Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-12-16
sueecf, of Hon. w. $. Ashc,

connty in which WILLIAM r KING was born ana
the larger portion of the district which nrst
al him as member of this flouse--having enjoyed,
IN manner grateful my recollection, bis friend
chin and confidence, and being at present the rep
resentatiye of a numerous and highly respectable
kindred he left with us-I feel it q solemn duty that
should not allow the present caslon to pass Win
ont adding nv humble but heartfelt testimonial TO
the truthfnlness of the richly observed, and high
which have been bestowed on him
by the honorable gentlemen who have preceded me.
After the indulgence of obsequal grets, which are
fit tribute to departed worth the soul thlrsts 20
;mmortalize. to assimiate to ITSELF the noble and
virtuous endowments of deceased friends Hence
we have as the remains of venerable antiquity; |
the most magnificent Egyptian pyramids, splendld
Grecian mausoleums, Roman sepulchres OF extensive
dimensions but these designed to portray the
outward rather than the inward man AS Amelia
nv to the same end various expedients and devices
were adopted TO perpetuate, to rescue from the ue
structon of time the personal appearance after the
soul had taken it's fight. Vain imaglnings Emp,
tv conceits! The ne orded "reminiscences OF gooo
work of q charitable deed of benevolent thought,
are worth more than " Pelion upon Ossa OF sucn
monuments. Posterty Is grateful ana II IL can pe
benefited by any single incident of mans hte' Inc
character of the beneactor will be remembered ana
appreciated. And if his deeds OF goodness should
6il volume poserity will never weary in in turn
ing the leaf to read it,, and to acknowledge It's gra
titude to the author. And such pr'sed volume
have we afforded by the life of WILLIAM X KING
q contemplation or Wnlcn MIS- our hearts Win S'"eA
tude and inspires to rejoice, that as one among
Ms he lived, and to sorrow that s. he is no more
believe that it was Philip of Macedon who CRATE
fully sacrificed to the gods that had been born
to him in time to derive instructions from the great
nhilosopher Aristotle IF such was the veneratlon
of barbarian warrior for heather philosopher,
how much more grateful should feel, both as
statesmen and citizens, that our lots should
have been cast in the same horoscope with that OF
CLAW Calhoun, and King in the history OF each OF
| >hrl,s OH hU
pie we'll fitted to frail bark down its way
ward clear of the dangerous rocks and shoals
which are prone to wreck it. These distinguished
compatriots. who for nearly half a century comnan-
ded the admiration OF the American world though
widely differing from another in pecullarltes OF
character yet each in his life left legacy which
the more We read the will appreciate,
The two former, having gathered together their
earthly harvest previous to the ournment OF the
| last Congress. have received from their admirng
friends that tribute of respect which we are now
called upon to render to the last While we do not
claim for oar distinguished friend either the thrill
ing eloquence of Clay or the philosophical discrml
nation Of Calhoun, yet IN The various POSITIONS
| which it his fortune to fill, we find developed
the true elements of moral and intellectual great
ness.
Perhaps one Of the highest encomums ever pro-
nounced "a in public life" said the late John
| Quincy Adams. is that of historian, eminent for
! his profound acquaintance with mankind. WhO IN
painting great character by single line, says :
He was iust equal all the duties of the highest
Offices which he attained and never above them
| There are in some men qualities which dazzle and
consume to little no valuable purpose. These
seldom belong to the great beneiactors of manknd :"
| Such not the qualities of Colonel KING; but in
all the relations of life, in every position he attain
ed he fully equal to their nSibilltles, and
discharged their varied duties with fidelity and ab-
| ity.
! Colonel KING was born in Sampson county, in my
/ State. April. 1856. His father, VIM King,
| gentleman of fortune and character During the
revolutionary he rendered important services to
his cOuntrys cause both by personal service and the
generous use of his fortune After the conclusion
of the war he was member of the convention
which called to adopt the federal constitutions
and was repeatedly elected delegate to the gen
eral assembly from his county. His situation in
! life enabled him to bestow his children all the
advantages of education which country at that
time afforded.
Col KING sent at early age to the Univer-
sitv of North Carolina, located at Chapel Hill,
which institution he left in his seventeenth year,
bearing with him the happy consolation of having
commanded the respect of his professors, the love
an! esteem of his associates He studied law with
William Duffy, eminent jurst, residing in the
town of Fayetteville, where he formed friendships
which he preserved with affection to the day of his
death. On being admitted to the bar he settled in
bis native county, from which he returned the
! following year member of the legislature. By
this body he elected solicitor for the Whining
ton Judicial district, in which situation he continued
for two year He was then again returned to the
legislature for the years l808'9. In the year 1910
he elected to the Congress Of the United States,
! being the Twelfth Congress. This was a most i'm
portant crisis in national affairs France dom
| nent in Europe, England mistress of the ocean our
neutrality was grossly dsregarded by each of these
| supercilious powers. To menacing protests
! France ultimately yielded respect. England con-
tinued her career of naughty insolence War or
national degradation inevitable
ram cd tho -
! boldly. Colonel KING acted with them with his
whole soul and, though one of the Youngest mem.
bers of the Congress. he distinguished for the
| firm and tervid earnestness with which he supported
the llusnous Madison in his patriotic efforts to sus-
tam the honor of our country. He continued a men,
Der OF Congress until after the conclusion OF the war
when he accepted diplomatic position abroad asso-
! cialed with that scholar and statesman, William
Plnckney. On his return from Europe, he changed
his residence from North Carolina Alabama carry
Ing with him the cordial respect and good wishes of
all-the enmy OF no one Alabama was then a
Territory, but on the of organizing State gov
eminent, and as soon it done, she, although
colonel HING was then absent from the State honor.
ed him with one of her first senatorial appointments
in the Congress Of the United Sates-a mos, hatter-
ing mark OF confidence, which confidence he enoyed
In the amplest manner during the remainder of his
long and eventful lite 1t is unnecessary for me 10
read further from the volume of his life His subse-
quen career has already been detailed by able and
experienced friends. What is the lesson which nos.
terIty can learn from this U0iume! IL is fsefuli II
IS S1gnJcan! Let the honor, let the happiness of
our country, with him, be our ruling aspiration
but IN It's advocation, let SO attemper, as he did
our conduct; so dispense the charities of life
mat we can command for ourselves the love of friends
the admiration OF opponents While such IS the
brilliant picture OF his public career, his private life
MS frank and confdIng disposition bis uniform cour
esy and Kindness, the singehearted devotedness Of