The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-27
DEATH OF JUDGE BARBOUR

n ueeP sensation OF regret and awe was pro-
duced throughout our community on Thursday
morning, by the announcement of the sudden
death OF the Hon. Philip p Barbour, of Vir-
gina, one OF the Associate Judges of the Su-
preme Court Of the United States On the
evening previous, he had remained in consulta-
ZION with his brethren Of the Bench till the Gus
tomary hour, ten o'clock, and retired from thence
to his chamber in apparently his usual health
and spirits. As he did not make his appearance
at the breakfast table, servant was sent to call
him, who quickly returned and gave the shock
ing intelligence that he was dead. Upon enter
ing his chamber, the Judges found him lying in
an easy position, his features perfectly tranquil
and the whole aspect and attitude indicating
that he had passed from life to death without
struggle.
The Supreme Court met at the usual hour,
and large concourse had assembl, in the ex-
pectation of hearing the close Of Mr.. Adams
argument in the Amstad case. The Chief Jus
tice announced briefly and mpressively the af-
fiicting event, and Immediately adjourned the
Court until Monday next.
This is the first occasion of the decease of
Judge of the Supreme Court in Washington
| while Congress and the Court were in session
| After the arrival of the distinguished brother
Of the deceased, Governor JAMES BARBOUR, who,
being on visit to Baltimore was Immediately
sent for, the Judges took order for the funeral
| ceremonies as given in another column. The
affecting event was noticed in the Senate by
Mr.. RoANE, and in the House by Mr.. BANKS, in
appropriate terms, and both branches of Con-
gress adjourned at two o'clock for the purpose
of attending the removal of the remains. The
services in the Supreme Court Room were per-
formed by the Rev .Messrs BRAxToN and COOK
MAN, in the presence of the President of the
United States, several Of the Heads of Depart
ments, the Judges Of the Supreme and Circuit
Courts, many Senators and Representatives
and members of the Bar-besides the brother
and other relatives of the deceased. The adj
dress Of Mr.. GOODMAN was peculiarly impress
sive; and his earnest and natural eloquence
found response in every bosom.
| Judge BARBOUR filed several distinguished
stations in his own State, as well as under the
General Government. He distinguished him
self early in the Legislature of Virginia and
discharged the functions of Judge in the State
Courts with eminent ability. On entering Con
| gress he soon attracted notice, and he was
finally raised TO the dignity of Speaker of the
House of Representatives. In the post which
he occupied at the time Of his death he establish
ed the reputation of learned, upright, and able
Judge.
| His remains were embarked in the Southern
mailboat, under appropriate attendance, in or
der 10 be conveyed to his country seat in Orange
county, Virginia, for interment
| The Loco-focos, after Tevelling for twelve
years in all the luxurious abundance of over
grown salaries and emoluments of office, are
now, as they are about to be sundered from
them, thrown into sudden fit of economy, the
like of which they have never before exhibited
| or even dreamed of. On the contrary, when,
within few years past the Democratic Wings
proposed reduction of salaries, and a limit to
the expenditures, the Loco-focos were highly
| incensed, and violently opposed any such imper-
tinent interference with their privileged enjoy
ments because, s'to the victor belonged the
spoil" While President Van Buren, was ex-
pending his thousands in the White House, and
Mr. Attorney Butler, and Mr.. Collector Hoyt
and others, of their friends were accommodating
immense fortunes in Office these economical
patriots not only had no objections to make, but
would not permit their pampered friends to be
molested, or the Treasury or the people to be
protected from these enormous drafts. fla Re-
ceiver had his hands so full that he could not
well add more of the public money, why, that
should be retained in office. If another had stolen
a large fortune from the public Treasury, he
was still esteemed the more capable Of serving
his party, and the advice was, better let ii
be-
Now, forsooth, in the very last week of the
last quarter of their political supremacy, when
the offices and the emoluments they have too
long enjoyed are about to pass from them, they
come forward with eagerness to apply the hand
Of retrenchment simply because they can no
longer employ their hands Of plumber in filling
their own pockets. And the Globe (Pdrthis
menddcior) has the effrontery TO pretend that
these propositions to reduce salaries are made by
its friends g as soon as the extraordinary
amounts received by officers were known l''-
Such mendacity and impudence have seldom
been equalled, during the long term this unprin-
cip.ed party have been held together, as Mr.. Cal
houn said, "by The cohesive power of public
plunder.n
SOUTH CAROLINA