The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-13
Mr. TAYLoR. Of ONO. sala


OF Congress. thai whenever aew Congress com
nenees, | am strongly impressed with the conviction
that some Of our body. during Their term OF service
must pay the debt OF Nature, and end Their lives IN
the public service: The Senate, though only number
ing slxy-two members rarely passes session without
being called upon 10 pay The usual funeral honois 10
some one more Of it's membes. Even the Executive
Mansion is not unfrequently Invaded by the king OF
rorss and men npubc station everywhere constantly
reminded, that for life and all their earthly blessings,
they are dependent upon Him " in whose hands our
breath Is. and whose are all our ways"
The official announcement OF tho death of the Hon.
WILLIAM r. KING, late Vice President of the Uniied
States and the well-deseryed enloges this day pro-
nounced upon bis Character bring freshly TO ecollec
ton the manly form and genllemanly bearing OF that
distinguished man, and his long and eminent public
service.
With the incidents Of his private life and history sm
not 50 familiar as 10 speak advsedly; but his personal
friends upon this floor have clearly presented them Tor
our consideration had the pleasure to know him Tor
many Years as public man. and 10 meet him often in
The social circles Of this city. And though differed
political questions thai have lately agitaed the country,
always found him mingng moderation with finness,
and proper respect for the opinions OF those who differed
with him.. jns and high sense Of honor seemed 10 ae
to mark his public and private career; and cheeruy
express these views OF the distinguished man whose
death commemorate, because hold that no diff
ferences OF opinion politics should make forget
that we are all Americans that all under The pro-
lection OF the same constitution and laws and share
alike the benefits or evils that result from public
actions. higher motive should always check too
great aspery Of political feeling, and ncucae wise
moderation and proper oleraion tow ards those who differ
with US; for after all, the exerons OF the wisest and
the best amongst but transient; they vain
and futile, unless sanctioned and approved by the great
Author OF all good. MIR. KING appeared TO possessed
10 high degree. OF wise moderation, and OF tolerant
spirit; and his long experience in public life made hun
emnenly useful. He seemed 10 me to combine ia
very high degree. The strctes integrity ard pures honor
with what the great poet so admirably pori-ays--
+" With all good grace 10 grace genIcnan'
MIR. ASHE rose and said
Mr. SPEAKER Having the honor to represent the conn
ty in whsh WILLIAM K KIko born, and The larger |
porton OF The district which first returned him as mem
Der OF this House-having enjoyed in manner grateful
TO my recollection, his friendship and confidence and be-
ing at present The REPRESENTATIVE o numerous aud high
ly-respeclabe kindred he left with usl feel II solemn
duty that should not allow Ike presen. occasion TO pass
without adding my humble but heartfelt testimonial 10
the uhiulness of the rehydeseIved and high commen-
datons which have been bestowed him by the honor
able gentlemen who have preceded me. liter the indul
gence of obsequla guets, which III tribute to de-
parted worth, the soul thrsls 10 mmoriaze, to assin
late 10 ITSELF the noble and virtuons endowments OF de-
ceased friends Hence we have, as the remains OF
venerable antiquity the most magnificent Egyptian pyra
mids, splendid Gfecian mausoeums Roman sepuchres
of dimensions but these designed TO por
tray the outward rather than the inward man. As an
clary 10 the end various expedlanis and devices
adopted 10 perpeiuaie IRON the destruction
OF me the pers00a appearance after the soul had taken
It's fight. VAN imaginings! Empty concerts! lhe re-
corded "reminiscences OF good work, OF charitable
deed, of benevolent thought, worth more than
"Pelion upon Ossa" OF such monuments. Posierty is
grateful and il be benefited by any single incident
OF mans life, the character Of the bensfactor will be
remembered and appreciated And if his deeds OF good
should NIL volume. poserity will never weary IN
"urning the leaf 10 read it,, and 10 acknowledge its
falilude the author And such priced volume have
temptation OF which fills hearts with gratitude, and
inspires TO rejoice, that as one among us he lived.
and to sorrow that |" he is no more"
believe it was Philip OF Macedon who gratefully
sacrificed TO the gods that had bean bora to HIN
in time derive instructions from the great philosopher
Aristotle II such was the veneration OF barbarian
for heathen philosopher, no much CRATE
ful should feel, both and cizens that
our lots should have been cast in the same horoscope
with that Of Clay, Calhoun and King 10 the history o
esch OF whom "there is philosophy teaching by ex
ample well fitted 10 trail bark down It's way
ward course clear OF tie dangerous rocks and shoals
which are prone 10 wreck H. These distinguished com
patriots, who for nearly hall century commanded the
admiration OF The American world. though widely differ
ing one from another peculisr,es oi character, yet
each in his life left US legacy which the more we read
The will appreciate.
The two former, 'havng gathered togsthet their earth
y harvest previous TO the adjournment OF the last Con-
gre,s have received from their admlring friends that
tribute OF respect which we are now called upon 10
render TO the last While do not claim for our dis
ting ushcd friend either the thrilling eloquence OF Clay
the philosophical discrimination OF Calhoun, YET IN
the various positions which il his fortune 10 6l we
find developed the true elements OF moral and intellectual
greatness.
"Perhaps one OF the highest encouums pronounced
on a in public lile." SAID The late John Quincy
Adams. sis thai OF historian, eminent for his profound
acquaintance with mankind, who, in painting great
character by single line. says He Just equal TO
all the duties OF the highest Offices which he attained
and above them There IN qualities
which dazzle aud consume 10 little valuable pur
pose These seldom belong the great benetaciors o
mankind" Such were not the qualities oil Colonel
KING but 10 all the relations OF lle 10 every position
he attained he was fully equal to lhet responsibilities.
| aod discharged their varied duties with fidelity and
ability.
Colonel KiSo was born in Samson county 10 my State,
April 1855 His father Wm. King, leman OF for
tune and character During The revolutionary he ren
dered important, services TO hs counirys both BY
personal and the generous OF his fortune.
After the conclusion OF the he member OF The
convention which called to adopt The federal constr
tuition, and repeatedly elected delegate 10 The gem
eral assembly from his county His s'iuaon life en-
abled him besow his children all the advantages
OF education which oar county al that time afforded
Col. KiNo sent at early age 10 the University
OF North Carolina, located at Chapel Hill, which insti
tuition he lett in his seventeenth year, bearing with
bm the happy consolation OF having commanded the re
spec Of his ptoessors the love aud esteem OF bis
ciates. He studied law with William Duffy an eminent
julis, residing in the town OF Fayetteville, wtere he
formed friendships which he preserved with affection TO
settled in his native county, from which he was returned
the following year member oil The legislature BY
this body he elected solicitor Tor the Wilmington
judicial district. in which situation he continued Tor two
years. He then again returned 10 The Legislature
Tor The years 1852 In the year 1910 he was elected
the Congress OF The United States, being the Twelfth
Congres< This wasa most important crisis IN our ma
t,ona affairs France, dominant IN Europe. England
mistress of the ocean, neutrality grossly d'sfe-
garded by each OF these supercious powers 10 our
menaoeg protests France ultimately yielded rcspec'
England coniioued her career OF naughty nsolenee war
or national degradation was inevitable.
True republicans wooded the but met bold