The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-02-26


The Senate took up, for consideration the resolu-
ton heretofore submitted by Mr. MERRIcK, as JOINT
rule of the two Houses, providing that amendment
which proposes to appropriate money not called for
by pre-exstng laws, shall be received or adopted in
either House amendment to general appropriation
bills; but before the subject was disposed of,
sage received from the House of Representatives
announcing the
DEATH OF THE HON. LEWIS WILLIAMS.
Mr.. GRAHAM observed that the melancholy event
which had just been announced, was the result of a
sudden and violent attack Of bilious pleursy which
defcd all remedies, and which proved fatal in less
than thirty-six hours On Monday Mr.. Williams
in his seat until the adjournment but Wednes-
day he lifeess corpse; and this melancholy occa
sion presented to his mind few reflections in which he
begged to be indulged public man had been struck
down by the hand of Death, almost in the harness of
his public labors-a man who had devoted long
life the greater part of nearly sixty years. to the pub
lie service; and they could not but turn their minds
to the contemplation of the awful change to which,
sooner later, they all destined, while they
were reminded of the life and character of him who
had long shared, and so long enjoyed, the conf
dence of his country. Mr.. Williams was native of
the coun of Surry, in North Carolina his educa-
his native State, and subsequently spent Time
there as q tutor and a vigilant guardian Having
solved pursue public life he was, in 1914, elected
member ofthe House of Commons of the State, and,
although he was then young man. he took an active
and prominent part in the business of that session.
In 1915 he elected member of the House of Re
representatives. from the Thirteenth Congressional Dis
ric OF North Carolina and from that time until this
he had been uniformly returned by the conslitu-
ency Of his es islatlve history it not necessary
to speak here, among his associates and those who
knew him better than he who now addressedt the Sen
ate. 1t would be found incorporated with the history
of the country for than quarter of a century,
and it was written the legislative journals in the
reports of committees, and in the register of debates
Few men were more ndustrously and arduously de-
voted to the public service than he was, and
ever longer remained member of legislative
body without intcrmission. As the chairman of
the Committee of Claims in the numerous and
embarrassing cases arising out of the late war; be
was useful and it might be said, an invaluable
man and all his acts bore testimony that he was
faithful md attentive the interests ofthe constituency
who sent him there as well as those of the people of
the nited States. With a patient aborous, and
investigating mind he turned his attention to pub
lie business, with desire to understand it, with
which he became more intimately acquainted by long
experience and thus he was the most useful coun-
seller in either branch of Congress. But it not
merely in the reference to the talents he displayed and
e.labor in which he engaged, that his demise
was to be lamcnted He had known him for many
years and he had known no man more pure and ell
evaed in principle than was his deceased friend, who
was always moral, but late in life became
religious man. and his conduct public and private,
was Marked uniformly by conscientious sense of
duty. His course public man was open, manly.
and ingenious, by which he secured the appreciation
of his constituents not merely tribute of their re-