Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-10
DEATH OF VICE pREsIDENT KING

The motion agreed to-
DEATH OF VICE PRESIDENT KING
MI HUNTER. Since the adjournment of the last
Congress an event has occurred which becomes us to
notice The American people have lost Vice President
and the Senate Presiding Officer, by the death of WIN
H. KING who departed this life the 18th of April last
at his home in the State Of Alabama rise to ask that
we may pause for day at least in deliberations soon
the affairs of life to devote it the memory of one who
was bound to by many personal and official ties
surely sir, there within the limits of this wide
spread Confederacy to whom the life and services of
nIn H. King are known, who would not be ready with
soEne offering either Of public respect personal aec
lion, to bestow upon his tomb There have been few
public men whose lives have been long and active as
eAis who have made friends, and none | am sure
ever left fewer enemies Nor his of those cold
and impassive characters which shed their light without
heat but its kindly influences fell with genial and friend
~ warmth within whatever circle he might move.
1t IS happy thing for country when the lives of its
puoc men may be thrown freely open the world and
cnaenge Its closest scrutiny with consciousness on the
part OF the friendly critic that there blot to be con-
ceaed and no glarng fault which love of truth forbds
MN to deny and his Of right scarcely allows
MIN TO paliate Here, least is a public man in whose
life there be found instance of mean or eouivo
Gazing ACTION none OF departure self-imposed
restraints of refined and lofty of honor and
In which either the fear Of seductions Of
bnon tempted him to deed which could destroy either
his sefrespect the respect others for him He
trod the difficult and devious paths political preferm
long and successfully and yet he kept his robes unsoed
by the vile mire which often pollutes those ways
is said that the story of every human e rightly told
may convey useful lesson those who survive OF all
the public whom have known, there none whose
lives teach impressiyey the great moral of the
strength which public virtue gives than that of Col King
His was an instance in which greatness achieved
without the aid of those brilliant qualities whose rare
sembage the world calls genius, but by what is better
for sound judgment a resolute purpose pursue the
right and capacity gather wisdom from experience
He was orator. and yet from the force of character
he could WELD an influence which oratory never
commanded. He had none of that presumptuous self
confidence which often msleads ourselves and others
and which, though dangerous, is still commanding
quality but he knew how to inspire people with just
confidence in the soundness Of his judgment and the in
tegry OF his purpose so as to be looked to safe de-
positary of trust and power.
Although gentle and kind in his intercourse with others
he could be stern enough when the public interests
personal honor required it. He was a man. sir whose
whole soul would have sckened under Of persona
dshonor
1t is not surprising then that each step in the poit
cal career Of such should have been crowned with
public honors At the age of twenty-one he was elected
to the Legislature of North Carolina his native State
where he served until he was made Solicitor In that
capacity he acted until he twenty-five years Of age
when he sent TO the House Of Of the
United States where he served from 1911 TO 1916 wher
ne resigned to 60 abroad as Secretary Of Legation Mr.
Pinckney, our Minister to Russia Upon his return be
emigrated to Alabama where he almost immediately
sent to their Constitutional Convention
And at the first session Of the first Legislature which
assembled afterwards he to the Senate of the
United States from the State Of Alabama where he may
be said to have served continuously until his election tc
the wee Presidency with the exception Of two years
nen ne was Minister to France Finally be elected
the Vice President Of the United States BY large maio
rty OF the American people As he assembled step by
step to this elevation, his vision seemed to grow with his
horizon and when the occasion he always found
equal TO it. for, to the aid of sound Judgment he
brought as he grew older, the wisdom Of n large expe
rience.
His political career may be said have been one t
umphant march through hfea march in which his steI
neither faltered stumbled ascending TO that
which perhaps the chief object Of his aspiration Anc
yet If to show that the successful of mel
later feel the emptiness the earthly OBJ
ects of usual pursuit that much priced honor was
him the Dead Sea fruit which turns ashes the lips
IL came but it came too late The breath Of public ap
plause could not revive the fame which ickered in thu
lamp Of life. In vain did the assduity Of relatives
friends surround him with aeconate In vain die
the aspirations Of whole people ascend TO Heaven fol
ms recovery The balmy influences Of neither moi
SKY could revive restore him When the public mes
senger came to cothe him with the forms of Office, hi
chief earthly wish his home MORE and il
iee midst Of familiar to die amongst his friends
ms desire was gratfed. Life and it's busy th
sIe the grave are closed him forever; but il
tale yet remains to be told Not by me- sir or at th
Ime. but u will be told in the chronicles of his STATE
prea'er When 1t may become labor Of love to
sons 70 write the story Of its founders and sages.
VIZ oe 'olu IN our own political history by whoever may
sne SURFING aud evenful in which he act
P4ouen' ana useful part. 1t will be told, too,
perhaps heard with most interest in the traditions of
fanny Of Whlch he was the ornament and pride
i Iresluen., those to whom our people have beer
long accustomed to look times Of diacuv and emer
gency for counsel and opinion are sallin Ca, aod ~
IL - an anxious thing TO feel their loss al neriod liz,
this, pregnant with change and teemino erhans ;,l
grea, ana strange events The men cannot recall
but let us preserve their memories let ms stndv
teachings, and il will be well r. in MAN. rS,a -
shall follow their examples ''p000' W
offer the following resolution:
Resoired, That from respect the late WILLIAM n K,,o
Vice President Of the United States and President Of the s