Page:Memorial-addresses-on-the-life-and-character-of-michael-hahn-of-louisiana-1886.djvu/24

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LIFE AND CHARACTER OF MICHAEL HAHN.

and as we give voice to the praise due departed worth, we bestow upon you the well-earned commendation: You left your country better than you found it. What more need be said?

Therefore on thy unknown way.
Go in God's peace! We shall stay,
But a little while delay.



Address of Mr. Lyman, of Iowa.

Mr. Speaker, my personal acquaintance with Michael Hahn began on the first day of the present session of Congress, when, as the result of the chance by which our respective places in this Hall are determined, I found myself allotted to a seat immediately on the right of that occupied by the Representative of the second district of Louisiana. From that time there sprang up between us a friendship which continued steadfast, warm, and sincere until the hour of his sudden and unexpected death.

But while, personally, until that time he had been a stranger to me, he was not by me entirely unknown. Our deceased companion is a historic character in the annals of this country for the last quarter of a century. Being familiar with the history of his varied and eventful career, it was with a good amount of interest that I watched the appearance in the House of the only representative of his party and of mine from the State of Louisiana.

As we learn from the Congressional Directory, Mr. Hahn was not to the manor born. He was not a native of the land he loved so well, and owed no natural allegiance to the Government which he served so faithfully He was born in Bavaria, November 24, 1830, whence he came when an infant, brought by his widowed mother, to the United States, landing in New York, and afterward removing to the city of New Orleans, which city and vicinity continued to be his home until his death. Like the majority of American youth, his education was that of the public schools. He graduated from the high