The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-05-12
DEATH OF WILLIAM HENRY ROANE, OF
VIRGINIA.

Virginia is now mourning over the loss of one OF
her most distinguished sons. William Henry Roane
breathed his last at Tree Hill, about two miles from
Richmond, on Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. He
died in about the 5sth year of his age leaving behind
him but one child-a young daughter-to inherit
his fortunes, his softer virtues, and his name. Her
mother was the sister Of James Lyons esq, the
present delegate Of the city. He left no children
by his first wife, who was the sister Of VIM. Sci
den, esq, the treasurer Of the United States. His
half-slster is the accomplished wife Of Mr. Macdon-
aid, ex-governor of Georgia.
Mr.. Roane was among the most eminent men Of
the State; and perhaps it is scarcely too much to
say of him, the most popular man in all its broad
borders. He had almost every quality to endear
him to his people. He had all the ardor and
enthusiasm in favor Of popular rights and of the
rights Of the States; oil the rmness, energy, and
husiasm, which distinguished his celebrated father
Judge Spencer Roane; and he occasionally threw
out some of the eoquence and genius of his illus
trious grandfather, Patrick Henry. He was bold
thinker and fearless speaker. He seemed to pos
sess almost instructive attachment Of the cause OF
republican principles, and he adhered to them with
the tenacity of hooks of steel. Sometimes he would
surprise his audience with the bodness Of his prop
ositions, and then remove their difficulties with
flashes of argument as sudden and resistless as
stroke of lightning. He had an ardor in his char.
acter which was sometimes too excitabe, but which
showed in its very excess, the honesty of the man.
and the devotion Of the politician. Witha, he was a
republican; in his manners stern though he some-
H. I'm,
to all classes Of the people, afectonate in his dis
position, and always hospitable in his house.
There was no stauncher republican in the Union
than VIM. III. Roane; none more honest in his
lfenone more patriotic in his feelings. Is it any
wonder, then, that such 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 countrymeni
w. II. Roane enjoyed the confidence of the
people throughout his life, and the public honors of
his country, in no ordinary degree. He was twice a
member fthe executive council of Virginia, repre-
sentative of the King William district in Congress,
delegate Of the county Of Hanover in the general
assembly, and senator of the United States. No
man who heard his powerful and eloquent speech
in yonder Capitol, in reply to his colleague, Mr..
Rives, in 1885, in which he threw out all the fire Of
his character and the beauties Of hisgenus can ever
forget it. was the crack speech Of the session, and
placed Mr.. Roane at once among the most effective
speakers of the Senate Of the United States For
several years, though he was retired from the
halls of legislative bodies, yet he was always
alive to the political interests Of his country. He
declined the honor Of presiding over the Balti-
more convention of May last, yet no man con-
,ributed more 90 pour oil upon the agitated waves
and, by the union of his friends and the vigor
Of his course, he promoted the success of the
measures which have resulted in the election of Mr.