228 Chronicles of the Cape Fear River

previous, and conversed freely. We learn that on his return
from Edgecombe yesterday afternoon he was taken suddenly ill
on board the cars, and on arriving at Goldsboro it was found
necessary for him to stop, where he expired, at Mrs. Borden’s
hotel, at a quarter before 8 o’clock yesterday evening, of bilious
or cramp colic, in the sixty-fifth year of his age.

“As a public man, General McKay was well known to be a
firm and consistent Democrat, having served his constituents
for eighteen years, from 1831 to 1849, as member of Congress
from this district, and during that time, at one period, occupy-
ing with marked ability the high and very responsible office of
chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, of which com-
mittee he was chairman at the time of the passage of the Tariff
Bill of 1846. As a representative, no member of Congress com-
manded more attention or respect. He might truly be said to
have served his constituents ‘till he voluntarily retired’ as a
national representative, always looking to the best interests of
the whole country, and discarding all factions and sectional
jealousies.”

At a meeting of the members of the Wilmington Bar held on
Saturday, the 17th day of September, 1853, the following pro-
ceedings were had:

“On motion of H. L. Holmes, Esq., Robert Strange, jr.,
Thomas C. Miller, Mauger London, and David Reid, were ap-
pointed a committee to prepare resolutions expressive of the
regret of the members of the bar, upon hearing of the death of

Hon. James I. McKay, who died suddenly at Goldsboro, on .

Thursday evening last. Mr. Strange, from the committee, re-
ported the following preamble and resolutions:

This meeting of the members of the Wilmington Bar has heard with
deep regret of the sudden and melancholy death of Hon. James I.
McKay, of Bladen County. General McKay for many years was a
leading practitioner in the courts of this circuit, and since he retired
from the bar, has been greatly distinguished in the councils of the
nation. ‘The force of his intellect won for him this high position,
and strict adherence to his principles and great regard for the honor
and safety of his country, combined with almost unparalleled integ-
rity as a public man, secured to him a national reputation, of which
North Carolina may justly be proud.

While the death of General McKay is a loss to the whole country, yet
we with whom he has been more immediately associated, can not with-

hold this slight tribute of respect to his memory.
Therefore resolved, That by the death of Hon, James I. McKay, North

Carolina has been deprived of one of her most distinguished citizens, .

Notable Incidents | 229

and the Whole nation of one whose faithful adherence to the Con-
stitution of his country, and whose great ability and honesty of pur-
pose, have won the admiration of men of all parties.

At Wilmington, as his remains were borne through the city,
there was a great public demonstration. His body was met by
the military, all the bells of the city tolled, and an escort accom-
panied the remains to their last resting place in the family bury-
ing ground on the home plantation in Bladen. The steamboat
which conveyed the sad cortége from Wilmington to Elizabeth-
town was decked in the habiliments of woe, and its wailing

monotone resounded continuously through the forests that lined
the banks of the river.

GOVERNOR EDWARD B. DUDLEY.

Among the many great men who have adorned the life of our
community and contributed to the prosperity of this section of

the State, no one has surpassed in usefulness Edward B. Dudley.

On the occasion of his death, Robert H. Cowan was selected
by the citizens of Wilmington to deliver an address commem-
orative of his life and character, and performed that public
service on the eighth day of November, 1855. From Colonel
Cowan’s address we learn that Governor Dudley was born in
Onslow County, December 15, 1789, and died in Wilmington
on the 30th of October, 1855. When twenty-one years of age
he represented Onslow in the House of Commons, and in 1813
and 1814 in the Senate. During the war with England he
came to Wilmington, the second in command of the regiment of
volunteers who flocked from the neighboring counties to repel
threatened British invasion. In 1815 he removed to Wilming-
ton, and in 1816 and 1817 he represented the town of Wilming-
ton in the House of Commons. In polities he was a Republi-
can, as distinguished from the Federalists. Governor Holmes,
who was the representative of the district in Congress, having
died in November, 1829, Mr. Dudley was elected to fill the
vacancy. At that time he was a Jackson man; but not being
Satisfied with the policy of the administration, in Congress he
attached himself to the opposition, and then declined reélection,
a “T can not, fellow-citizens, forego my own opinion for
Ae of any man. I acknowledge no master but the law and

y—no party but the interests of my country.” He was,

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