The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-07-07
WASHINGTON CITY.
TUESDAY MORNING. JULY 7. 1857.
DEATH OF MR.. MARCY.

death Of William L. Marcy, the 4th inst, at Ball
ston Springs; for his private virtues had acquired
for him personal esteem second only degree to the
exalted respect universally awarded to Of the
most eminent among The statesmen of the Union
Mr. Marcy was born at Southbridge, (then part
of Sturbrdge in the State Of Massachusetts, the
18th of December. 1856, of family of much re-
spectability and local importance; and after COM
plotting his collegiate education at Brown University
in the State Of Rhode Island, he proceeded to pur
sue the study and commence the practice of law at
Troy, in the State of New York.
He was just emerging into notice in his profession
when the United States declared war against Great
Britain. The occasion appealed irresistbly to his
feelings of patriotism; and he volunteered his
vices as lieutenant Of company of light infantry
which formed one of the earliest corps in the
field and one of the earliest to gain distinction.
This company was posted at French Mills, near
Fort Covington. On the night of October 22d
1872, he was of detachment, which, under the COM
msnd of Major Young, attacked and carried the Car
madam military post of st. Regis Lieut.. Marcy led
the attacking force, and took possession of the enc
my's garrison, with its flag. This flag the first
land trophy of the war; the prisoners here taken
the second only in order of time of those cap
tured land, the first having been taken by Cass in
Michigan. 1t is singularly interesting coincidence,
that these two opening military achievements of that
fell to the lot of young men, one of them
the last, and the other the present, Secretary
Of State, each of whom thus preluded, it were,
by laures won in the field, to career of most emf
nent service in civil life, whether in their respective
States or in the councils of the Union.
Mr.. Marcy's abilities and requirements, not less
than his devotion to the public veal did not fail to
draw attention and he was appointed by Governor
Tompkns recorder of Troy, which Office he held for
several years. until removed, for party reasons by
Gov. De Witt Clinton. Mr.. Marcy had now EN-
barked zeaousy and efficiently in the political
troversies of his State where he continued after
conspicuous as a member of the democratic party,
partahing of its vicissitudes of success or de-
feat and selected, of course from time to time, for
it's honorable public stations. Thus he became, at
successive periods, adutant general of the State its
comptroller, and associate justice of its supreme
court His reported opinions in the latter capacity
bear witness to his having been amply endowed with
high judicial qualifications
He traversed the period of the administrations of
Madison, Monroe, and Adams without acting direct
Iy in public affairs outside of his State but during
the first term of Jackson's administration he was
elected to the Senate of the United States and thus
entered into the larger sphere of the Of the
Union. His qualities of mind, however, fitted him
for administrative, better than for parliamentary,
life and at the expiration Of two years he left the
r m. ~.
Office he was twice reelected. In the discharge of
it's duties whether appertaining especially to the
internal affairs Of the State of New York. or as bear
ing on those of the Union, the salient points of his
character became apparentstrong sense integrity of
character, sagacity, sound judgment, dignfed firm
of purpose, in fine, the solid and useful parts
Of practical craftsmanship.
Mr.. Marcy was renomnated for fourth term, but
was defeated with the change of parties and of pol
icy in New York. turning chiefly federal politics,
which resulted in the ascendency there of Mr..
Seward
Subsequently to this, Mr.. Marcy discharged the
duty Of commissioner for the United States in the ex
ecution of the joint treaty of indemnity between the
United States and Mexico. But he was destined for
yet larger functions in the government of the Union
On the accession of Mr.. Polk to Office, among the
distinguished statesmen whom he invited to assist
him in the administr alton of public affairs of
these the actual President of the United States and
others worthy of such associaton--was William l..
Marcy whom he appointed Secretary Of War. The
whole country knows and admires the ability with
which the duties of the War Department were dis
charged during that administration It then first
detolved on the United States to conduct a
foreign war, that is, out of the country.
And If the generals and soldiers who command
ed and fought in the battles Of that war achiev-
ed for themselves and their national banner inn
mortal glory--if each campaign from Palo Alto
to Buena Vista, from Taos to the Pacific Mon
terey, and from Vera Cruz to Mexico, was but
a succession of triumphs--to Mr.. Marcy must be
accorded the praise that, as was said of Carnot he
on vast field Of military operations coextcnsive
with the continent organized victory for those ever
conquering hosts of the Onion.
At the close of that administration he retired to
private fe but only to return again, the restora
ton Of his political friends to power, to fill, by the
nomination Of President Pierce, the yet higher sta
ton than before, of Secretary Of State and Foreign
Affairs
OF the important negotiations and events in which