Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-04-29

Dssssl. 81 ne vaee President.
It IS our melancholy duty to announce the death
Of WILLIAM RUrus KING, Vice President of theI
United States. He died on Monday evenings the
18Th Of April nc bis residence ID Dallas county,
Alabama
The public career of Vice President King IS fa-
miar to the nation, and brief recital OF the lead
ing events of his life will suffice to recall the many
and important services of the statesman whose loss
we now deplore.
Colonel King was born on the 9th of April. 1886
in Sampson county, North Carolina. After COM
petng his education at the University of his native
State, he became student of law in the Office of
William Duffy, of Fayetteville At the age OF
twenty he was elected representative of his native
County in the legislature of the State. At twenty
four he was chosen representative IN Congress
from the Wilmington district, and OF the party
which advoea ed and supported the war of 1912 he
was Jealous and CONSTANT member. In the
spring OF 1916 he resigned his seat in the House OF
Representative and accompanied William Pinck-
ney, of Maryland, secretary of legation. first to
Naples AMI then to St. Petersburgh to which courts
Mr. Pinckney sent minister plenipotenary
On his return to the United States. in the winter OF
1818-'19, Mr.. King fixed his residence in Dallas
county, in the then Territory ut Alabama. He
was elected member Of the convention to establish
State government and was appointed on the COM
mtec to frame constitution. With the Hon. John
w. Walker he elected one of the first two sena-
tors who represented Alabama in the Congress of
the United States. In 1923, in 1898, in 1884 and
|
he accepted the mission France. with the especial
object of facilitating the annexation of Texas He
RENAL kaby successful in his mission having by
his skill and prudence entirely prevented the oppo>
ton OF the French government to that measure. In
/ 1913 he was made senator from Alabama by APP
pontment of the governor, to fill vacancy
stoned by the resignation of the Hon. Arthur Z.
Bagby. sent minister to Russia In lS49 he
elected by the legislature for full term of six
years. In 1850 on the accession of Mr. Fillmore
| tO thn ha 1v nhn
ident OF the Senate. By the Baltimore Convention
of the % June. 1853, he was made the Democratic
canddatefor the Vice Presidency and was elected to
that Office by the people in the ensuing November.
In the winter of 1912 Col King began to suffer
from pulmonary affection. which gradually grew
so alarming in its symptoms that he advised to
seek alienation in Il tropical climate Accordingly:
in The month Of February he sough repose and re-
lief in the island of Cuba but discovering that his
disease was fatal he determined to die IN his own
land. In issue Of yesterday we gave accoun,s
of lis return to Mobile His wasting strength bare
ly survived the journey to his home in he country
Scarcely had I've crossed the threshold of his house
when he sank in the repose Of death.
E Colonel Hing was never married but throug hOut
life, as in the last struggle with DEATH lie enjoyed
the acctionate regard and kind minis STATIONS of the
most attached friends and relatives. He of a
nature to win the warmest regard Of his personal
friends, and to command the respect of all Of
+ sound judgment, magnanmous heart, intrepid cour-
= ! &c, and the incest of honor he the very
! model of gentleman. Just in all his relations
with the world, courteous and conciliatoiy in bis
manners, generous in his impulses, he lived life of
unusual length and responsibility, without mourning
= the blemsh of solitary reproach his honor
+ This country has produced no man whose character
can better bear the severest scrutiny. AS states
q man, his qualities rather safe and solid than
f splendid and dazzling Soundness of Judgment fer
tllity Of resource, penetrating sagacty an iufcxi
BILE fidelity to principle, prudence and caution gave
him that weight in counsel and that control of 9th.
=, ers which the more brilliant. but less useful intel
lect can never command His public life an
uninterrupted series Of success. No enjoyed
in larger measure the confidence of those who were
capable of approaching his WORTH is attested by
his repeated election to the presidency pro tenn. oil
, the Senate. and by The esteem ofevery eminent states
i man of every party in the country. When a man
of such unsued character, of such solid worth and
/ of such great influence with the country, falls in
II the discharge of the high function of Vice President
the nation may we'll mourn its loss Of genius, ca
pacity, and experience in the public service, the
) country may feel want but where shall we fine
; another in whom united much of integrity
II honor, magnanimity, discretion sagacity courtesy
and sound ability blended in the character
and illustrated in the of WILLIAM RUFUs KING
the chivalrous gentleman and the spotess patriot