Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-20
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
WILLIAM LowNDEs.

crnment for the emergencies Of both peace and
war were SO severely tried, no one enjoyed q
higher character for ability, integrity, and purity
than WILLIAM LowNDEs, of South Carolina; and
to these qualities being added pre-eminently the
winning ones of candor, gentleness, and suayity,
they combined to give him degree of respect and
personal influence with both parties unequalled by
those of any one of the eminent men by whom he
was surrounded in the House of Representatives, and
never equalcd in hatbody since. 1t was in his ma
tive modesty and true perception of high propriety
and selfrespect that the fine saying originated that
the Presidency was +" an Office not to be declined or
solicited" OF this wise and virtuous statesman
and true gentleman, in whose early death his coun-
try sustained SO great loss we find in Charleston
paper the annexed brief biographical sketch, which
we cannot deny ourselves the qualification Of laying
before our readers.
TIE LATE WILLIAM LowNDEs. By the author Of
The q ilutarch Letters"
In the throng of brilliant statesmen that aided the for
tanesof Madison and Monroe the conspicuous for
political wisdom WILLIAM LowEDEs, of South Caro-
lima. If Clay eloquent Calhoun more bril-
liant Lowndes was superior TO both in intellectual
taiDments. Ii the of 1872 declared by more
eloquent voices its burdens relieved the superior
Wisdom Of Lowndes, who originated the Sinking Fund
system financial by which the debt of one
hundred and thirty million dollars eztngnished in
the brief space OF fourteen years This entities
Mr.. Lowndes to the lasting gratitude of the American
people But the political student may ask, Who was
William Lowndes Where the evidences of his mas
terly influence in moulding controlling the affairs of
our country? Alas he has been suffered 90 down to
his tomb to posterty with the usual indifference Of
the South for the fame of her distinguished statesmen in
stead Of collecting their sayings writings speeches. and
opinions, and embalming them in tie memories of the
gallant spirits that sway the desinies Of their
tive Southern country The most striking instance 4
of this neglect is furnished By the amented Lowndes
His has been given to few counties in the Southern
States, and here and there you may with Lown-
desboro and this is all that reminds Of statesman
whose magnitude filed up the of the public
eye who was unquestonab!y the first legislator in Con-
gress during the period of his connection with that body
and who the time of his premature DEATH regarded
the most worthy to succeed the last Of great
evolutionary leaders Chief Executive Magistrate of the
United States.
It was we think in the year 1921 that we saw William |
Lowndes for the FIRST and only time We were sitting at
our desk the Charleston College, then under tie super
inendence Of Mr. Hurlbur and sedulousy engaged with
Corderes Coloquies and the Historic Sacrp, when the
door of the opened and in walked very tall
man. leading two boys by the hand. The tall was
Mr. William Lowndes and the two boys his sons,
Rawins and Pinckney. We shall forget the i'm
preston made upon by Mr.. Lowndes it is indeible
We have said that Mr.. Lowndes very tall his per-
spare and apparently eonsumptye his face pale
and Intellectual, his hair black, and his clothes black
We him just he entered the room, and him
now in that very spot and we shall see him there for
But DO not remember to have heard his voice
He did not remain long, but after giving Rawlins and
Puckney in charge Of our schoolmaser, Mr. Lowndes
tired We have many eminent men, nearly all the dis
Gngushed men Of the country, but we cannot exactly
compare the look or figure Of any Of them TO Mr..
LoEndes.
VIM, Lowndes was the third son Of Rawins Lowndes,
celebrated for his devotion the OF liberty du
rng the Revolutionary war; and for his opposition to the
adoption Of the Constitution the United States he
born in Charleston, South Carolina in February, 1892
being just about month older than John c. Calhoun
At very early age he sent 10 England where he re-
manned few years enjoying the benefit of the primary
schools of that country. Returning home in the year
1874 he placed under the superintendent of Dr.
Gallagher, the Roman Catholic PSiest who said of his
ambitious pupil that his mind drank up knowledge
the dry earth did the rain Of Heaven After completing
Of studies this classical school, he entered the
lay Office Of the late Chancellor DeSaussure and while
yet law student be married Elizabeth Pinekney, eldest
daughter of Gen. Thomas Pinckney.
In 1906 Mr. Lowndes, then in his twenty fourth year.
elected to the Legislature served out two three
terms with great distinction and in 1910 was elected
member Of the eleventh Congress- from the district Of
Beaufort and Coleon The frequent outrsges upon
commerce had reused public indignation and Mr.. LoWn-
des was elected with particular reference to the APP
preaching crisis, South Carolina having warmly epoused
the Of "freetrade and sailors rights and sent
four Of her most distinguished to represent her in
the National Councils, viz: Lowndes, Calhoun Cheves
and David II. Williams The war Congress-the plo-
rious tUeifth-contaned some Of the most brilliant
statesmen which America has produced; for, besides
Clay, mention cohort Of such champions as For
syth, Grundy, Barton Key and Peter b. Porter 1t has
been remarked that Mr. Clay the Speaker Of the House
much embarrassed in his selection Of the Charmen
the Committees three such Lowndes Calhoun, and
Cheves appearing at the time from State, and
that State of the smallest in the Union At length
be made the following appointments Mr. Lowndes
placed the head Of the Naval Committee Mr. Cheyc
the head Of the Ways and Means and Mr. Calhoun
placed second the Committee Foreign Relations il
being intended by Mr. Clay that in the event Of casualty
Mr.. Calhoun would act as chairman OF that committee
and this casualty occurring by the withdrawal Of Porter
from Congress, Mr.. Calhoun became the head Of that
committee.
The three important committees Of Congress
thus placed under the charge Of three from South Ca
roiina! Nay, it had been popular to dparage the
navy The Republican party had been taught to neglect
that arm Of the public service but the sagacous Lownde
soon perceived that in with Great Britain the
and the lakes would be the chief Of conflict and
therefore devoted himself seduousy the purpose
placing the naval establishment frm and solid foun-
dation.
To this end he reported bill for the increase Of the
navy, ana being warmly supportedby Clay Calhoun and
CheVes, that branch OF the service eectualy in
vigorated as to enable Decatur, Perry, Hull and Nc
Donough to triumph in every conflict on the ocean and the
lakes He spoke but seldom in Congress- saws an nc
quanance "but when he did speak he was listened to as
the oracle Of truth There nothing Of the partisan
about him: his language pure and his statement,
and deductions clear and that none pretended
10 dispute them His sole object was his country hi
whole country and nothing but his country At the ter
mination of the war, Mr. Clay being to Client hi
place Speaker Of the House supplied by the cleo
ton of Mr. Cheves Mr. Lowndes took the place Of Chair
man Of the Committee Of Ways and Means vacated b,