The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-04-26
Etsmt As OIL School Dsmaera,.
HON. ABEL p. UPsHuR.

| Since the smented death OF this talented and &C
eomplished statesman, We have bees ifequenly M
quired Of touching his early history and services
aud whilst we freely avow our incompetency TO do
justice 10 bis moiits TO furnish minute detail oil
the prominent Incidents ia his career most cheer
fully communicate such facts the subject as hsvs
fallen under our observation, or come wiihln our
| knowledge from authentic sources.
Abel Parker Upshur was bora 10 Northampton
| county, Virginia and was about ffty.fve years OF
| age, at his death His father, Col. Littleon UP,
Shur, was one Of the most wealthy and Influential
citizens OF the Eastern Shore Of Virginia. aud held
several public stations, and ranked high in the eSti
nation Of his fellow-citizens. He left, we believe
four sons and three daughters Of whom one son and
two daughters survive Lieut.. George Parker UP
shur now in command Of the u y. frgate Brandy
wine, Is younger and only surviving brother Of
Judge Upshur He is officer Of most exemplary
habits aud great merit and is universally beloved by
ms companions and acquaintances. II was through
tins brother That Judge Upshur originally acquired
that intimate knowledge OF the condition aud wants
Of the navy, which enabled him 10 suggest many i'm
portant Improvements, some Of which believe
are in progress. Judge Upshur's other brothers
(now deceased) were both gentlemen Of learning
and ability.
Abel +. Upshur was principally educated I'VE be-
lieve) at Princeton, N. j. though for or
Other he did not graduate at that institution After
hhishng ms Collegiate course, he read law at Rich
mond, IN the Office of the late VIM Writ, then one
OF the most distinguished lawyers and orators in Vr
gina, and pass, through brilliant professional a.
reer, OF some ten years at Richmond by the side Of
Wickham, Leigh Stanard and others Of like calibre,
aud retired In 1923, 10 his beautiful estate in North
ampton In 1926 he obeyed the unanimous call Of
the citizens OF tht county, and went TO the House
Oh Delegates two sessions. During this period, the
question OF calling a convention TO amend the Con-
s,ilution of Virginia, was warmly agitated in the
Legislature, sEd elected some D .weriul speeches
from the subject Of notice But perhaps the
most signal triumph ever achieved in delberative
body by The force Of argument and eloquence, was
won by inns gentleman IN q contest with the veteran
orator and politician, General Blackburn, Of the
county of Bath, upon the question of repeating then
existing law Of Virginia, imposing severe penalty
Tor marrying deceased wfe's sister. Judge Upshur
proposed repeal. Gen. Blackburn, a man Of pow
eriu oraory and sarcasm, resisted the proposition,
and he was aided by the strongest possible preudices
OF the members of the House of Delegates, against
the alteration of the law The subject discussed
al great length and with much power by these rival de
baters The closing speech of Judge UIshur was a
mastery effort combining extensive biblical research,
profound and unanswerabe arguments, and whitening
sarcasm. General Blackburn was demolished, and
the penalties of this law changed. This debate plac
ca Judge UPshur at once in the foreground, as one
OF Virginias abest statesmen and orators he had
been for years, one o her abIest lawyers
In 1897 he was elected by the General Assembly
almost by reclamation, of the Judges of the Gc
cult This position he occupied till selected by
President Tyler as Secretary of the Navy.
In the alton of Judge he gave universal satisiac-
ton Ills integrity and entire impartiality man
ever thought of questioning. His powers Of percep-
ton and analysis enabled him to decide promptly
the most abstrnse questions presented to him his
extensive and methodcal reading furnished him the
means Of Offering irresistible for his opn-
ions; whilst iis urbaDity and dignity OF demeanor
added moral to The Judicial force OF his decrces.-
Such was Judge Upshur upon the bench.
10 1913, (whilst Judge,) he was elected TO the
virginia Convention, and was Of the Ninety Sir
Of VTginia's chosen sons deputed to amend her
CONSTITUTION IL was there, SURF, unded by the Mar
shalls, Madsons Randolphs, Tylers, Tazewells,
Leighs, and the whole host of Virginia's talent
Judge upshur acquired the honor and stinclion Of
an unrivsled Jurist, sta esnian and orator.
Perhaps the best proof we could furnish Of the
Proiundiiy and beauty of one Of his most powerful
efforts IN that assembage Of & eat men, is the fact
that he held the learned and eloquent John Ran
dolPh (and indeed the whole convent ny in solemn
sence-on uptoe,-with open mouths and ears, for
nearly Two hours, listening to him, when Mr. Ran
dollh, upon the conclusion of this speech exclaimed
IN an ecstacy of mingled delight and amazement,-
nat is the best speech have heard, and the first
one that has gone below the surface ~
From that period Judge Upshur has been regarded
as one Of Virginia's most talented sons. But he has
been buried from the world, in the discharge Of his
Department.
Intimately acquainted with Judge Upshur from
his early youth and properly approaching his talents
and his CHARACTER President Ty Ter embraced the OPP
portunity Of the first vacancy in his Cabinet to n-
'ile him to Washington. In what manner, and with
what credit to ITS head, the Navy Department was
conducted, the whole country has seen. No Secre-
tary a the Navy within our recollection acquitted
himself with more credit, or maintained higher de-
gree OF popularity with the Navy or with the nation
than Secretary Upshur. His reports challenged uni
versal admiration, as well for their chasteness Of
style, beauty OF composition, originality Of thought
and invention, as for their enlarged, LIBERAL and
prehensivc views of the importance Of this right arm
OF our nations defence, of the proprety Of erlect
ing its organization, and Of elevating ITS char cter
In June last, Judge Upshur was called by the Pres
dent TO preside the State Department the most
important station in the Government next to that Of
President The only opportunity which the public
has had, 10 form any opinion Of his talents 10
that station, was afforded by his bief cor
rcspondcnce with the Mexican Minister IN which
this las, AIMED public func ionary most genteelly
and 81 cessfully demolished. Indeed thJnreat mind
Of Upshur seemed hardly to make an effort on that
occasion. He'd he lived to defend the rights Interests
and honor of the nation, in the approaching negoia-
lions on the questions Of Oregon and Texas, the
world would have award him the praise Of having
honored and elevated the st { on which has been SO
ally filled by an Adams, Clay a Liv ngston, aud a
Welser. i is our deliberate opinion, that be had
no superior in the whole country, ju'i scholar
an orator and a statesman. The President has lost
one of his ATTEST and faithful friends and coun-
sellers, and the country has lost one Of lis brightest
ornaments.
Judge Upshur has left widow This second wife
about 81 or 50 years Of age and only child and
daughter about l6. He was in afiiuent circumstan-
oes, having inheli ed valuable patrimony and
ama,sed handsome estate at the bar in Richmond.
In person, Judge U pshur was comma ndinp and at
traetve. lie was Of ordinary height, large, we'll
formed, and bad head which would at once ares,
the attention of phrenologsis. de was slightly
crosse d." bot not enough to render il defor.
nifty. He was very remark able for that eombi,aion
shabiliy and dignity, necessary and roper in