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UPON THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF THE LATE

HON. ROBERT Y. HAYNE:

DELIVERED ON THE 13th FEBRUARY, 1840,

AT THE

CIRCULAR CHURCH,

BY APPOINTMENT OF THE CITIZENS OF CHARLESTON.

By GEORGE M’DUFFIE.

PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF CHARLESTON.

CHARLESTON :
PRINTED BY W. RILEY, 41 BROAD STRELT.

1840.

7392.60

US 1997 8.9.5

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184711

March 26.
Gill of
B. Whitridge, H.D.
of Charlston, S.C.

PREFACE.

On the 27th of September last, the melancholy intelligence was received in Charleston, of the death of our distinguished and la. mented fellow citizen, the Hon. ROBERT Y. HAYNE. He died at Ashville, North Carolina, a few days previously, of a fever which he had contracted whilst on a journey to that place, whither he had gone to attend a Convention of the Louisville, Cincinnati, and Charleston Rail Road Company, of which he was the President. As soon as the fact of his demise was authentically ascertained, the City Council of Charleston was specially convened for the pur. pose of paying to his memory an appropriate tribute of respect. That Body met accordingly, on the day following, (the 28th,) when the following proceedings took place:

Saturday, 1 o'clock, P. M. Sept. 28th, 1840. "Present the Mayor, Aldermen RIPLEY, SEYMOUR, M'DONALD, PATRICK, PATTON, Simons, Lance, Kinloch, Hunter.

The Mayor stated that he had convened Council for the purpose of communicating the melancholy intelligence of the death of the Hon. ROBERT Y. HAYNE, and with a view to some suitable action on the part of Council, respecting an event so truly mournful in itself, and so justly regarded as a public calamity by all our people. The Mayor then addressed Council in relation to the eminent public services, and pure and exalted character of the deceased, dwelling particularly on the great and irreparable loss which this community has sustained, in the sudden and unexpected death of so able, so public spirited, so excellent a man-her most distinguished and favorite son.

Alderman SEYMOUR then offered the following resolutions, which having been seconded by Alderman LANCE, were unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the City Council has received with the deepest sorrow, the melancholy intelligence of the death of the Hon. ROBERT Y. HAYNE.

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2d. Resolved, That justly regarding this lamentable event as a severe public calamity, not only to the city of Charleston, but to the State, and the Union, and holding, as they do, the public services and private character of the deceased, in the most grateful and respectful estimation, they desire to honor his memory in some manner that may most suitably express their high appreciation of his worth, and their unfeigned sorrow for his loss.

3d. Resolved, That for this purpose, and for the further purpose of uniting with the whole community, in a public expression of the general and profound grief which pervades it, on account of this sudden and afflictive dispensation, the Mayor be requested to convene the citizens on Wednesday next, at 12 M., at the City Hall, and to submit to them in behalf of Council, a preamble and resolutions adapted to the mournful occasion of their meeting.

4th. Resolved, That among the resolutions to be offered to the meeting by the Mayor, he be requested to submit to them the propriety of erecting a suitable monument in the centre of the City Square, to the memory of the deceased.

The following resolution was then offered by Alderman SIMONS, which having been seconded by Alderman PATTON, was also unanimously adopted, viz:

Resolved, That, as a further testimony of respect for the memory of the late General ROBERT Y. HAYNE, and as a manifestation of their deep regret for his loss, the Mayor and Aldermen will wear crape on the left arm for the space of thirty days.

Council then adjourned.

JOHN R. ROGERS, Clerk of Council. In compliance with the third of the foregoing Resolutions, the citizens were convened by the Mayor, at the City Hall, on the 2d of October, 1839, when a very numerous and respectable assem. blage attended, which was organized by the appointment of the Hon. HENRY DEAS, as the Chairman, and R. W. SEYMOUR, Tas the Secretary, of the meeting. The object of the meeting having been briefly, but emphatically stated by the Chair, the Mayor then addressed the assembly on the mournful subject which had caused him to convene them, after which, he submitted a Preamble, exhi biting a sketch of the life and character, and public services of the deceased, together with a series of Resolutions, all of which were adopted with the most marked demonstrations of public sympathy and sorrow. The Resolutions alluded to were to the following

effect, viz :

1st. Resolved, That we, the citizens of Charleston, deeply deplore the death of our beloved and distinguished fellow citizen, the Hon. ROBERT Y. HAYNE, to whom we were attached by every feeling of affection, and every principle of gratitude.

2d. Resolved, That justly and candidly appreciating his numerous and important public services: his ardent patriotism and enlightened zeal: his manly, fervid, and prevailing eloquence: his matured experience, and bold, yet prudent wisdom: his high sense of honor, and pure and inflexible integrity his noble liberality and unwearied devotion to every useful and patriotic undertaking: we regard his decease as a calamity to the ' city of Charleston, the State of South Carolina, and the Union at large.

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