The daily union., 1852-03-09
From Pieksit's History Of Alabama,


William Rufus King is native OF North Carolina. |
He was born ON the 7h April 1856. His ialher-W liam
King-was a planter, in independent circumstances,
whose ancestors from the nofih OF Ireland ana
were among the early settlers on James river in the
colony of Virginia. He highly esteemed for his
many virtues, and was elected member oi Inc eae con-
yention which adopted the federal constitution. The
mother of Mr. King descended from Hugueno
family which had been driven from France by the Ieyo
cation OF the edict OF Nanz.
William Rufus King received his education al the Uni
versy of North Carolina, TO which he sent at the
early age OF twelve years. On leaving that institution
where his attention 10 his studies, and uniformly correct
and gentlemanly department. had commanded the respect
and regard OF his fellows and the appreciation OF the
professors, he entered the law office o William Duny
distinR lawyer residing in the town OF Fayetie
ylle North Carolina, and in the autumn OF 1905 obtained
license practice in The superior courts ol the State
In 1906 he was elected member OF the legisla-
ture of the State from the county OF Sampson, in
which he was born. He again elected The
year following; but, the meeting OF the egs-
ature he was chosen solicitor by thatbody, and re-
signed his seat Colonel King continued in the practice
OF his profession until he elected member OF Con-
gress from the Wilmington district which took place in
August 1870 when he but little than twenty
four years of age but his predecessors term did not
expire before the 4th of March, 1911, Colonel King did
not take his seat in the Congress OF the United States
until the OF that year. being the first session of
the Twelfth Congress- This most important period
in the history of the country. The governments OF Eng
land and France had for yeasvaled each other in acts
destructive of the neutral rights and ruinous TO the COM
merce of the United States Every effort had been made
! but in yan--to procure abandonment of orders in
councils on the hand, and DEGREES on the other,
which had nearly the OF the country by
the roots and large majority OF the people felt that TO
submit longer such gross violations OF their rights
nation would be degrading and they called upon
the government protect those rights, at the hazard
Of war In this state of things Colonel King took his
in the House OF Representatives and unhesilangy
ranged himself the side of the bold and patriotic spirits
in that body who had determined to repe aggression
come from what quarter it might-and TO maintain the
rights and the honor OF the country. The withdrawal OF
the Berlin and Milan DEGREES by France, while England
refused TO abandon her orders in council put end TO
all hesitation to which OF those powers should be met
in deadly strife In June, 1912, declared against
England Mr. King advocating and voting for the declaa
ton He continued represent his district in Congress
during the continuance OF the war; sustaining with all his
power every deemed necessary 10 enable the
government to prosecute it to a successful termination
| and not until the rights Of the country vndcated
and secured and restored to the land did he feel at
liberty relnquish the highly responsible position in
which his confding constituents had placed him. In the
spring of 1916 Colonel King resigned his seat in the
House OF Representatives, and accompanied William
Pnckney of Maryland, secretary OF legation first 10
Naples, and then to st. Petersburg to which Mr.
Pinckney had been appointed minister plenipotentaTy
Colonel King remained abroad quite two years, hav
ing in that time visited the greater portion of Europe
making himself acquainted with the institutions of the
various governments and the condition OF their people
On his return the United States he determined to
the Territory OF Alabama, which determination he carried
into effect in the winter OF ss19 and fixed his residence
in the county OF Dallas, where he still resides. few
months after Colonel King arrived in the TeoryCon-
gress having authorized the people TO form a constitution
and establish State government-he was elected
Der of the convention. Colonel King was an active,
talented and influential member OF that body, was placed
The committee appointed to draugh constitution and
also selected by the general committee together with
Judge Taylor OF the State of Mississippi and Judge
| Henry Hitchcock-now more-to reduce il TO FORM
in accordance with the principles and provisions previous
ly agreed on This duty they performed in sat-
isfactory TO the committee. The constitution thus pre-
pared submitted 10 the convention, and adopted with
! but slight alterations.
On the adjournment OF the convention Colonel King re-
turned 10 his former residence in North Carolina where
OF his property still was, and, having made his
rangements for its removal out his for Ala
bama On reaching Miledgevle, in the State OF Georgia,
he received letter from Governor Bbb OF Alabama in
forming him that he had been elected senator in the
Congress OF the United States and that the certificate OF
his election had been transmitted to the city OF Washing
ton. This the first ntimation which Colonel King had
that his had been presented TO the legislature
for that high position and inurousy il would affect
he did not hesitate accept the honor xpectedy con-
fered upon him. and, leaving his people pursue their
way Alabama he relraced his steps, and reached the
city of Washington few days before the meeting OF
Congress. His colleague-ihe Hon. John w. Walker
had arrived before him.
Alabama was admitted as a State, and her senator's
after taking the oath 10 support the constitution OF the
United States, required to draw for their term OF
service, when Major Walker drew six years and Colonel
King four At the time that Alabama became State OF
the Union the Indebtedness OF her citizens for lands sold
by the United States-under what was known as The
credit system-was nearly twelve millions OF dollars II
perfectly apparent that this sum could not
be paid and that attempt to enforce the payment could
only result in ruin her people Congress became sat
sed that the mode heretofore adopted for the disposal
OF The public domain wrong, and law was passed
reducing the minimum price from two one dollar and
twenty cents the acre, with cash payments This
change was warmly advocated by senaiors-Walker
and King
Al the next session a law passed authorizing the
purchasers Of public lands under the credit system to re-
nquish 10 the government portion OF their purchase,
and TO transfer the paid the part renq
TO make complete payment The part retained At
subsequent session another law passed. authorizing
the original purchasers OF the lands renqushed
to enter them at fixed rate much below the price at
which they had been originally sold. To the exeron.
OF Senators King and Walker Alabama is mainly indebt
ed for the passage Of these laws which freed her citizens
from the heavy debt which threatened TO overwhelm
them with ruin, and also enabled them 10 secure their