Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-06-23
From tie Baltimore american
james Barbour.


informed OF his, somewhat unexpected
death. Fourteen months ago, bis medi-
cal advisers knew that his life could not
be prolonged beyond very few years !:
but such was the extent to which his nat
urally vigorous constitution had re acted,
after the violent illness during the past
winter, that his departure, at this time,
was unexpected to his family.
Until four or five wears stree, Gov.
BARBOUR had had almost continual enjoy
ment Of health--not often, during Ion 2
and active life, having been afflicted with
sickness of any kind and, since his re-
tiremen, from the anxietics of public en-
ployments, his agricultural pursuits, with
the bracing air of the region of the Blue
Ridge, gave promise for the extension OF
his term beyond the three-score years and
ten. A year or two before the great po-
litical struggle OF 1910, his heath began
to fail, without any assignable cause
During that contest, which enlisted the
active exer,Ions of the distinguished men
Of the day, he yielded so far to the urgent
solicitations of political friends, and the
promptings oil his own patriotism, as to
visit different sections Of the country, and
address numerous assemblages Of his fell
low-ctizens. The upprehcnsions Of his
family, as to the effects Of such severe la
bors, were painfully realised by his i'm
paired physical powers.
After the close of the contest, he re-
paired to Baltimore and Philadelphia, for
the benefit Of eminent medical and surgi-
cal advice, and it was ascertalned that he
had been, for several years, suffering un.
der the slow and insidous advances Of a
disease, which had, by irritatlye fever,
gradually impaired his constitution and
for the ultimate cure of which Surgery
could offer no promise. Pallation, and
a prolongation Of life for few years, to
be derived from the strict observance OF
all the regulations which surgical science
prescribed, as adapted to the disease, was
all that could be expected. subsequently
to the discovery Of this condition OF his
svstem-which restrained him from the
active pursuits Of life, while il deprived
him Of hope-he repeatedly expressed his
wish, that the curtain might drop, and
close the drama MS he did not deem life
desirable after the actor had lost the pow
er to perform his part.
During the Autumn Of 1871, his health
had improved so far as to allow him to
anticipate visit to his friends i'll this CT
ty, early in the past Winter. In The ac-
complishment of this object, he left Bar
louisville in December, expecting to ar
rive at Baltimore, by the way of k'ch-
mond, where he was called 20 attend the
Agricultural Convention of Virginia. AT
that place he was so much lndlsposed,
from the excitement of travel, and the
change from the quiet and comforts OF his
own frcside, that he was induced to re-
Iiuquish the further prosecution oil his
Journey aud return to Barboursvllle. An
aggrayation Of the symptoms Indicated
the progress of the disease. After an Ill
ness Of several weeks, attended with the
most painful anxietes of his friends, he
was restored 10 comfortable state oil
health and was able to devote portion
of his time to the management OF his es'
tate. His design was, during the APP
preaching season, to visit the Virginia
Springs. But the return OF Summer aid
ed in its effects by the moisture which has
been so peculiar TO this season, induced
colIlquatve symptoms, which, acting on
his debiltated system, could not be ar.
rested. In the possession of his mental
faculties, with perfect consciousness OF
his approaching dissolution, and sur
rounded by his family, he died at Bar
louisville, Orange County, Virginia, on
the eighth of June, 1912 having COM
pIeted, within three days, his slxty-sev'
enth year. Thus distinguished man,
who, since his death, has been described
by one Of the most eloquent writers OF the
day, as GONE OF THE NoBLEsr OF THE
SONS OF VIRGINIA the virtues OF whose
private life, and character outshone all
the spleudour with which popular favor or
political distinction could adorn hisname,
has calmly yielded up his spirit to that
Great Being from whom II came.
will not invade the privacy OF tho DO.
nestle circle, by speaking OF the kind and
loving husband the affectionate and IN
dulgcnt father the " Old Master" as he
was called by his servants, who spoke OF,
and TO him almost with the affection they
would have had for parent. will not
draw aside the veil which conceals from
public view the anguish of her, who, with
all of woman's devotion, was his compan-
ion for more than forty years: or that OF
his children, whose reyerentlal love ap-
preached almost to idolatry. Time, the
Comforter, in commemoratlon oil whose
powers to console the mourner, Mon.
taigne proposed to erect monument, WIN
bring TO them his healing virtues on his
wings.
That portion Of the biography OF "ov'
Barbour which relates to his public me-
is indelibly written in the histories OF his
State. and his Country. During the last
thirty years, few men have occupied
larger space in the public eye none have
been characterized by patriotism more
pure, or BY more unbounded devotion
Of talents and time to the public welfare.
have not access to sources OF lniorma-
ton which would enable me TO give MN
ute history Of his public life. leave the
discharge Of that duty to some friend who
is moro conversant with the history of his
times; and who holds an ADLER pen than
that which offers this humble tribute TO