Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-04-27
From the Baltimore Sun.
Death of yiee-president Kin,

Intelligence of the death OF the Hon.
William Ru'us King. Vice President OF
the United States. ut his late residence in
Alabama. reached this city. by telegraph
yesterday. He expired on Monday ,even2
ing, but /" few hours after reaching Ca
hawba. The event has been anticipated
during period of decline which mauifes.
ted Itself in very serious inroads upon his
health soon after the adjournment of Con.
gress in 1852. And. at-the time of his
election to the exalted station which he oc-
cupied atthe time OF his death. doubts were
expressed whether he would ever assume
the honors and active duties of his office.
The circumstances underwhich his inaugu-
ration took place are fresh III the minds of
our readers; they were tinged with the mel
RncholyOfthat event which we now record,
and whose shadow. at that time, fell dis
tinctly and solemnly upon the scene.
Mr.. King was native of North Carroll
ma, and was born in 1886. He was con
scquently about CT years of age He en-
tered public life before he had attained his
s1st year, when he was chosen by the
people of Sampson county to represent
them in the Legislature Of his native State
AT the age of "a, he was elected bv
the people of the district of his residence
TO the Twelfth Congress. which held its
first session in the autumn of 1911. 1t
was that Congress which declared war
with Great Britain ; AMI for that measure
of the Democratic or Republican party,
Mr.. King voted, as well as for the various
acts for CARRYING on the war with vi COR
lie was reelected to Congress in 1918
ami IN 40 n "a
year after peace was restored. In 1916
he resigned his seat in Congress, in Con-
sequence OF receiving the appointment of
Secretary of Legation To MIR. William
Pickeuy, Minister of both Naples and st.
Petersburg. During his two years resi-
dence in Europe, Mr.. King became well
acquainted with the affairs of the conti-
neutll governments, and conditions and
character Of The people.
Returning from Europe. Mr.. King soon
after renewed from North Carolina, to
the territory of Alabama, in 1918, and as
sisted il the framing Of the same, prcvi
nus 10 It's admission into the Union as a
State. He WAS chosen by the legislature
one Of the first senator's from Alabama
(iot.l w. Walker being lis colleague
and took his seat in the U. s Senate in
l849. He continued member of that
body for over twenty-four consecutive
yenrs. having been reelected in 1928.
1929, 1885. and 1871. He resigned his
seat in the spring of 1914. in consequence
of being offered the mission of France by
Pr sldent Tyler,w which appointment he &C
cepted mainly with aview ofprevent'ng the
protest of France and England against tho
then pending annexation of Texas. He
was the early and decrled friend of that
great stroke of policy which secured to the
people of this country the control of all
the good cotton lands not lying with the
old boundaries of the confederation of the
purchase of Louisiana.
On accepting the mission Mr.. King de-
parted forthwith to fulfil it. Louis Philip
pc discussed the subject with Mr.. King.
and became satisfied that the projected
protest would not avert annexation. The
French king finally declared that che
would do nothing hostile to the United
States, or which could give to her Just
cause Of offence" BY the means Of Mr..
Kings mission. England WAS i<oiHted,
and her plan OF protest against the annex
alton Of Texas was abandoned. In No
vemher, 1916, Mr. King having obtained
permission to resign his office Of Ambas-
sailor. returned to the Uni'ed S ateS. In
1913 he was apoine ed L. S. Senator from
Alabama, in place nf Au,hur Bagby. sent
Russia ;nnd in 1919 he was elected by the |
Legislature for the full term ofSix years
In 1850, Mr.. fillmore the Vice Presi
dent. having succeeded to the Presidency
by the death of Gen. Taylor. Mr.. King |
was chosen by the Senate their President
pro tenn, place he had held in former
Years, from 1886 to 1871. II is unneceS-
sary to state the particulars of Mr. Kings
nomination by the Democratic Convention
in June last, and his triumphant election to
the Vice presidency. Being compelled to
leave the country for the bructiu OF his
health; he resigned his seat in the Senate
during the la,e session. Mr. King enter
ed political life as follower of Mr. Jefftr-
son, and has ALWAYS been opposed to the
exercise OF implied powers by Congress
He was considered one OF the champions
OF Souther State Rights in various con
troversies which has risen in Congress
on theitariH. slavery and internal improve
ments. He has never been married. HIS
residence in Alabama for many years has
been at Selma, on the Alabama river.
THE KANE EXPEDITION TO THE Polar