Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-07-30
William A. Graham, of North Ga rolina.
From the pniadcIphia North american

| The Secretary OF the Navy and nominee of
the Wing party for the Vice Presidency, Is IA
native of Lincoln county III that State, and was
born in the year lS0l, His father, the late
Gen. Joseph Graham, was born i'll the county
of Chester, in the State of Pennsy lvania, in the
year 1859, Of parents who had cmigrated from
the North Of ireland, though of Scottish orr
GIN; thence, by the removal of Il widowed
mother, he was transferred III early childhood
to the vicinity Of Charlotte, i'll the county Of
| Mcckicnbucg, Nor Carolina. Here he grew
to nuns rstitc, d.l received such education
as the country cou then afford, at an acadc
my in Charlotte, called Queens College. lie
was there the associate Of Jackson, Adar, AMI
many others, who subsequently became dlsiii-
gulshcd in the history of the country. When
youth about fifteen years of age, he was pres
ent at the famous Declaration of lndcpcnd-
cnce,7 on the 2hh OF May, 40, by the poo
pie Of MgCklCubur1 aud late III life furnished
his testimony IN relation to that event, whrn It's
authenticity WAS callcl III question: and this
certificate VIII be found appended 10 the pub.
llslcd accounts Of That remarkable occurrence,
so honorable to the patriotism and vaIor OF the
people OF that country.
With two elder brothers, he entered the Rcyo-
lutlonary Army at an early age, and served
| several campaigns in tie Caruluas and Gcor-
! gla, IN which ne rose to the rank of Major of
| Cavalry. In sharp action on the occasion of
| the entrance OF the British army under Lord
| CORVALLIS INTO Charlotte, III September, $50,
Mayor Graham, commanding cOspS If cavalry
| under Colonel DAVE, was cut down, wounded,
and left for dead, short distance from that vii
lagc. Recovering from has wounds, he partlc-
lpalcd actively in the campaign of 1881, and
continued in the service until the end of the
war. After lis close lie filled many important
public trusts, and was for many years ,ucm-
her of the State Legislature, and of both the
Conventions which delibcrated in the adoption
of the Federal Constitution by North Carolina.
In the war of lSl2, holding the appointment
of Brgadicr General of Militia, he volunteer
ed his services, and commanded brigade cal
led out from North and South Carolina against
the Greek Indians, and joined the army OF Gen.
Jackson, soon after the battle of the Horse
Shoe, in time to receive the submission Of that
| powerful tribe. He died IN lS;}6, at the ad-
vanced age of sevcrty-seven years, beloved,
honored and respected by the people Of the
good old Wing State Of North Carolina
William Alexander Graham, his youngest
son was educated in his native State. After
the Usual course OF preparatory instruction, he
entered the University of North Carolina, and
was graduated with the highest distinction in
a class of unusual merit. His professional stud
les i'll preparation for the bar were pursued in
the office Of the Hon. Thomas Rullin, the pres
ent Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Of that
State, and one of the able,t lawyers of Amer
ca. lie commenced the practice Of the law
thoroughly prepared and fixing his residence
at llillsborough, la Orange county, he soon at
tanned the highest distinction in his profession
and was cmincntly successful as an advocate.
Mr.. Graham always lad a right appreciation Of
! the rbur1cipr IF lbs nd
aims. Pure in heart himself, benevolent in dis
position, and generous in all his impulses, he
early became the friend OF the poor and untor-
| tunaie. Tho opprcssor and the wrong door
! found no advocate in him; but he was always
ready to give his aid to the widow and orphan,
without fee or reward; and his happcst efforts
! IN his profession were made III their cause. In
hun are happily blended the graccs OF the
| Christian gentleman and the virtues of the pure
and upright man. All who know INN love him
Tor these qualities of heart, which cmlncntIy
Distinguish him, and which obviously manifest
themselves, even upon "A slight acquaintance
AccuSton- d from earliest rccollcctlont to look
upon the wounds on his fathers face, received
III the battles of independence, and to listen at
the ilrcslde to the legends Of the Revolution
he had more than ordinary incentives to take
| part III public affairs. He was elected n mem,
! Der Of the lower branch Of the Legislature of
the State Of North Carolina in 1913, and was
| continued, by successive elections, down TO
! 1910. At the session of lc;}s, he was chosen
the Speaker of the lower House, the duties Of
which Office he discharged with great ability
and lmpartlality, III which station lie remained
until 10, when he Yves promoted to the Sen
ate OF the United States During the seven
! years he was member of the Legislature of
! North Carolina he acted conspicuous part. -
| The consideration ol questions of currency and
| finance, arising out of the expiration of the
charters of the first Banks Of the State the
! adoption OF system Of internal Improvements
| adequate to It's VANS and CNIgCncics the cal
ling Of n convention to revise the Constitution,
| with a view, principally, to equallzc represent
taton il revision of tine whole body of the To-
cal statute laws the establishment of sys-
ten of common schools, with many other sub
ccts Of great Importance, came under the con
sldcration OF the General Assembly Of the State
during this period. On all these subjects he
We regard by all parties as one OF the alb
lest an influential members, and render
ed c-.t...,a. rylc9, as is now beng both seen
and fen, ~ nc improvements of the state and
the adoption Of the policy winch he enforced
aud advocated with so much ability and en-
larged PATRIOTISM.
\ decided Wing in political opinion, he dep
recalcd the too lreqcnt Introduction of Federal
politics into the Legislature to the neglect of
| lis appropriate functions. AT the session of
| 1881, when resolutions were introduced to IN
! s;ruct MIR. Mangum to vote for CNpunglng the
Journal of the Senate, Mr.. Grahlm greatly dis
tlngulshcd himself by Il speech ~ opposition To
them, which was admired and commended for
| the eminent ability and soundncSS of It's view :,
and the great constitutional learning which 1t
evlnced. Taking his scat IN the Senate of the
| United States III December, lSlO, the Young
est member OF that body, IN which were Clay,
Webster, Calhoun, Wright, and others, Mr..
Graham deferred 10 the superior aye of In, as
soclates, and participated but little in general
discussion. We find, however, IN the reports
OF that day, speech by hm on the financial
policy OF the Administration Of Mr. Van Buren,.
and another III favor Of the ball directing the
several States 10 be divided INTO districts for
the election Of members of the House of Rem
rcsentatlyes both of which are lnuhly crcdIta-
bic and able exhibitions uf Parliamentary rcn-
sonng, and resate with tound conservative
Wing sentiments. Having much experience