Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1851-09-11
51G&GQ III0UDu
OF THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE.
CARTER BRAxToS.

Garter BTaXton was born at y eWIngtCn, IN
King and Queens county, Virginia, o. the
tenth of September, 1876. His father, Geo.
BraXton, was a wealthy farmer, and highly
esteemed among the planters of Virginia.
His mother was the daughter of Robert Car
ter, who, for time, was president Of the roy
al council for that State. They both died
while Carter and his brother George were
quite young.
Carter Braxton was educated at tho col
lege Of William and Mary, and at the age of
nineteen years, on leaving that Institution, he
was married TO Miss judith Robinson, the
daughter of a wealthy planter in Mid ilesex
county. His own large fortune was consid-
erably augmented by this marriage, and he
was considered one Of the wealthiest men IN
his native county.
In 1857, NJ. BIa1ton went to England, for
the purpose Of self-impr0yement and person
al qualification. He remained there untl
1860, when he returned to America, and soon
afterwards married the daughter of Mr.. Cor
bin, the royal receiver-general of the customs
of Virginia. Not with standing the social
position, and patrician connections Of BraX-
ton, which would seem naturally TO have at
tached him to the aristocracy, he was among
the earliest in Virginia who raised the voice
Of patriotism. In 1865 lie was member of
the House of Burgesses. How much earlier
he appeared in public life Is not certainly
! known. He was present when Patrick Hen
/ rvs resolutions respecting the stamp act,
were introduced, and was one Of those who,
1 fred BY the wonderful cloquence of the ora
/ tor on that occasion, boldly voted Ia support
oz them.
! Mr.. Braxton was a member Of the Virginia
4 Convention in 1869, when Lord BotetOuTt,
/ one Of the best disposed royal governors that
ever ruled n Virginia, suddenly dissolved It,
I in consequence of some acts therein which
one Of the members who immediately retlred
to a private roota and SIGNED a non-imp rta-
ton agreement. Lord Bototourt died to-
+ ward the close Of IT1G, and was succeeded by
+. Lord DunmoTo, man 81 very eetecuveJt -
/ mcnt and UrvIeidIng CIs-Isi.-Ju. whose un-
popular management groatly increased tie
/ spirit OF opposition to Tag al alsrulc IN Ir-
/ einia- During the interval between the death
of Botetourt and the arrived of DunmoTe, NJ.
Braxton held the office 81 nigh sheriff OF the
county where he resided, but he refused to
hold it under the new governor. lie was one
Of the elghty-nInc members Of the Assembly
who, on the dissolution thereof by Governor
Dunmore, in the summer efI77t, Tecomnen-
ded general convention ot the people of r.
ginIa, TO meet at WIlliamsburgh. They did
So, and elected delegates To the Continen siai
Congress, which met At Philadelphia on the
fourth month following. Air. BEaXton wos
member Of that convention.
When, IN HI, the atteWpt of Lord Dun
more 20 take the ammunition from the publIc
magazines on board the Fewey ship-of-War,
then lying of Wiiiiamsburgh, excited the
people to the highest pitch, and Threatened
open rebellion and armed resistance, fir
Braxton, by a wise and prudent course, sue
ceeded in quelling the disturbance, and in
/ bringing about such an Arrangement as quite
satisfied the people, and probably saved the
tow Il ON destruction.
Mr. Braxton was an active member in the
last House OF Burgesses th-t convened uneer
royal authority In Virginia, and he was q
member Of the committee q that Assembly to
whom was referred the difficulty that existed
between II and Governor Uuumore. 1t was
while this luded to, and the abdication Of .he
governor, took place, ard thEs, OF course, rpn-
dered further action quite unnecessaryi tor
the governor refused 10 return to his pala@e,
and the legislature, Of course, would not 20 on
board the vessel to meet HIN. By this abji-
cation all power reverted - the people, and
/ Provincial Government eas at one formed BY
I convention Of the Hhlbsants, IN which
movement Mr.. BraXtou took q conspicuous
part, and was chosen a representative in the
newly formed Assembly.
/ In December, I175, lie aas chosen a dele
I gate 70 the Continental. Congress TO fill the
I vacancy occasioned by the death Of Fevtan
Randolp. He took an active part IN favor Of
independence, and voted fer and signed the
/ Declaration. He remaiaed II Congress du-
ring only one session, ami then resumed his
seat in the Virginia Legislature, where he
/ continued with but little interruption, until
1885. In 1856. he was appointed a member
of the council of the Stafe, and held that stl-
ton until 1871. He was e.ectcd to the same
/ office in 1874, where he continued until with
in four DAYS Of his death. This event. which
was occasioned by paralysis, occurred on The
/ tenth day Of October, 1927, when ne was IN
the sixty-first year Of his ag7.
/ Mr.. Braxt0n was not q brilliant man, but
I he was a talented and very useful one. He
Dossessed highly cultivated mind, and az
IMAGINATION of peculiar warmth and vigor, vet
the crowning attribute Ct his character, IVES
4 sound Judge nent and remarkable prudence
and fore-thOugh.. These, iG movement like
the American Revolution, were essential ele-
ments in the characters Of those who weTe
/ the prominent actors, and we'll was II torthem
and for posterity, that large proportion q
not only the SicneFs to tise l'eclara'Ion of IL
4 eependence. bur those WI vete called to acl
! in the councils of the nation. possessed these
+ roauisites to a remarkable degree w hlie
/ feTy spirits We're needed 70 arouse, and bold.
i eneruetic men were Necessary 10 control and
I onide. the success of tina. Tt5e!lIon, so ilr az
/ human ken can penetrate. depended upon thc
I calm judgement and wei. directed prudence
of a great body Of the Patrici5-s
4 Of this class Mr.. BrlNt1n was prominent
one His oratory. though hot brilliant, waz
4 graceful and f3yyiug, and st was pursuasIve T.
I s5e hiobes. dec &C.. He always fixed the al
1 ,antion of his auditors aii seldom tailed c
convince and lead them. IL public. as Wei
rs in private life. MS viTtr 1rd morality "cT~
above reprcach, ana as public bcnefactor.
] his L.at.l FtdS y i---e -----..'-.-.--