The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1853-04-30
Death Of Vice President King.

This event, long expected, has at length oc-
CURED. Another of the eminent statesmen
who have acted so conspicuous part upon the
public stage during some Of the most eventful
scenes of our history is no more. Holding the
second Office in the gift of his countrymen at
the time of his decease, the sad event will be
mourncd as national calamity. The Galena
Advertiser has compiled and published the fol-
lowing brief outline of his eventful career:
William r. King, the Vice President of the
United States, reached his home in Alabama
on the 18th instant, and on the evening of the
18th, he breathcd his last. This melancholy
event will strike the public mind with little
surprise, as the state of Mr.. Kings health, for
several months, has been such as to leave faint
hopes of his recovery. Thus has death made
vacant the second Office in the nation. The
following is q short sketch of his active life:
William r. King has for many years taken
conspicuous part in our National Councils
He was born in North Carolina in 1856. and
was, consequently, at the time of his death.
sixty-seven years of age At the early age of
twenty. he was chosen by the people of sam
son county to represent them in the State Leg
isiature. At the age of twenty -four. he was
elected a member of the Twelfth Congress,
which assembled in the autumn of 1911. Upon
this broad theatre, young King fully justified
by his wise. firm and patriotic course, the wis
dom of those who had contided so much to one
so youthful and inexperienced. Our difficult
ties with England were rapidly drawing to a
crisis. The course of that arrogant had tried
our National patience to the utmost. The al
tentative of dishonOr or an appeal to arms
alone remained; and with Calhoun and Clay.
and other iilustrious patriots, King gave his in
Huence and voice for the latter.
When peace was restored, he resigned back
into the hands of his constituents the office
they had conferred upon him, and as Secretary
of Legation, accompanied William Pinckney.
our Minister to Naples and st. Petersburg. At
ter a residence of two years at these Courts, he
returned to the United States, and in 1918 re-
moved to the Territory of Alabama, where he
took an active part in laying the foundations Of
that new member of the Confcderacy. Upon
the admission OF his adopted State into the In
ion. he was elected to the United Senate in
which body he remained constantly for twenty
years, over a period of time too, when some of
the gravest question which have yet tested the
adhesive power Of our institutions were discus
scd and disposed of
In the spring of 1914, two years before the
expiration Of the term for which he had been
last elected, Mr.. King was offered and accepted
the mission to France. 1t will be borne in
mind that at the time France and England
were about uniting In protest against the an
ncXation of Texas to the United States. Mr..
King was especially commissioned to defeat
Britain in her efforts to perfect such a consum-
nation. In this he was successful Louis
Philippe, after discussing the subject fully with
Mr.. King. became satisfied that the proposed
protest would not prevent annexation and that
the interests of his nation would be seriously
compromised by placing his Government in
hostile attitude to ours. so he very wisely de-
clined signing the proposed protest. Mr..
Kings mission was successful; England dared
not 10 alone what she had contemplated doing
in conjunction with France.
Resigning his Office at the Court of st. Cloud,
Mr.. King again returned to the United States
in November 1916. In 1913. 4 vacancy occur
ring in the United States Senate. from Alaba-
ma, by the resi- gnation of Arthur p. Baeby.
who had been sent TO Russia, Mr.. King was APP
pointed to the place by the Governor. and in
1919. he was elected by the Legislature for the
full term Of six years. Upon the death OF
President Taylor in 1850, Mr.. King was unani-
mously chosen President of the Senate Last
November Mr.. King was elected Vice President
OF the United States. On the 18th of April,
1853, he died. leaving behind him an untarnsh-
ed fame.