The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-03-29
TRIBUTE OF RESPECT.

CAMDEN, March a..
At meeting Of the citizens OF Camden, called
by the Town Council, to pay tribme of respect to
the memory of those of our town who lost their
lives on the 9th Instant by the unfortunate burning
of The steamer Orline St. John, on the Alabama
river, and make preparation to receive the bodies
of J. R. McKain, Esq, and his mother; expected
to arrive by the evening train of cars on motion of
John Rosser, Esq, Maj ]. NJ. DeSauss,,re was
called to the chair, and w. Thurow CASTOR and
A. G. Baskn were appointed Secretaries.
The Chairmap, m explaining the objects of the
meeting, paid an appropriate and deserving tri-
bu!e to the memory Of the deceased. In the death
of j. R. McKain, he remarked, our town had lost
its honored Intendant-one whose efficiency as
public officer, and whose life of undertaking recti-
tude and great usefulness challenged the admra-
ton Of all who knew him.
On motion of Col. james Chestnut, Jr, COM
mittee was appointed by the chairman to submit
suitable resolutions to effect the purposes of til.
meeting, consisting of Col James Chestnut, Jr,
John Rosser, Esq, Thomas Salmond, Esq, Col. T.
J. Ancrum and E. w. Bonney, Esq.
The committee reported the following Preamble
and Resolutions, which were unanimously adopt
ed:
Death, at all times full Of soemnity. and in all
instances bringing in its train loss and sorrow,
comes to Us OH the present occasion with far more
than its usual iulness The town of Camden
seems of late to have furnished many shining and
attractive marks to this destroying angel. The
last melancholy incident which has called us to-
gether, swels to overfowieg the measure of our
miSf,rtunes. The loss at one fell swoop of six Of
our citizens, friends and neighbors who have per-
i-hed in manner SO fearful and shocking, induced
BY the burning of the steamer Orline ST. John, OIL
the Alabama River, will excuse, and even demand
the public expression of our sense of that loss,
and the feeling of our regret The sufferers, not
but from their own virtues, and the lives of use
fulness they were leading are entitled 10 our es-
TEEN, and will command the flow Of our sympa-.
thy. 1t is true that our words cannot reach the
dead, but we may soothe the living, while we gra-
tity ourselves by the utterance of sincere praise
and profound grief
ReSoIre,i That We deeply lament the recent and
melancholy death OF Mrs Elizabeth McKain, of
Mrs. Vaughan, OF Miss Virginia Vaughan, and Of
Mrs. H. H. Sizer and her infant daughter wfrU
perished OH the Alabama River, closing their lives
amid more than usual horrors, and ffightful scenes
of fire and water; and we do hereby tender to
their respective families our sympathy in their
mistortuDes.
Resolr,d d. That in the death of James R. Nc
Kahn, our friend and fellow citizen, the town of
Camden and the people of Kershaw District have
sustained no ordinary loss His character was full
of the highest virtue. In private life he was kind;
pious, liberal. and sympathetic. Hewas Possessed
OF the noblest courage, which was sanctfed by
principle, and always guided by generosity. Iii
public lit. he was fearless and impartial, suffering
no considerations of personal peril or convenience
to deter him from the discharge ofevery duty. He
was stern towards vice, infeXibly just yet, with
the happest discretion, ever tempering mercy
with Justice. His life was full OF honor to himself
and of utility to his fellow man. 1t will be long,
indeed, before the void which his untimely death
has caused, will b.! filled in this community; and
We, who knew his worth, now deeply mourn his
loss.
Resolred, That committee of seven citizens
be appointed to proceed to the Junction this eve
ming, 10 meet the remains ofour friends James R..
McKain'and his mother, and to attend them to the
place of their late residence.
Resolra, As further mark of respect, we will
attend their funeral ceremonies on Friday morn.
ing at haIfpast Q o'clock, at the Presbyterian
Church, and thence, in procession accompany
their remains to the place of burial
ReSOlred, That we will suspend our usual avo-
cations dnring the funeral service and burial
pesolred, That these proceedings be published
in the Camden Journal, and that copies thereotbc
presented to the f,mies of the deceased.
Ihe following were appointed coiiini'tee Oh
seven, in accordance with the third resolution: W.
Thurlow CASTOR, Il. J. Warren, Col. James CheS-
nut, ir., w. F.. Hugh<on. Col. T. J. Ancrunn, Y. j.
DELAY, and Capt IT F.. Shannon.
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
J. NJ. DESAUSSURE, Chairman.
W. TH1Rlow cAsTos' Secretaries.
A. G. BAsKIN,
Information has been received from Wash.
ington by telegraph, that Col. Gadsden has
been appointeda Commissioner to superintsnl
the construction of the Custom House in this
II r.