Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-29
COM N u HIcArIoN rs.
JAMES BARBOUR.


distinguished themselves in their eoun,ry's service
This feeling is communicable aud should he indul.
ged when il arises from desire To award the tribute
OF respect to deeds that command our gratitude OF
excite our admiration. In a Republic the Govern.
men, aud the officer who faithfully serves ii should
be identified in the Elections OF the citizen. Il is
equally his duty to cherish the reputation Of the
one as to render obedience TO the cihI. This is
fequenIy tho only reward Tor sacrifices made in
the public service. The instances are no, uneonl-
mon, OF men whose days have been spent in advan-
chg the best interests Of the State, retiring, when
"wenry aud old with SERVICE" with other requi.
ta save the consciousness Of having made every
end they aimed a, "iheir Country's their Gods aud
Truths" The most grateful incense 10 tue patriotic
mind, under such circumstances, is the appreciation
Of the people. Titles may for awhile please-the trap
pings OF Office, the purple, the ermne, the diadem
may bring with them momsn,ary qualification; but
an assurance that we have the affections OF our
eoun,rymen, based upon long life Of untiring dc.
voIou TO their welfare, secures that which attaches
not TO tho fictitious consequence Of place. or the
tinsel pageantry ofPoicu.
These reflections arc suggested by the hal!owed
associations which cluster around the memory OF
the eminent man whose virtues we propose TO com.
memoraie.
| JAMES BARBOUR was born in Orange county,
| Virginia. on the 10Th Of June, l775. His father
was a respectable but unpretendiug farmer. Bred
TO the bar, he entered upon the duties OF his probes
sion at a very early period Of lie. His career,
hough disting pushed at its commencement by many
Instantaneous circumstances, was attended with
brilliansy and success unparalleled. perhaps, in
the annals OF County Court practice. twas, how
ever, OF short duration. In the spring OF 90, he was
1t. -HAl nj. 0 - at,nN.r q
Orange in the State Legislature. From that period
his attention principally directed TO the subject
OF politics. He continued, Notwithstanding. TO
practice during the ofthe Legislature, till he
was called, by the unanimous voice OF tina, body, 10
4 the Gubernaorial Chair Of the State.
| The first act of his political life which brought
him 10 the notice Of the public, and aided to give
him that elevated stand, which he afterwards took
| among the politicians of our country, was his firm
and dc cided opposition 10 the Alien and Scdon
Laws. The June succeeding the April Of his first
election, Congress, under the Administration of the
Elder Adams, passed these obnoxious statutes.
| The excitement which accompanied their publica-
tion extended to.every portion OF the Union. Vir-
| GINA, ever tenacious of her rights Sovereign
State, and sensitive 10 fault of all powers eXcr-
cised by the Federal Government no, literally dele
gated, felt more OF this excitement than any of her
sister States. Its influence reached every class Of
her citizens Her young men and her old men were
found promlscuousy mngllng in the conflict, pre-
pared 10 defend the opinions they severally main.
tancd. Among the fotemos, Of these was MIR
Barbour, then only % years Of age. Without wait
| ing development Of public sentiment, but carried
by the convictions Of his mind TO conclusions unfa-
vorable 10 the policy and consiitutionay OF these
laws he addressed the citzens OF Orange, inviting
attention 10 them, aud recommended q meeting for
the purpose Of giving expression to their opinions.
A meeting was held, TO which he submitted set Of
resolutions condemnng in the strongest terms these
measures of the Administration, as ill~adviscd op.
pressive and unconstitutional. The language in
/ which these resolutions were couched, the spirit
which they breathed, added to the lofty bearing
which he maintained in this great national excite
meni attracted attention from every quarter Of the
State. On taking his seat in the Legislature the
succeeding winter we find him at this carly period
Of his public life occupying an elevated standing in
| the confidence Of that body.
This session was, perhaps the most iuporla ut
and interesting which had ever been held IN Virsi
mia. Then were formed the two great parties of the
country. The line OF distinction between Federal
| ist and Republican was drawn upon the constitu-
tiona question, Whether Congress had The power 10
enact the Alien and SediIion lawsl Upon this veX-
ed question doubt entertained as TO the opinion
OF Virginia. To arrange the maieriel OF which the
parties were composed. so rs TO secure Repub
can majority, required great prudence and dscre-
/ ton, combined with some tact and management; in
efecting which, MIR Barbour acted n prominent and
Efficient part. The discussion evolved in the settle
ment Of this great constitutional problem engaged
the Legislature through much the larger portion of
It's session. The discussion ELECTED by resolu.
tons introduced by Col. John TAYLOR Of Caroline.
They were first submitted To a caucus consisting OF
eighteen members of the Republican party, who
revised and corrected them. After their adoption IN
ciucus, six members were selected to advocate them
before the House-one Of whom Mr. Barbour.
| Upon the plea Of youth. (being at that time the
youngest member of the housed and iuexpercncc
IN parliamentary proceedings, he ut first rejected
this unentiable honor But osorruled 10y his friends
~ Sfse"' ecu lh~ |-.;~" avNo"Ah hi"' Iils sI~~i'
may be seen IN n collection published at the time.
II bears evidence Of young man, whose magma
ton was permitted TO have too much Influence in
such discussion. But his manner, his youth and
his zeal, produced decidedly favorable Impression.
The report Of the speech is greatly imperfect, dong
Injustice TO the original Ii should be considered more
as u memorandum Of fact then, than as Bpeci-
men Of the talents Of the speaker.
To recount the mony Incidents which signalized
this period Of his life, would be TO record the history
OF the times, and would exceed the limits assigned
to the sketch. 'Tis sufficient TO add that he retired
from this frs, net oil his political life with the entire
confidence of his party, and reputation for talents
I rarely enjoyed by statesman OF his years.
The session OF '99 resulted in a complete triumph
OF the Republican party; and tho officers Of the
house, who, before, were Federalsts were changed.
MIR Smith was elected Speaker; Mr. Writ, United
States Attorney General, Clerk; and Mr. Monroe
Governor. Added 10 this, was the election ia the
subsequent year Of Mr. Jefferson 10 the Presidency
Coming IN such quick succession, these triumphs
intoxicated some members OF ttc party and induced
movement 10 eXpe every Federast who held Of
ice under the Government. In spirit worthy of a
liberal and enlightened patricia spirit which cha
racterizsd him in every social and political relation
through life, lie placed upon this startling PROPOSE
ton the seal Of his unqualified condemnation. The
question coming up, upon the reelection Of a MIR
Shepherd rs Auditor, who was n northern man and
a Fcderalst, but faithful in the discharge Of his Of
hcia duties, he arose in his place, and, with an clio
quence rarely witnessed in that body, denounced
such prescription in terms Of unmeasured repro.
baton. The attempt TO convert great political
revolution into n mere instrument Of individual
aegraud cement, was an net unworthy a party
which proessed to be governed by principle. lie
blushed n think there was a member who would
acknowledge such influence. These remarks, !
coming from n gentleman standing in the relation
he did TO the house, had the happicst effect. IL was
lbindonel. And to James B1rbour, mny he attn.
buied, in no small degree, the magnanimiy Of cha
racler which has induced Virginia, Throughout, the
most excited Of party contests, to explode this de-
tested policy.
MIR Barbour, throughout his legislative career,
possessed the influence which talents Of superior
order generally command. Every leading measure
having purpose single 10 the public coed, which
distinguished the times in which ne acted, pregnant
as they were, with grand and important events)
4 found IN him able and efficient advocate. To
adopt such pBns, and mature such measures M
would tiftciually dcyoOpo the principles on which
the Government was founded, were among the first
efforts Of his legislative life. In casting our eye
over the code Of Virginia, some Of the most useful
acs We shall find the production Of his pen. An
nci concerning the Public Lands, net concerning