Address of Mr. Gibson, of Louisiana.
Mr. President, I rise to second the resolutions commemorative of the public life and services of Hon. Michael Hahn, recently a Representative from the second Congressional district of Louisiana, who died in this city suddenly on the 15th of March last. I was absent on the day of his death and had not the opportunity to participate in the funeral obsequies or in the action of the Senate.
My acquaintance with Mr. Hahn dates from the Presidential contest resulting in the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States. He was a supporter of Stephen A. Douglas. I remember distinctly the large and enthusiastic meeting held in the town of Thibodeaux during that campaign, and the strong and earnest speech delivered by Hon. Michael Hahn. Thibodeaux is the capital town of La Fourche Parish, the center of a wealthy, intelligent, and cultivated population.
I have never known in my life in any land a community that was more distinguished for its polished manners, its sturdy character, its genuine hospitality, and charitable benefactions, and in which the poor and rich alike enjoyed in a larger measure contentment and happiness. It could boast of such citizens as Bishop Leonidas Polk, than whom no more striking character ever shone forth in the annals of the Christian Church in this country; George S. Guion, the model planter, the public-spirited citizen, the devout Christian, the knightly gentleman; Dr. James Scudday, an ornament to his profession, and beloved as widely as he was known; Braxton Bragg, whose name is forever associated with the history of the war of secession, and of General Richard Taylor, as its senator in the State legislature, renowned abroad as well as at home as one of the most, if not the most, accomplished gentleman and brilliant conversationalist of the age and second only to the foremost in military genius. The day Mr. Hahn came before the audience that had assembled on the occasion referred to he was quite unknown, but when he had closed his address there was not a person in it who had not become convinced
