of the present session, and from familiar conversations I grew to esteem him highly. He was modest and retiring, but even in the few weeks he served here he gathered about him many friends. You remember the suddenness of his demise: while those who knew him had noted his absence from his accustomed place, no one thought death near until his end was announced.
His departure from earthly scenes teaches us the frail tenure of existence here; it was an impressive admonition of the brevity and uncertainty of life, an exemplification of the hollowness of ambition and the emptiness of office. It is indeed sad to contemplate that this quiet man should be forced into such rude acquaintance with death, that the rending of soul and body should be accompanied with such terrible suffering. Little did he or I realize at our last friendly interchange of thought that he stood on the very threshold of eternity, that the conqueror of all mankind was already beckoning him to its cold embrace, that his soul should so soon go forth on the mystic journey to the hereafter.
No native of the soil of Louisiana loved the State more than this its adopted son. I remember, sir, when I first began service in this body I offered a bill which he thought, if it became a law, would affect a great industry in Louisiana, and he at once came to me to discuss the provisions of the measure, pointing out the injury he feared it might entail upon the people of the State he served and cherished. This son of a foreign monarchy loved liberty and our institutions; indeed his example taught patriotism to the children of the land; his devotion to the nation was often tried in the crucible of persecution, but he ever remained true to freedom and union.
Representative Hahn lived nearly fifty-six years. More than a third of that life was passed in the service of the people, and, though elevated to high positions where avarice could have its sway, it is recorded to the honor of this public servant that he died poor in this world's goods. He was the just executive, the erudite jurist, and the faithful Representative. During the fierce contests in the section
