Never did the Union, never did freedom, the world, more need his services than now.

A large territory, of sufficient extent to form several States, had been blighted by slavery, and annexed to the United Sates.

A sanguinary and expensive war, growing out of this strengthening of the slave power, had just terminated, adding to the Union still larger territories--now free soil indeed, but furnishing a field for renewed battles between slavery and liberty.

New revolutions were about to break forth in Europe, to convulse the Eastern Hemisphere, and cause old thrones to totter and fall! How momentous the era! How deeply fraught with the prosperity of the American Republic--with the progress of man--the freedom of nations--the happiness of succeeding generations! How could he, who for years had prominently and nobly stood forth, as the leader of the hosts contending for the rights and the liberties of humanity, be spared from his post at such a juncture?
Who could put on his armor ?--who wield his weapons ?--who "lead a forlorn hope," or mount a deadly breach in battles which might yet be waged between the sons of freedom and the propagators of slavery?
But the loss was to be experienced.

A wise and good Providence had so ordered.
The sands of his life had run out.