Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-11-06

With the entire confidence Of his party. and a
reputatior for talents rarely enjoyed BY states
man Of his years.
The session of '99 resulted in complete tri-
umph of the Republican Party. and the officers
of the house, who before were Federalists. were
changed. Mr. Smith was elected speaker; Mr..
Writ, (late U. S. Attorney General,) clerk;
Mr. Monroe, Governor. Added this was the
election, in 1900, of Mr.. Jefferson to the Presi-
deDcv. Coming in such quick succession, these
triumphs intoxicated some members OF the par.
ty. and induced movement to expel every Fe.
deralst. who held office under the Government.
La a spirit worthy Of liberal and enlightened
patricia spirit which has characterized him in
every social and political relation through lie,
he placed upon this high handed and unjustfiahe
proposition the seal of his unqualified condem
nation. The question coming up upon the re.
election of Mr.. shepherd as Auditor, who was
Northern man and Federalist, but faithful in
the discharge of his official duties. Mr.. Barbour
rose in, his place. and, with eloquence rarely
witnessed in that body, denounced such pro.
scription in terms of unmeasured rrprnbation =
The attempt to convert grea. political reVolu
ton into mere instrument of individual and
party assrandizament, was an act so unworthy
the elevated feeling, which should character
ze that house, that he blushed to think there
was a member who cuuld openly ayow such
a principle. These remarks. coming from gen
tIeman standing in the relation he did to the
house, had the happest effect Ii was abandon
ed And Virginia, with the chivalry of charac
ter that has ever attached to her, stamped with
nfamy the measure and will ever consign to me.
ri,ed obIoguy the man who would practise upon
her citizens so odious policy.
Mr.. Barbour, throughout his legislative career,
possessed the influence which talents OF superi.
or order generally commands Every leading
measure, having purpose single 10 the public
cnud. which distinguished the times in which he
acted. pregnant as they were with grand and
important evcnts) fund in him an able and eff
cient advocate. The unkind feelings engender-
ed by party contests we're not in the least congo
NAL to his temper and his talents. The exacer-
ba,ons, necessarily incident upon the adjust
ment of conflicting interests. were allayed when.
his interference would enable him to alay
them. The opportunity was never Omitted 10
pour oil on the troubled waters, and attempt
TO restore the good feelings, which should
exist between members of the same politi-
calfaniIy. To adopt such plans, and mature
such measures cifec tuay brought forth the
principles. upon which the Government was
founded, were among the first efforts OF his Leg
islatve life. In casting our eye over the Code
Of Virginia. some of the most useful acts on its
pages We shall find the production of Mr.. Bar.
Oour's pen. An act concerning the Public
Lands; an act concerning the Literary Fund; an
act for the suppression of Ducliins, stand upon
cur Statute Books at lasting monuments TO the
wisdom and worth of this distinguished Son Of
Virginia.
Mr.. Barbour, as we might reasonably expect,
has political enemies who. in the fury OF Party
| Spirit. have attempted 10 disparage the part he
took in every act which has signaiized his auspl
cious life. They have essayed every expedient
TO divert the credit which such deeds elicit from
a grateful Public. We shall. for this reason,
ask indulgence whilst we briefly advert to some
particulars that characterized the passage of these
Laws.
Among the first principles insrafed in our
Bill of Rights. and recognized by the spirit OF
the Constitution of Virginia, was perfect
equality in the rights and privileges of the scvc
raj Religious denominations Ia palpable coa-
tta.en,ion of this principle, as late as 1900, the
Giebe Lands Of the several Parishes were still in
the possession of the Episcopal Church. Mr..
Barbour, seeing this, introduced the measure,
which passed into a Law, withdrawing, The
Globes, as the incumbents should die off Qnr
this condition ensured its success and directed
the sale of the lands, subjscting the avas to such
disposition as The people Of each Parish should
prescribe! In the county of Orange where he
resded) he induced the people to appropriate the
proceeds to the education OF the poor, and, as
President of the society for its Distribution, he
has with unwearied assiduity nursed the funds,
till they have increased to 90 or $50 900; the an-
nual interest OF which is equal to the education
Of near 600 children.
'Early Impressed with the necessity of difusing
intelligence among the people, Mr.. Barbour saw
and depiored the parsimonious poIicy Of the
State, 10 regard to literary establishments equal
to the wants and resources of the State. He,
therefore, made various efforts to obtain an ap.
preparation TO that c0jact. Large majorrtes on
direct appropriations appeared against the mea-
sure. Finally. discovering small sum of 8 or
1000 a, nualIy acquired by the State for fines.
&C., he proposed to set apart this fund Par liter
AIRY purposes. In lhis he succeeded, and this
was, in fact, the beginning of the literary fund,
the University, public education, &c. AS Gov.
ernor. to which office he was shortly afterwards