Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-12-10

sorrow which filled every heart But no matter what the
lapse of time its results the meeting of the Senate,
and the absence of whom all admired and loved and
delighted to greet and honor, calls up associations and
"reminiscences which mpart to the occasion all the effects
Of sudden and unexpected bereavement Those whose
happiness II was to be associated with Colonel King In
public duty and private Intercourse are alone capable Of
realizing the extent of our loss His example in all tho
laons of life, public and private, may be safely COM
mended TO children as worthy of imitation Few men
in this country have served the public for long
period of time and none with ferven patriotism
unbemished reputation. For forty-ve years he de-
voted his energies and talents to the performance of
arduous public duties always performing his trust
with fidelity and ability and failing to command
the confidence, admiration and gratitude of
ed constituency While he held, in succession,
official stations In each OF which he maintained and en-
HANGED his previous reputation yet the Senate the
place Of his choice and the theatre Of his greatest useful
Here he sustained enviable reputation during
period of thirty years Senatorial service always mani
testing his respect for the body by his courtesy pro-
priety of department. Here, where his character
best understood and his usefulness and virtues most
highly appreciated his loss, as public and pri
yate friend is most painfully felt and deeply amened
Mr. CLAYTON. / shall only pay a debt of honor to
the spirit of the dead, by Offering my humble testimonial
in addition owhat has been appropriately and eo-
quenty expressed by others quarter of century has
elapsed since became acquainted with VIM. r. King
brother Senator on this floor During the greater of
that long period attentive observer his
as public man, and cannot in justice remain silent
when an opportunity is offered of paying tribute to the
memory of one who so honorably deserved it.
That man who, dying be said to have passed his
days without stain upon his reputation has Justly
ed the honors due to welspent life. The Roman poet
has immortalized the sentiment
"Nec cirit male, qui aoriensque Jefellt,'
and William r. King may be truly said to have passed
from the cradle to the grave without blot upon his
name.
The chief part of his history is written upon the
cords of this Senate, in which his high character
legislator and statesman firmly established. would
avoid the common plans employed occasions similar
to the present when speaking of such 1t is not
enough to say of him that he performed his duties well
member of the Senate. He distinguished by the
scrupuous correctness of his conduct He remark
able for his quiet and unobrusye but active practical
usefulness as legislator. He emphatically bust
ness member of the Senate, and without osenation orgi
mated and perfected useful than many who
the public by greater display and daily commanded
the applause of listening Senate He sought with
some OF his contemporaries, to brilliant reputation
by the exhibition of splendid powers of oratory and
his honor be it spoken he vexed the Of the Sc
nate with itimed tedious, unnecessary debate He
preferred to be checked for silence rather than be
tasked for speech. Yet, all occasions when great
issue was before the country calling for the exercise OF
manly hrmness, courage, and patriotism, Mr.. King
always with those who stood foremost for the safety and
the glory Of the Republic.
He graced that chair of the Senate longer than any
other man that occupied t-not continuously, by
virtue merely of repeated elections temporary
President but often also at the request of the Presiding
Officer think he thus engaged in the performance
OF the duties OF President of the Senate during the great
er part of the terms of FIVE Vice Presidents and last
he reached the second office in the gift of the peope-an
othce exceed in honor only by other in the world
10 preside over such assembly the Senate of the
United States, and to do that he did it. was enough
to satisfy the highest aspirations of honorable and pa
riotc ambition. In this elevated position he was dis
unguished land may add he exceed) for the
dignity OF his department. the mpartiality of his deci
slons and the promptness and fidelity with which he
the order and enforced the rules of this body
can remember instance in which he lost sight of
what was due to his sefrespect the rights of his
political opponents by the indulgence of party feelings
in the chair Presiding he did when party spirit ragged
In torrents Of fire, all just will admit that he could
have been common who maintained his high cha
racter for justice and impartiaty at such period.
little man at that time would have shown his ittleness
by yielding himself up instrument of oppression to
the minority. But he sought honest and enduring
fame, and he obtained it without the employment of any
unworthy the slightest sacrifice of principle
He engaged hirolng press mcrcenary lbeller to
traduce others or to trumpet his fame. He paid
respect to the feelings of Others and rgdy exacted the
observance of the respect for himself Generous
he brave his conduct his opponents suffering
der defeat always liberal and kind and by his in
flexible truth he the entire confidence of men Of all
parties in his own unblemished honor.
Others have spoken Of his services in other places
shall speak Of nothing to which / not witness.
While Mr. King remained in the Senate there was still
member of the body who had with me on this
floor during the session Of 10000 1t is melancholy to
reflect that nearly all the of the Senator's that pc
riod have closed their EARTH and that not one
OF those who survived remain here with to-day.
The master spirits of the time among the Sena-
tors of that day. speak not Of the living But here
then, Clay, Calhoun, Forsyth, Webster and Living
ston the learned and aborious Woodbury. the astute
Grundy the witty sarcastic and ready Holmes the
classic Robbins, and, among many others justly disn-
gushed the graceful and accomplished orator of Carroll
ma Robert Y. Hayne,
"Whose words had such a melting flow,
And spoke of truth so sweetly WELL
They dropped like the serenest snow,
And all was brightness where they fell"
Oh! | could enumerate and delight to dwell on the
virtues OF them all and then to him whose fame
we to one not inferior in integrity
and honor to the proudest among them But these
minscences attended by the mournu reflection that
our connexions with them in this world ended for
ever
Around us each discovered chain
In sparklin ruin lies,
And earthly hands ne'er again
Unite those broken ties"
The resolutions were then unanimously adopted.
Mr.. HUNTER. As further mark Of respect to the
memory OF the deceased that the Senate do now
adjourn.
The motion agreed to; and the Senate adjourned
to Monday
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
On motion of Mr.. JONES' of Tennessee it was ordered
that when the House adjourn to-day, it adjourn to
/ on Monday next