Washington sentinel., 1853-12-09

so appropriately and eoquently expressed BY
others. quarter of century has elapsed since
became acquainted with WILLIAM X. KING as a
brother senator on this floor. During the greater
part OF that long period was attentive observer
OF his course as public man, and | cannot in
justice remain silent when an opportunity is offer.
ed OF paying tribute to the memory OF one who
so honorably deserved il.
That man who, dying, can be said TO have pass
ed his days. without stain upon his reputation
has Justly earned the honors due 10 a well-spent
life. The Roman poet has mmortazed the SEN
tment-
Nee male vixit, qui natus moriensque fefellitn
and WILLIAM R. KING may be truly said 10 have
passed from the cradle 10 the grave without blot
upon his name.
The chief part of his history is written upon the
records OF this Senate in which his high character
i as legislator and statesman was firmly estab-
lished. l would avoid the common plans en-
ployed on occasions similar TO the present, when
speaking of such man. II is not enough TO say
of him that he performed his duties well as a mem
Der of the Senate. He was distinguished bv the
| scrupuous correctness ofhis conduct. He was re-
markabe for his quiet and unobtrusive, but active
/ practical usefulness as legislator He was en-
phatcally business member of the Senate, and,
| without ostentation originated and perfected more
! useful measures than many who filed the public
eye by greater display and daily commanded the
applause ola listening Senate. He never sought
with some OF his cotemporaries TO earn brilliant
reputation by the exhibition ofspendid powers of
oratory; and, TO his honor be il spoken, he never
vexed the of the Senate with ill-timed tedious
or unnecessary debate. He preferred to be
1 checked for silence rather than to be tasked for
| speech. Yet, on all occasions when great issue
was before the country, calling for the exercise of
manly firmness, courage, and patrotsm, Mr.
KING was always with those who stood foremost
for the safety and the glory ofthe Republic.
He graced that chair of the Senate longer than
any other man that ever occupied it not contin-
| uously, or by virtue merely of repeated elections
as our temporary president, but often also al the
request of the presiding officer. Think he was
thus engaged in the performance Of the duties Of
President of the Senate during the greater part
OF the terms Of five Vice Presidents; and at last
| he reached the second Office in the gift Of the
| people; an Office excelled i'm honor only by one
other in the world. To preside over such an as
sembly as the Senate of the United States and TO
do that, as he did il, was enough to satisfy the
highest aspirations of an honorable and patriotic
ambition In this elevated position he was dstin-
gulshed (and may add he was never exceled) for
the dignity of his department, the impartialty of
his decisions and the promptness and fidelity with
which he maintained the order and enforced the
| rules OF this body. can remember no instance
in which he lost sight of what was due to his own
serespect or the rights of his political opponents
by the indulgence of party feelings in the chair.
Presiding, as he did, when party spirit ragged in
torrents of fire, all just men will admit that he
could have been no common man who maintained
his high character for justice and impartiality at
such period. A little man. at that time would
have shown his ittleness by yielding himself up as
an instrument of oppression to the minority. But
he sought an honest and enduring lame, and he
obtained It without the employment of any un-
worthy means, or the slightest sacrifice of princi-
pie. lie engaged no hrelng press, no mercenary
llbeler to traduce others, TO trumpet his own
fame. He paid respect TO the feelings of others,
and rigidly exacted the observance of the same
respect for himself. Generous as he was brave,
his conduct to his opponents suffering under de-
feat was always liberal and kind; and by his in
flexible truth, he won the entire confidence of
men OF all parties in his own unblemished honor.
Others have spoken of his services in other
places, but ! shall speak Of nothing to which
was not witness While Mr.. KING remained in
the Senate, there was still one member of the body
who had served with me on this floor during the
session of 1S29-30. II is melancholy to reflect
that nearly all the of the senators of that pc
Rod have closed their career on earth, and that
not one Of those who survived remain here with
me to-day
The master spirits of the time were among the
senator's OF that day. speak not Of the living.
But here, then, were Clay, Calhoun, Forsyth,
Webster and Livingston, the learned and labori-
Gus Woodbury., the astute Grundy, the witty, sar-
castle, and ever-ready Holmes, the classic Rob-
bins, and, among many others justly distinguished,
the graceful and accomplished orator Of Carolina
Robert G.. Hayne,
"Whose words had such melting flow,
And spoke Of truth sweetly well, N
They dropped like the serenest snow,
And all was brightness where they fell"
Oh! | could enumerate, and delight 10 dwell on
the virtues of them all-and then revert to him
whose fame we now commemorate as to one not
inferior in integrity and honor to the proudest
among them. But these "reminiscences are at
tended by the mournful reflection that our con-
nections with them in this world are ended for
ever
g Around us, each discovered chain
In sparkling ruin lies,
Ana earthly hands can ne'er again
Unite those broken ties"
The resolutions were unanimously adopted
Mr.. HUNTER. As further mark Of respect
to the memory Of the deceased / move that the
Senate do now adjourn.
The motion was agreed to- and the Senate ad-
lourned TO Monday.
House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr.. EASTMAN, the House con.
Cured in the amendment of the Senate to the bill
for the reliefof Mr.. Field, late secretary of Wis
consin, and his suretes.
Various petitions were presented, and notices of
the introduction of bills given
Mr.. McMULLEN said that he intended 10 in.
trodnce bill for the purpose Of equalizing the pay
Of members of Congress.
NEWSPAPERS FOR MEMBERS
On motion of Mr. RIDDLE, il was
Resued, That during the present Congress- each repre-
sentative and delegate be furnished with such
and publications they shall severay select to ex
ceed in amount per annun the cost of five daily papers
HOUSE LIBRARIAN.
Mr.. BAYLY, of Virginia, offered resolution |
that the House proceed to elect an officer to be |
called the librarian of the House Of Representa- |
tves who shall have charge Of the books and docu-
ments belonging TO the House. He said that here
tofore the librarian had been appointed by the |
clerk, pretty much as a matter of sufference.
The demand for the previous question was sec
onded, when
Mr.. MCDONALD moved to lay the resolution
upon the table.
The question having been taken, it was decided
IN the negatve--yeas, 81 nays, los. No further
action was taken on the resolution
DEATH OF vICE-PREsIDENT KING.
A message was received from the Senate, in
forming the House that that body had passed the
following resolution:
Resolved tnanfnotsy That from rcsnoct 40 A. Ia.