Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-05-16
VOLUME 42---NO. 3.
(Ftom Ae Washington Union

(From he Washington Jnion)
DEATH OF WM. HENRY RoANE, OF VIRGINIA.
Virginia is now mourning over the loss OF one
OF her most distinguished sons. William Hen
~ Roane breathed his last Al Tree Hill, about
TWO miles from Richmond on Sunday morning.
al | o'clock. He died in about the SSH year Of
his age, leaving behind him hut one chld--a
young daughtei-to inherit his fortune, his soft
er viines, and his name. Her mother was the
sister oil James Lyons, Esq. The present delegate
OF The city lie lett no children BY his first wife,
who was the sister OF William Selden, Esq, The
Treasurer of the United States His halt-sster
is the accomplished wife Of Mr. Macdonald, ex-
Governor OF Georgia.
Mr.. Roane was among The most eminent men
Of The Stale: and perhaps il is scarcely too much
10 say OF him, the most popular man 10 all its
broad bonierS. fie had almost every quality 10
endear him 10 his people lie had all The ardor
and enthusiasm IN favor Of popular rights and OF
the rights Of The States. all The iinnness, energy,
and enthusiasm, which distinguished his cele-
braled father. Judge Spencer Boane; and he oc-
casionally threw out some Of the eloQuencc and
genius of his illuslrious grandfather, Patrick
Henry. He was bold thinker and fearless
speaker. He seemed 10 possess an almost in
stinctive attachment 70 the cause Of Republican
principles, and he adhered 10 them with the tena-
city OF hooks OF steel. Sometimes he would sur
prise his audience with The bolduess of his propo.
silions, and then remove their difficulties with
flashes al argument rs sudden and reslstless as
stroke Of lightning. He had an artor in his cha
racter which was sometimes loo exci,able, but
which showed, in lis very excess, the honesty Of
The man, and the devotion 1.-THE politician. With
al he was a Republican,; in his manners, Stem
though he sometimes was, Yet he was equal IN
his department 10 all classes OF The people, a1ec-
tionae in his diSrositi N, and always hospiab!e
in his house There was no >,auncher Republi-
can in the Union Than William III. Roane, none
more honest in his ite--rone more patriotic in
/ his feelings Is ii ans wonder, then, that such a
man should be blessed with troops Of friends"
/ that he should have lived in honor, and that he
should have departed hence, amid The tears Of his
ooun,rymen?
w. H. Roanc enloyed The confidence 81 the
people throughout his lie, and The public bonors
OF his country in no ordinary degree He was
twice member 81 tie Executive Council OF
Virginia, Representative OF tie King William
district in Congress, Delegate OF The county Of
Hanover in the General Assembly, AMI Sena-
Tor Of Inc United States. No man who heard
his powerful ana eloquent speech in yonder Ca
pilol IN reply 10 his colleague, Mr.. Rives, in
1858. in which he thew OF, all The IRE OF his
character. and he beauties u his genius, can
ever forget il. II was the crack speech Of lti,.
session, and placed Mr.. Roane al once among
The most effective speakers oi the Senate OF the
United States. For several years, though he
was retired from The halls OF legislative bodies.
vet he was always alive oise political interests OF
his county, He declined the honor OF presiding
over the Baltimore Convention vi MAY last, Vet
no man contributed more 10 pour oil UPON the
agialed waves and hy the union OF his lrienc5
and the vigor oil his course, hr promoted The sue
cess OF the measures which have resulted in the
election OF Mr. Polk He was The President at
HE electoral college OF Virginia, which gave
him her vote in December last. soon alter Mr..
Polk came into power, he declined, with much
grace and dignity, The lucraIiye Office o. poslmas-
ter Of the city 81 Richmond
For several years lie has devoted himself 10
agriculture, upon his farm al Tree Hill. whose
beauties are unsurpassed in al The lower couI-
iry-prescniing a superb panorama III Richmond
with her capitol, her se> and sieeples the
river which eIdes al her feet and the intern eGials
and surrounding country, which spreads on bot
sides of the James rive under the eye Of The spec
tator. There he lived fjr several years, and there
he died.
We pay this simple frihnle 10 The merits a
VIM. II. Roanc because no one knew HIM better
than ourselvcs; and we NAV also say Thai TO
one knew ~ better :han himself He was our
hinsman and our friend orr counsellor and our
guide on The most di1i'HH OCCASIONS. 10 Hltu,
a. almost 10 our Oracle, We frequently went ioi
advice; and on M OCCASION more important Than
the proposition which has brought az 10 this city
We spent last day whh him, ~ company with
another valued friend, AMI a distinguished man
in The most nnrrscnei discussion Of This mos
important movement of our l:Ir. lie frankly
lod us thai, under Other circumstances, he would
not have us 60 10 WaShington hul II, upon due
consultation with The polcans here We could
support their administration consistently with our
principles and our independence. we we're bound
iy our duties 10 our country and Ia our family.
10 pitch our tent within this city. We pursued
this advice. The star II destiny has brought Us
10 this civ where are now engaged 10 The
melancholy vel grateful office Of paying our lri-
butte. in The face Of the nation 10 one Of her pufrs'
and worlhicsl citizens. May the green 'uF! lie
lightly upon his honored ashes
"a