The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-04-20
q B 1T u "A r =.
Death Of William Rufus King, Vice
President Of the United States.
Sketch OF his Public Life and Services,
&C., &C., &c.

&C., &C., &c.
The event which has heen time anticipated by
the public has occurred The telegraph informs
that the Hon. WILLIAM r. KING Vice President of the
United States died at his home in Selma Dallas county
Alabama on the Alabama river, Monday evening" 18th
inss having reached that place. his return from Cuba
the day previous.
The Vice President was little over sixty years
Of age having been born the 7th of April 1885, His
native place>was in Sampson county, North Carolina
few miles east of Fayetteville His father, William King
of three brothers. whose paternal ancestor emf
grated from the north of Ireland and was among tho
early settlers james river in the colony Of Virginia
The mother Of these brothers descended from HUI
gusnot family, which had fed from France on the re-
vocation of the edict of Nantes In the war Of the
Revolution, the three brothers espoused the whig
side, and did good and effective service in the
cause of the country. The. eldest brother COM
manded a company OF State troops; the younges
held captains commission in the continental army an
William the father of the Vice President took his posi-
lion in the State line soldier, by the side of
some of the best and most patriotic in the State The
Late Hon. Nathaniel Macon, of North Carolina who
represented the State in Congress for many years. also
served in the ranks soldier through the war
of the Revolution and refused to accept commission
in the army During the whole of the Revolutionary war
North Carolina was fighting ground, and of her
patriotic made greater sacrifices met danger with
more heroism than did the gallant family of King.
At the conclusion Of the for independence the IA
4her Of the subject Of this sketch whowas planter in in
dependent circumstances devoted himself ths care OF
his family and the education of his children. At the
early age Of twelve years. William King was
sent to the University of North Carolina, at Cha
pei HILL On leaving that institution. where he &C.
tad nfatiO for h;c
and studious habits he entered the law Office of William
Duffy, distinguished lawyer of Fayetteville In the
autumn of 1906 he licensed practitioner in the
Superior Court of North Carolina In 1906 was elected
member Of the Legislature from his native county of
Sampson being then in the twenty frat year of his age
The following year he reelected but being chosen
solicitor by the Legislature he resigned his seat in that
body. Mr. King continued the practice Of the law until
he was called upon to take seat in Congress. He was
elected member OF the House Of Representatives from
the Wilmington district in August 1slo when he was in
the twenty fifth Of his age and took his seat in the
Congress of the United States in November 1871 being
the first session Of the twelfth Congress- On that occa
sion Henry Clay first made his appearance member
of the House. and elected Speaker The presence of
The talented Ketuckan and OF Messrs Calhoun Cheves
and Lowndes, of South Carolina with other active and
spirited members of the House of Representatives aided
by William Crawford, Of Georgia, and few others in
the Senate infused vgor into the ranks of the sup
porters Of the administration 1t determined
that inactivity and indecison should longer be the
policy Of the democratic party. For several years war
with England had been contemplated as q probable
event. but Mr.. Jefferson had carefully avoided war mes
sages and his successor President Madison had endeavor
ed pursue similar 1t believed BY the new
leaders Of the democratic party who in the twelfth
Congress- that efficient measures demanded by
4ho nd at a with tain
popular, particularly with the party which sustained
the administration The policy of the democratic party
respecting standing army and navy, unchanged,
principally through the advice ard influence of Clay
Calhoun, and Lowndes, Notwithstanding they met with
opposition from many Of their democratic associates of
the old school The young and ardent democrats among
whom William H. King, xealously co-operated with
their chosen leaders in the adoption of mea-
sures preparatory to The &c. of declaration
of with Great Britain, passed by Con-
gress in june 1872 Mr. King advocating and voting for
that important measure, which became the test of party
fidelity with the democracy. He reelected in 1872
and again in 1874 continuing to represent his district
In Congress during the war; and sustaining with all his
power every measure deemed necessary to enable the
government to prosecute it to successful termination.
He did not feel disposed TO renqush the responsible
position in which his conHdng constituents had placed
him, although young man, until the rights of the
try were vindicated and secured and peace restored
He remained member of the House until year after
the close Of the war; and assisted in the adoption of
many important measures rendered necessary by the
return Of peace In the spring af 1915 he resigned his
seat in the House of Represen tatvcs, and ac
companied William Pinkney, of Maryland Sec
re.ary Of Legation, frst to Naples, and then
to st. Petersburg, to which courts Mr. Pinlney
had been appointed minister plenipotentary. Mr.
KfuU Il,
that time visited many parts of Europe making himself
acquainted with the various governments and the cond
on of the people On his return to the United States
he determined to remove to the Territory of Alabama
then great point of attraction to Southern planters
Settlers which discrimination he carried into effect In the
winter of $780, and fixed his residence in the county
OF Dallas the Alabama river which continued his
home, when not engaged in the public service for the
remainder Of his days The section of South Alaba
which he early for his residence comprises
the finest table lands in the State and very productive
in cotton, grain and fruits adapted to the climate. In
the vicinity Mr. King resided the late Hon William
smith formerly Of South Carolina the late Hon. Dixon
H. Lewis Judge Pckens and other distinguished planters
and statesmen. The Hourishing towns of Selma and
Montgomery the present capital of the State afford con-
venent markets and landing places to the planters the
banks Of the meandcring Alabama in this part of it
course
few months after Mr. King arrived in Alabama, and
had taken up his residence in the territory, Congress
having authorized the people to form constitution and
establish State government he elected delegate
to the eCenventon chosen for that purpose. He was
active and influential member Of that body was placed
on the committee appointed to draft constitution and
was also selected by the general committee with Judge
Taylor, now Of Mississippi, and the late Judge Hitch
cock to reduce to FORM in accordance with the princ
PIES and provisions previously agreed The constitu
ton thus prepared submitted to the Convention and
adopted with but slight alterations II one of the ev
State constu tions in operation which has not re
quired the calling of convention to revise it, after the
lapse Of more than thirty years.
On the adjournment Of the Convention Mr. King visited
his former residence in North Carolina, and having
ranged his business thore set out his return to Aba
At Millidgevie, Georgia, he received letter from
Governor Bibb, of Alabama informing him that he had
been elected Of the Senator's to represent the
State In the Congress Of the United States This was the