Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-12
From the Literary Cadet.
PIJEIJS KING.

\,
nr tho world. as this distinguished
gentleman, should mol be snnereo W pa', " Wv
grave, without having his history ,o'"' .c' ~,
IS, &C ,hs r;siny generation; and as his bi
oe,.a,h, nav no as useful as ins,ructing to our
,..d.r. ~. shall. in our feeble way, attempt to
Law !, before the public, though to others, Far
more canahIe than ourselves, the duty VIII oe
assigned nv grateful country.
Rrrrs KING was born in the town OF Scarho-
rouph. District Of Maine, l775, and was de-
se.nded from respectable family, and one that
had been somewhat conspicuous Tor the pro-
duc,jon Of yenias. At an early age, he gave
evidence of unusual talents, which determinec
his parents to give him finished edncali'n'
aud to prepare him for The performance OF hose
duties, which he has subsequently tulilitd, 10
the credit of himself, and the honor and adv an
taee ,fhis country After having gone through
with the rroei tie preparatory studies. ne was,
in the wear 1873, entered a student at Harvard
College, where he soon Distinguished hlmse"
as an Industrious, Oh in,slligeni, and Promi>-
ing scholar; and by the display of precious IA
tents, won the admiration of the Officers ot ths
Institution, ard the undivided respect oil MS
classmates Even at this early peroh m lie,
he gave many, and Interesting ev,de"ces, OF
those powers of oratory, augmentation ana
de, Iama,ion, which in later years, gained h'm
lust celebrity; and convinced those VINO were
int rested in the rising fortunes OF the young
sneaker, that he was destined - hold no incon-
siderable rank, among III. great men oil the ma
ton.
In I777, he graduated at Harvard and re-
cei,ed the honors Of that institution; and soon
after he bad enc, grd from til. scholastic balls
Of Harvard, he migrated to Newburyport, Mas
sachusetts, where he was entered student al
law. in the office Of Chief Justice Parsons
Whilst under the tuition Of that celebrated oIvi
Ian and statesman, he won his good Will and
admiration; and on leaving the guardianship OF
that great man, Judge Parsons Is said 10 have
remarked to the friends of young KING. "that
Young gentleman possesses those talent Yaf a
Sesizass n ssys MAJ N he future councils
OF this nation, he will be distinguished as frs,
among the eminent statesmen of The age"
How folly the predictions of Chief Justice
Parsons were verified, the subsequent history
OF Mr. KING has amply prorsn: he lived TO verl,
fy all the anlicipations Of his frienf and bene-
factor
In the wear 1880. he was admitted to the
Bar Of all the Courts in Massachusetts,; in a
little time. gained reputation, which few are
successful in struggling to acquire; and as his
talents had ALREADY began to be appreciated, he
was called upon bv the people to participate in
the polite. of TIE dsy, to aid them in their lie
gisla.ive deliberations; and in compliance with
the wishes of his countrymen, in the year 1888
he entered the Legislature of Massachusetts,
where he made display OF those talents" hich
in after times. gained him the admiration of
the country, and which. secured to him the en-
yiable title of"a leader in that delibera,ive AS
sembly"
The politics OF the country, a, this period,
were in an unsettled conditions; we had Just e.
merged from a state of vassalage and Deepen,
dencr: the population Of the country having
Jus, been relieved from martial law, were but
little prepared for social legislation; and as
government was to be formed on 4 novel SUI
pers,ruc,ure, the wises, and hes, men were call.
ed upon to lend their resources, and TO partci
,a,e in the Grand Drama And Mr.. KING was
elected to represent the STATE OF Massachusetts
in the old Continental Congress, when he dis
himself as one Of the most talented
men Of that body, & by his mastery eloquence
and sound arguments, soon obtained a decided
influence. The speeches delivered by him,
w hist a member Of that yenerated assembly
are among the finest specimens OF modern elo-
oneuce. and are well worth the attention uf
those who are preparing themselves for gis-
la,;ye life On one occasion, 1--WE ailude TO
thar ey-n,fuI neriod, when the friends Of oni, er
sal liberty were making an effort 10 prob BIZ |
IN. INTRODUCTION Of slaves into what was then
called The North Western Territory he deli,. |
cred speech, which, Of itself, whilst i, exists
md is read, will endear his memory TO all who |
advocate the cause Of universal emancipation,
and render his memory dear TO the lovers Of
d, ,ice and humanity, when the aspersions nf
II, enemies. and their malice, with themselves,
hall have been lost in oblivion.
After having represented his constituents in
he Continental Congress three years, and 10
heir entire satisfaciion,he was, in the year 1887
delegated by the people to attend the Con- en-
ion. then about to be assembled for the forma-
ion of our present Constitution; and after the
elibt ra,ions of that body had been closed, he
"a, selected by the town Of New burvport. to-
ether with Mr. PARSONS; and that celebrated
william ROBERT TREAT PAINE, to represent
IA, town. in the Convention Of Massac hu>eitsi
Inch gave the sanction Of Massachusetts TO
,e Constitution 10 this august and d.hbera- ,
We assembly, he gave still further evidences of /
IS ererar mind. as well a. Of those attachments I
hich he has been allowed to possess, amidst