Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-11-06
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
Biographical! &sfea Of IRE
HONORABLE JAMES BARBOUR.

q
come scqssiotrd with the history OF Individuals
who have distinguished themsel,c s in their coun.
trv's ssrsice Tbisfeeing is conmenjable. and
should 10 INDUCED. when it arises from desire
to award the tribute of respect to deeds that com
mand our gratitude or excite eur admiration In
a Republic, the government and the officer who
faithfully serves it, should be identified IN the
affections If the citizen. II is equally hls duty
10 cherish the reputation OF the one as TO render
obedience to the other. This Us frequently the
on reward fos sacrifices made in the pubic SER
vice. The Instances are not uncommon. OF men
whose dayshaye been spent in advancing the best
interests oil the state. retiring. when weary and
old with service. with no other reqaita', save the
consciousness of having made every end they
aimed M 'thelr cOnntrv'>, their Oous anu
truths" Tie most grateful incense to the pa
triotic m,nd. under such circumstances, Is the
appreciation of the people. Title may Tor awhile
pea,e-the trappings OF Office, the purple. the
ermine or the tliatem, may bring with them mo-
mentary qualification; but an assurance that we
have the afto tions of oar country'nen, based up
on long life of unring devotion to their vel
fare, secures that. which attaches not to the lac
t,,ioas consequences Of place, or the tinsel pa
geantry OF power.
These reflections are suggested by the charac-
ter Of the individual whose name heads this ar
ticle.
JAMES BARBOUR was born in Orange
County, Virginia, on the 10th 0f June. l173.-
His father was respectable, but unpretendins
farmer. Bred Ia The bar, he entered upon the
duties of his profession at very early period OF
life His career, though distinguished at its com
mencement by manv Instantaneous circum.
stances. was attended with briliancy and sue
cess, unparalleled, perhaps, in the annals oil
county court peactice. II was, however, OF short
duration. In the spriGg of '9S, he was elected
a delegate to represent the County OF Orange,
in the State Legislature. From that period his
attention was principally directed to the subject
of politics He continued, notwithstanding. TO
prac,ise during the recess of the Legislature,
fill he was called, by the unanimous voice ut
that body. to the Guberna,oriai Chair OF the
State
The first act of Mr.. Barbour's political li!e.
which brought him to the notice OF the pubic,
and aided 20 give him that elevated stand, which
he afterwards took among the politicians OF our
country, was his firm and decided opposition to
the Alien aod Scdition Laws. The June sue.
ceedins the April of his first election, Congress,
under the administration of the elder Adams,
passcd these obnoxious statutes. The excite
men, which accompanied their publication ex
tended to every portion Of the Union. Nirgl
MIA, ever tenacious OF her rights as sovereign
State, and sensitive to fault OF all powers. ex-
erciscd by the Federal Government, not literal
Iy drIeg. ,ed, felt more Of the excitement than
any of her sister States. lis influence reached
everv class of her citizens. Her young men,
and her old men. were found prOmiscuOusly
muslng in the conflict, prepared 70 defend the
opinions they severally maintained. Among the
foremost of these was Mr.. Barbour, then only
9S wears Of age Without waiting the develop
ment Of public sentiment, bat buried by The
councillors of his mind to conclusions uniavora-
BILE to the policy and cons,itutional,ty OF these
laws he addre. ed the citizens OF Orange. lnvit
inq attention 20 them. and recommended meet
ips tor the purpose of giving expression to their
Npinions. A meeting was held, To which he sub
mi,ted set of Resolutions, condemnng. IN the
strongest terms. these measures OF the admins
tration a. i'll advised, oppressive and unconstitu
tonal. The language IN which these resolutions
was couchcd, the spirit whlcsthey brealhed, add
ed 10 the lofty bearing which he maintained IN
this great national excitement. attracted atten-
ton from every quarter of the State. on tax
mo his seat in the Legislature, the succeeding
winter, we tiud him, at this early period Of his
public life. occupying an elevated standing in
the confidence of that body. This session was
perhaps the most interesting and important which
had ever been held in Virginia. Then were
formed the two great antagonist parties of the
country The line of distinction. between Fee
deraiist aud Republican, was drawn upon the
Constitutional question, whether Congress had
the power to enact the Alien and Sedl'ion Laws
Upon tai, vexed question, doubt was entertained
as tc the opinion OF Virginia TO arrange the
,naierisi Of which the parties were composed in
such order, a. to secure Republican majority.
required sreatsprudenee and discretion. combin
ed with scare tact and management: ~ eHechng
which Mr. Barbour acted prominent and eff
cieut part The discussion evo!Ned,in the set
temeat oil this great constitutional problem, was
a measure which principally engaged the atten-
ton of the Legislature throughout this session.
This discussion arose upon the Introduction of
Resolutions, brought forward by Col. John lay
lor, of Caroline, land supposed to be his. bot,
in truth. sir. Madison's,) which have become so
famous. whose history Us 81 much interest, and
wilLin time, we presume, be given to the public