The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-07
10 longer feeble. 1t rang out like

iannounced his determination to reSigl
his seat, hasten home, raise com
pany, and go to the front. Witt
lWithering Scorn he turned to hi
younger colleague, who sat aohast a
the storm his words had raised ant
called upon him to follow. 1t was iik'
"a thunderbolt and the Senators sa
ldumfounded. After the first burst o
passion, General Wilson in a calm
steady voice prayed for leave of alb
sence from the Senate. 1t was grant
| ed and as he turned to leave the
Senate chamber, the members spon.
| taneously rose as q body and stood
with bowed heads as he passed out
| from that body he had so long adorn-
ed-never to return. 1t was a scene
never to be forgotten.
A committee appointed to express
in the shape of resolutions the senti-
ments of the Senate on this occasion
reported through Mr.. Francis, Senator
from Haywood. Macon and Cherokee
as follows:
Whereas the Senate has been in
formed that one of it's members is
about to leave the halls of legislation,
in North Carolina, to assume the more
arduous and perilous duties of the
camp and battlefield, as commander
of the volunteer companies from the
Whereas, no difference of opinion
as to the commencement of the pres
ent war between the United States
and the republic Of Mexico should in
duce members of this body to with
hold the expression of the opinion
they entertain as to the self-sacrifi-
cling and patriotic conduct of the
Senator referred to.
BE it therefore unanimously re-
Nv fInA TO of ~
lima, now in session. that, in separating
from their fellow member. the Honor
able Louis d. Wilson, Senator from
Edgecombe, with whom many men,
bers of this body have been associated
for years i'm the Senate chamber, they
cannot withhold the expression Of
their high sense of his able, dignitied
and patriotic services, as a member
of the Senate, and further, to express
the conviction that in the more ardu-
Gus and hazardous duties of the bat
tletield he will be no less distinguish
ed for patriotism. courage and never
failing devotion to the cause of his
country"
Upon motion of Senator Gilmer, OF
Guiford, the yeas and nays were call
ed and the resolution passed unani-
mously.
General Wilson found no difficulty
in getting men to follow his lead ana
he was soon on his way to Mexico.
The President of the United states
without General Wilson's knowledge
or consent. appointed him to the COM
mand of the Twelfth Regiment of In
fantry in the army of the United
States While i'm Mexico he was seized
with fever and died in camp. In Com
gress a brilliant eulogium was deliver
ed by Governor Brogden, in which lie
said
Louis d. Wilson was one of ma
lures noblemen, and his sympathles
were ever on the side of justice and
humanity. He was a man of strict
integrity of character, a friend of the
poor and needy and possessed of many
of the best traits and qualities of hu-
man nature He was affable and So
ciable in his manner, the embod1-
ment of patriotism and the soul of
honor. Studiously neat in his. person,
he was a favorite in all circles: he
won the sobriquet for years of the
Chesterfield of the Senate"
General Wilson was a bachelor, but
he had a large family for the affection
that most men center on their own
blood relations he gave to the people
of his county. His will left his
patrimonal estate of lands and slaves
to his nephew and niece, but the
greater part of his wealth. $40, 000,
was left to the poor of Edgecombc
His body rests in an obscure
grave on the banks of Tar River, over
grown with weeds and grasses and
shrubbery. The State has honored
him by naming a county after him:
and the people of Edgecombe have
shown their love and admiration for
their favorite son by the erection of
a beautiful monument in his honor on
their courthouse green On the from.
of this monument is the following
Colonel L. d. Wilson
was born May 18th, 1879,
and died August 18th, 1S47."
On the second side appears this SEN
ence:
"a tribute to his public service and
pirate worth"
The third side has this sentence
rom his will:
81 give to the chairman of the
County Court of Edgecombe county,
MS successors in office, the residue OF
nv estate, both real and personal, for
ne use ol lue pun NPe"PNi"/ ~
county"
The fourth side has engraved upon
t the following:
Erected by his fellow-citizens OF
he county of Edgecombe@in memory
If Col. Louis ID. Wilson, of the Twelfth
Regiment of United States Infantry
who died at Vera Cruz on his way 70
ioin the American army in Mexico
K. ID. w. CONNOR.
The Old Songs.