New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-10-05
nm SENATE Of THE uxiTr1 srArEs.
-NuMnlER xxI.y. 2. 3.


4 rHR SENATE Of rHEsUHiTEDsrArEss
NuMBER xxIv. s.
Ad;o;n,nv the seat oiS5ndge Butler Is that Of Hon.
pobert M +. Hanter Of Virginia the intimate per
.onal frepd Of The Judge, and member Of the same
school II politics. MI Hunter is man about forty
~ Vesfs 81 ~ III dark, atrabilious complexion
heavy build thick, black hair and distinguished
~ look Of aziness and the insouciance Of his a.
pearsncs. II, however, there be lack Of physical
energy In him, it is abundantly made up in the strong
active and vigorous powers of his mind.
Ioonfess to q warm admiration and Partially for
senator Hunter. Reared in the same neighborhood,
personal considerations may have had some influence
Il determining this opinion yet, that they do not
aorether control It, Is proved by the fact Of his adj
lmittsd ability and bis acknowledged greatness
among in who have observed his career.
M. Hunter was educated at the University Of vir-
ginia the pride Of the Old Dominion, and the Alma
Mater of 50 many of the distinguished sons Of the
South. Returning from college, he was elected to
the Legislature from his native county Of Essex
when he was barely eligible. His father had repeat
eddy represented the same county, and the generous
people Of Essex willingly transferred the honor to his
y0sng and gifted SON At this time (lS35) his polt-
ical associations were with the Wing party, though
he has ever been distinguished for the moderation Of
his temper and his freedom from bitter partisanship
Serving with distinction in the Legislature in 1887
be was brought forward as candidate for Congress,
and succeeded in defeating one of the most popular
men In the district. Reelected in 1889, heweht to
Congress and found parties in the House SO nearly
equal that neither was able to elect Speaker. At
this uncture, Wise Of Virginia, atthat time bitter
Wing, proposed a compromise upon Hunter--at that
time occupying an independent position, and not OBJ
noxious to either Of the two great parties. He was
elected Speaker, and served as such during the term
III the Presidential election Of 1910, as between
Harrison and Van Buren,, Mr.. Hunter occupied the
position Of neutral His conservatism inclined him
towards the Wings but his abiding faith in the
wisdom Of Mr.. Calhouns political philosophy copn-
tected this tendency and left him in an attitude Of
neutrality. i well remember though a boy at the
time that at the Wing Congressional Convention in
lB4l, % strong effort was made to nominate him as
the Wing candidate. The effort, however failed, and
Mr. Hunter, taking the field as an independent candi
date, supported by most Of the Democrats and many
Of the Whgs was reelected BY large majority over
Corbin. the nominee Of the Wing Convention
In 1913, the district having been changed, the
Wings brought out Willoughby Newton Of West
moreland gentleman of fine talents, high charac-
ter and universal popularity. The Democrats noni-
mated Mr.. Hunter and for the first and only time in
his life, he was defeated. In 1916, he turned the
tables on Newton and defeated htm.
|, His next appearance was in the Senate. The
Democrats had a small majority in the Legislature
and in caucus, nominated as their candidate Gov
Smith better known by the sotbriquet of " Extra