Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-29

and this was in fact the beginning Of the Literary
Fund. the univefsisy, Public Education. Ne.
| As Governor, TO which Office he was shortly
afterwards called, he was sx.oficio President Of
the Literary Fund lie cherished il with the fond
ness OF parent, and Il gradually increased til IL
attained It's present hourishing condition. Whilst
Senator in Congress he used great diligence
in eifee,ing the settlement OF our rejected claims
arising during the Revolutionary War. the avails OF
which. by act Of our Legislature, were thrown into
the literary chest. The recovery ot these claims
amounting TO some or S7Oc,0Oo. almost sole ID.
w effected 10y the diligence and influence Of Mr
BARBOUR The last act OF his Senatorial lie was
the procurement Of the passage OF the bill giving
the interest on these claims al which $4,000
were applied Ia the purchase of Library Tor tho
University. Whilst VIC would ho the last to pluck
Sptis from the wreath WHICH encireles the memory
of Jefferson, tendetcd more cndearing 10y the inter
est Which he took IN behalf OF our University, we
do think the individual who contributed so largely
To raise the funds should share the credit with him
who superintendent their disbursement. To a gen
esous public, submit the facts, willing TO abide
their decision.
first conceived by MIR Barbour though its paternity
il nominally nno,her's. A bill was presented by
HIM and passed the lower house by large ma
jori,y, hut ior some reason (ol which We are not
adviscj,) Yves lost in tho Serate. At the next
sion he was chosen Speaker. and eN-oflieio dcpriv
el of the power 10 originate bills. Through the
fundamentally Of his Giend Major holland, the
same bill with the same tile, wearing the Sanic
lphroscOlos( WLch ~ n previous session hAu tccA
reec c1 under the circumstances mentioned, was
again brought TO the eonsi ierntion OF the Legsa-
ture, and ably sustained in Committee of the
Whole, in on eloquent speech Of Mr. Barbour. Ii
became law nud given 10 the pubic as
measure Of Mr. Nolands.
Before Mr Barbour called to preside over the
House, he took an active part in every Of
Importance which was brought before the Legisa-
ture. lie originated many measures, having for
their object the simplifying our legal code and di'
tccbutcaltcs
which were the undsputed progeny OF a barbarous
asc, and only calculated 10 porplex the Odminslra
ton OF justice. These mystical peadings
iot l Horse Pleas, .reyersSs, asg,urrer''
| Avennonts, bars, AMI protestandos"
were expressed in iirgon too unnelsiblc to be the
vehicle OF justice 10 enlightened man. Among his
FIRST efforts was the attempt to remove them from
proceedings OF Courts OF Justice in Virginia. With
what success, Tic Virginia Juris Consult can read-
ly appreciate.
| In lsOs, Mt Barbour was elected Speaker Of the
House Of Delegates situation which he occupied
ill the session Of III and 10, when on the death
of Gov. Smith, he was elected, without opposition
Governor. The war commenced in June, lSl2.-
The Legislature had adjourned without any prepar-
alory measures their part FOR this change in our
affairs. The General Government made no provi-
sion for our defence, although ut the time iormld-
able enemy was lowering on our coast. The
most prompt and decisive measures were required
TO protec, from the rnpne and plumber Of an in-
furiated soldery. These were taken by Gov. Bar
bour with all the 6rmness and independence which
were essential 10 enable him TO meet, successfully,
the crisis. He armed the local militia, aud arrang
cd levy en- masse so rs TO be prepared for action
al a moments warning. The first hostile appear
ancc was in January, 'l3, which he met by calling
out the militia and marching IN person TO Norf Tx.
| At much hazard OF popularity, he placed General
Taylor (the youngest Brigader, OF Ply in command
aud returned to the seat OF Government, where he
watched, with sleepless anxiety, the course Of
| events.
This was period the most mportan, and respon.
S bic OF his life. Without money, without the
operation Of the Federal Government, and with
strong spirit of opposition from Militia officers,
who considered themselves aggteved ia the promo
ton Of Gen. Taylor, difficulties that attended
his oiorts 10 discharge the trust reposcd in him by
! the Commonwealth. Prompted by other motive
than the good of his country, he determined upon
the measures proper to be adopted, and despite the
eavl.s of disappointed aspirants, consummated them
with signal success. Without authority from the
General Government, he called out and stationed
below Richmond considerable military force for
its protection. For this highly necessary measure
he eceived, IN unmeasured terms, the censurcs OF
| ms opponents. The popular Glamour was attempt.
ed To be raised against him because, rs It was said,
| of the veXatous and unnecessary harraSsment of
! our citizens, attended with wanton and uniusuh-
able expenditure Of the public money. These nd
dresses 10 popular feeling were made when danger
was at dis;srcc, and when IL was known that the
public indignation could be easily excited y Gniul
appeals 10 the sacrifices that were then making
With mistaken Confidence IN the profrety Of this
measure, and q conviction that the objections 20 1t
were based upon cnmi.les superinduced upon the
discharge OF high constitutional duty, Governor
Barbour discarded the influence they might have
upon his conduct, and advanced foarlcssy 10 i,s ac
| complishment. As he anticipated, il proved sue
cessful, end Richmond was Unqncstionabiy saved
! by these precautionary C,eps. Censure was then
converted into general applause The issue fur
nishes an apt ILLUSTRATION Of the truth, tha"mankmd
judge measures solely 10y events-they connect wis.,
dom with good fortune, and folly with DISASTER"
In lie progress Of tic war, continued drafts were
msnt furnished holI6s 10 Tue , e auJharies our
fuads were exhausted; with 1000 infantry in the
| field aud 5000 chshlry. In this emergency, Gov.
b. appealed 10 the Banks in Richmond, and Dor
rowed 100000, upon the pledge of his individual
responsibility. lie took the field in person. and
discharged the combined Offices Of Commander. in.
Chief and Governor. The brilliant success that
attended every effort 10 meet the cor ence tepOscd
in him by the State at this ovenlful period of her
history may be properly conceived 10y the estimate
which the Legislature placed upon his conduc; in
the several votes they gave Immediately sub equent
to these transactions. With entire unnnlmiiy they
sanctioned every measure he had taken during the
recess and expressed their confidence in him by an
overwhelming minority for election. Some of
the militia officers, who still retained n eaven Of
hostility at Gen. Taylor's promotion, brought for.
ward the highly popular and esiimabe name Of
vJiling.
On the expiration Of the term for which lie was
constituiionaly eligible as our Executive Chief Ma,
glsirato, he was returned TO Congress as Senator
from Virginia. This election was effected in oppo-
ston to MIR Writ and Richard Brent; both of them
popular, and MIR Brent the incumbent. lie took
his seat IN the Senate in January, 1915 The war
wss then rasing-thc Government bankrupt party
spirit excited beyond con'rol-discord prevaing
among the friends of the Administrations and des-
pondcncy every where predominnling Retiring
from theatre on which he had acted part OF equal
interest to the whole Union, Mr. Barbour's repu,a
ton was not circumscrbed by the boundaries of
Virginia. lie carried fresh to the Senate Chamber
those laurels which awarded TO his gallant
deeds achieved in the field and at The council board
Uncommiited 10 any course Of policy; untrnmmeled !
by the foucrs Of party preiudcos he had supcraddcd
that commanding influence which made him q fnyo. |
rite representative in national councils Mt that
froubi5uS time. lie could he did, successfully
&C; the pachcator in conciliang variant opinions !
and soothing tho nsperies which existed between !
members Of The sumo political family.
His first efforts on taking his scat in the Senate |
were the deyising suitable measures to enable the
Government to meet the pecuniary demands of tho |
country lie called meeting Of the friends Of the |
Administration, to which he submitted a proposition
for National Bank, with a capital sufficiently |
large for oil governmental purposes. This PROPOSE. |
ton was adopted by the meeting, and at their re- |
quest brought by Mr. Barbour, in proper form, to |
the notice of the Senate. IL passed by triumphant
minority, and would have been carried through tho |