The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-10
The Death of the Hon. VIM. l.. Maroy.

1he oeatE OF the hon. VIM. l.. Marcy.
The telegraph conveys the unexpected iutelli-
gencc Of the death Of the Hon. Wm. j. Marcy,
the late Secretary Of State, who, for thirty
years has acted n prominent part in tho 20
litical history cf the cct!ntry, and who by his
character anu services has earned a high rcpu.
tation, both at home and abroad. Tic follow.
ing article from the Charleston Courier presents
an outline Of his public life, and tliscrimina
ting skc:tEof his Intellectual characteristics:
Slr. Marcy was born in Sturbrilre Mass
OH the 10Th Of December, 1886 and was con.
scquently in the 1lst year of his aye. He
graduated with high honors at Brown Univcr.
elty,ln Providence. R. l., in 1905 and soon
after entered upon the study, and subsequent
y upon the practice, of law, in Troy n. Y.
nc ne seems to have been formed with an inevita-
BILE tendency towards politics, for we find that
he was active in the defence of the policy Of
Jeiferson and Madison, and that his zeal in
TINS respect vas not in excess of his ability.
Ills support of tic measures Of the govern !,
fnent moreover, was not merely the supnort
OF words; but upon tho declaration of war;
he turned out rs volunteer, and served with
greatability and credit throughout the great
er part Of its continuance. His first public
office was the Recordersllip Of the City of
Troy, to which he WIS appointed 1916. He
subsequently, and successively filed the Office
VI NcHeFat, COHlIIrOlICT, Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court. and the Uni
ted States Senator from the State of N York
lie resigned the latter office in 1893 to accent
that of Governor of his adopted State. He
was twice elected to hisposition, but was de-
feated i'll 1888, aud held again no public Office
tn nc was called TO the Cabinet Of President
Polk, i'll 1915, in the capacity of Secretary of
War. lie resigned this office upon the acccs.
sion of General Taylor to the Presidency and
accepted the position Of Secretary of State in
the Cabinet ofPreslcnt Pierce. lie was also
prominent candidate for the Presidency he.
fore the Baltimore Convention.
THIS IS the outline Of the public life of one.
who is acknowledged to have been one of the
first men of our time. His name has been
long before the people, he has had much to
do with our political achievements and VIC
do not now recollect any net of that charac-
ter OF weakness or hesitation, which would
make the record of his life a reproacll of his.
tory. lie was n model politician He pos.
scsssd in an eminent degree of development and
perfection all the requisites Of shrcwtincss |
foresight caution and tact, and withal consider
able comprehensivencss Of intellect, and as
much honesty as Is often given to politicians to |
cnioy-that enable him to be a most successful |!
and admirable manager of men and measures. |
There was a conservatism in his habits and |
methods of thought and action, which led him
to shun extremes, and in those rcrious times
which try mems temrcrs. to prefer that middle
course OF action, which men are generally and
finally forced to adopt Hence his counscs
md advice were usually those that prevailed;
and his influence was ever largely and widely
felt. He was a member of fthc famous "Albany
Regency" which for n long time was. under.
stood to control the action of the Democratic
party in New York, and it need hardly he said
that his was one of the master spirits of those
to whom this son6riquet was applied. -
1t Is, perhaps, the best evidence Of the per-
fcctness of his character as a politician that he
never appeared to seek office. Whenever he
was called to public position, either by cleo
tion appointment it always seemed to be
because he was the man for the posi,lon-bc-
cause other would do as himself 1t was
either becausche was by his abilities and opn.
ions peculiarly fitted for the place. or because
divisions or dissentions in the ranks of his party
were TO be united or removed, and because
there was the necessity for some one who by
his practice tf conservatism could take middle
ground upon which men Of opposite and ex.
tremo opinions could come together for united
action His intellectual abilities and attain
mentss were of the first order. He was one of I
the very ablest political orators Of the day. I
His State papers, always characterized by To- |
gical strength and acuteness of argument; and I
by great force and simplicity and clearness of, |
style, models of their kind His manage
meDt Of the Kosta business. established his re-
putation as first rate diplomatist; while in |
his disposal of the proposition for the abolish
ment of privatecring, he most decidedly and |
ches and other 'shrewd ones" that composed |
tire late Congress at Paris. But his later SER
vices and achievements are yet fresh in the |
memory OF our readers and our space admon- |
ishes us to close our brief and imperfect sketch
OF the public career of one who has been SO |
closely connected with the late history of our
government. |