at the age of 18 years, and died at his home in Camden, N. J., December 27, 1901, respected, honored, and loved by the good people of his adopted State and by all who knew him personally or knew of his noble, manly character and worth. "A good name is rather to be chosen

than great riches."

His life record is a brilliant and illustrious one, worthy of emulation and inspiring and encouraging to those who closely study it. At the age of 18 years, in this, his adopted country, he entered the arena for his life work with a sound body and a clear, vigorous mind; with honesty of purpose, fidelity in the discharge of every duty and trust, great or small, and firm determination to achieve success honorably and legitimately.

He engaged in mercantile pursuits; and early after the beginning of the civil war in 1861, being loyally and patriotically devoted to his adopted country and the maintenance of the integrity of the Union of the States, he organized a company of volunteers and was commissioned captain in the Fifth New Jersey Regiment on the 28th day of August, 1861, and served during the entire war with distinguished gallantry and military ability.

On July 7, 1862, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and in October of the same year to colonel, and participated in the many battles in which his regiment was engaged, and was severely wounded at the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.

At the battle of Chancellorsville he was commanding the Second New Jersey Brigade and, at a critical position, led forward his brigade in a daring charge and achieved one of the brilliant successes of the war, capturing eight stands of colors. For his gallant and meritorious services in this battle he was commissioned by brevet a brigadier-general of United States Volunteers.

On July 2, 1864, he resigned as colonel on account of the disabilities incurred in the service in the line of duty. As soon as he had partially recovered from the effects of his wounds, he again offered his services to his State, and was commissioned by the governor to raise and organize the Thirty-eighth Regiment New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as colonel October 1, 1864, and with his regiment took an active part in the operations about Petersburg, Va., which resulted in the capture of Richmond, Va., on April 2, 1865, and the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox on April 9, 1865. With his command he returned to his home and was honorably mustered out on June 30, 1865.

For his gallant and meritorious services during the war he was brevetted major-general March 13, 1865. In estimating correctly the gallantry, military abilities, and services shown and rendered by General SEWELL from early in 1861 to the middle of the year 1865, we must not forget the historical fact that that war was a war lasting for four long weary years, wherein the citizen soldiers of the Northern and Southern States of our Union, the noblest and bravest soldiers who ever

faced each other in martial array and clashed in mortal combat in all the history of the world's wars, confronted each other, fearlessly contesting every foot of ground and covering the field of battle with dead and wounded on each side. When such soldiers met each other in battle there was truly "the tug of war," testing to the fullest extent their endurance, courage, manhood, and devotion.

It was in such a war that General SEWELL achieved eminent distinction and rendered meritorious services, justly entitling him to the brevets of brigadier-general and majorgeneral, United States Volunteers, conferred upon him by President Lincoln. When the war closed, in the maintenance of the Union of the States, General SEWELL returned to the peaceful avocations of civil life with the same courage, patriotism, and devotion he had so conspicuously shown during the war.

He was that type of American soldier whom his comrades in arms respected, honored, and willingly followed.

In civil life he was that type of American citizen whom his fellow-citizens respected and loved to honor and to follow.

As an officer he was brave, strict in discipline, mindful of the well-being of his men, and inspired them with confidence and courage, and enjoyed their respect and love.

As a citizen, by his forceful character, great executive ability, untiring energy, incorruptible integrity, and strict attention and devotion to duty and to the interests of his fellow-citizens, he inspired their respect, confidence, love, and loyal devotion. He attained the highest honors which his fellow-citizens could confer upon him as an American citizen by adoption and born a foreigner.

He was three times in succession elected a State senator from his home county, Camden, and was president of the senate in

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