Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-01
GOV. WILLIAM p. DUvAL.
roR rHE sArIonAI rrrrr,orxor. /.

in
natural resources He born in Virginia Of one of i
old families Some early pranks of whimsical but in
nocent kind gained him the character of an unlucky
prone to all kinds of mischief The harsh treatmens
he experienced in consequence stung him to the quick
He considered himself misunderstood. and underyalued
"Pn go from home" said he, sand shift for myself
There was at that time in Virginia rage for emigration
to Kentucky He had heard wonders of that country and
of the glorious ndependente Of the hunters who ranged
its forests and lived by the rife He determined to 90
there and adopt that mode Of e His father considered
it the passing caprice Of boy, being little aware of hs
wounded spirit and Of the dogged resolution of his charac
ter. Finding, however, that he was not to be moved
either by persuasion remonsrance he gave way to his
humor trusting that little rough experience wond soon
bring him home again. lie even gave him well-fed
purse to assist him his wayfarng The hunter in en-
bryo asked for a horse and servant.
"a horse why you would not go mile without racing
him and breaking your neck, and to seryant yoS
cannot take care of yourself, much less Of him."
:" How am l to travel there :"
"Why, suppose you man enough to travel on foot
He spoke esngly, little thinking the lad would take
him at his word; but the latter thoroughly pioued
in respect to the enterprise he pockeed the purse
made his pack and grded his ons for the journey
'When will you back ?" asked his sister as she
hung round his neck weeping I" Never by heavens
till come back member of Congress from kentucky
determined to show that not the taend Of the
family" ,,
Such the launch forth in life of youth but little
way in his teens His pedestrian journey had its hard
ships He OF time in danger of being stopped as
runaway apprentice after which he avoided houses
much possible lighting fire at night in some wood or
ravine, and sleeping before it in hunters style.
AT length he arrived at Brownsville, legwcary way
worn, and in shabby plight having camped out" for
receive vagrant boy beneath his roof he was about
to turn him off, when his wife interfered.
:. Where can you be going, my lad Z! said she.
What are vou going there for .,.'
stTo hunt" IT..
She looked earnestly at him for n moment or two.
" Have you mother living 2" said she at length
''No, madam she has been dead for some timen
81 thought So" said she, warmly; knew if you had
mother living you would not be here" From that mo.
ment the good woman treated him during his sojourn
with woman's kindness.
Embarking at Wheeling on fat-bottomed boat called
broad horn he foated down the Ohio past Cincinnati
then group Of log cabins, and the site of Louis
vile, where then stood solitary house, ynt after
voyage of several days, he landed the mouth Of
Green river and struck for the interior of Kentucky He
had relations in Lexington and other settled Places but
lie resolved to keep clear Of them ALL being resolutely
bent making his Tay in the world without assist
country, camping out at night, and suppng wild
turkey which he had shot In the midst Of the wilder
ness he accosted by man in hunting dress.
''Where are you from ?" said the latter.
" From Richmond y..t
''What! in old Virginny?" ... ~..'". *.
oThe same" ." @..
I" How earth did you get here ?" .... ....
81 landed at Green river from o broad horn"
i" And where are your companions p ,.
81 have none" ..-.~ ".".
Where are you going?"
" Any where" #.. ~, '.t'' ..-.
" What have you come here for :"
"To hunt" .....
"Well" cried the other, laughing, you'll make real
hunter there's mistaking that. But come, go home
with me; my name is Bill Smithers; live not far off
stay with me little while and I'll teach you how hunt
This was his first introduction into hunting life. He
soon became expert in wood craft" and great
avorite among the hardy hunters of Kentucky. He
mained among them until from the influx of population,
game became scarce; and until probably, he had salts
fed the hunting humor He now began to think he was
fit for something better than carry gun his shoulder
day after day. lodging about after bears deer and other
brute beasts He called to mind his boyish boast
to return home until he returned member Of Congress
from Kentucky Was this the way to fit himself for such
q station?
He determined on becoming lawyer. 1t is true he
knew almost nothing having left school before he had
learnt beyond the rule of three Never mind said he
to himself, am terrible fellow for hanging any
thing when I've once made up my mind; and if a man
has but ordinary capacity and will set to work with heart
and SOUL and stick to it, he do almost any thing"
We forbear to into the detail Of his preparations for
the bar and his first launch in the profession The
spirit that had brought him foot Kentucky and made
huntsman of him carried him in his He
was admitted to the bar just he crossing the
threshold Of manhood The county where the
was sitting was thronged by country people. He o
tered the public room of the inn, where there
noise and drinking; he rough bully of fellow,
who partly intoxicated, strike old man. Duval
knocked him down and kicked him into the street In
moment he had dozen rough shakes Of the hand and
invitations to drink and found himself quite parsonage
in the rough assembly.
The next morning the court opened He took his seat
among the lawyers as q mere spectator. man to
be tried for passing counterfeit money He had lawyer
and told to choose He looked round the court
and selected Duva The latter was astonshed at being
chosen he, bcardless youngster unpractised at the
BAR perfectly unknown His defence Of his client was
perfect hit that and the kicking Of bully out of doors
set him up in business. Suits crowded in upon him. and
he became eminent in his profession especially in
the branch Of criminal law. \
In 1872 he signalzed himself in another capacity COM
mandng company of Kentucky mounted volunteers and
protecting the frontier settlements in the valley Of the
Wabash from the murderous nroads of the savages
Whilst abroad from home this service he elected
by his neghbors to represent them in Congress Here
the realization Of his boyish boast he might return
with honest pride to his paerna home He had proved
that he not the "tal end" Of mis- family.
AS member of Congress he acquitted himself with
ability and credit; but after time, retired voluntarily
from political life, and resumed his profession. He
appointed judge in the courts Of Florida and subse
quenty Governor Of that Territory. Here he off,
Superintendent Of Indian Affairs which he administer
ed with great judgment and humanity. He appreciated
the daring and heroic characteristics of of the Flo
rda chieftains gained their confidence and exercised
surprising influence their tribes He resigned this
Office of his accord after filling it for twelveyears
Most Of his children having settled in Texas, he was
five six since to to that State
Business recently brought him TO Washington where he
attacked by paralysis which ultimately the
of his death when about seventy years Of age.
Few who have led such varied life have left be-
hind pure and spotess His public services,
49, - ~.