Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-11-29
MISCELLAN A N Y
Personal Porlraits.

The Charsstown correspondent of the New
York Tribune gives the subjoined sketches OF the
two prosecuting attorneys at the recent trials at
that place Tie intelligent readers will of
course make all due allowance for the abolition
procliyities of the writer. The sketches follow
HON. ANDREW HUNTER.
This gentleman take to be sort Of modern
Cesar, who would rather be the first man in q
village than second in an empire. In no other
way can / account for his hiding his talents in
so dreary and desolste place as this. In intel
lect as in stature he stands lofty above those by
whom he is surrounded. He leads the town.
The course of public affairs in the late disturb
ances has been wholly directed by him. En-
gagged by the Government to conduct the pros
ecution of the prisoners, and to supply the ad-
mitted deficiencies of the regular prosecuting at
torney, he has all along controlled events, and
shaped circumstances as he chose. He has held
within his grasp the populace, the officers OF
Justice, the Court itself. / have many times
seen the judge awaiting Mr.. Hunters gesture OF
assent or dissent before determining disputed
point. Public opinion, too has been guided by
him, although, as is common enough, it has of
ten ran beyond the limits of his precepts, and
tumbled into all sorts of wild extravaganza
Perhaps his we'll known relations with Gov.
Wise have contributed to his superiority of po-
siton at this time He has been in constant
communication with Gov. Wise and they have
managed matters pretty much as they pleased (;
with very little regard to the voice of the pso-
pie, or the camors of legal routine, the latter
sometimes vociferously uttered by his ostensible
coadjutor, the regular prosecuting Attorney
Mr.. Hunter, in fact, has been the man of this oc-
cason He has condemned to death all the
prisoners that came before him, excepting one,
whom he has reserved for the purpose of aiding
in the capture of "bigher and richer game"
as he himself expressed it. He has suspended
trials at his pleasure in spite OF all opposition
He has even been so confident in his strength
that he has used comparatively little eIertion in
the disposition of Court affairs. His indictments
were most bunglingly drawn up, showing care
lessness that in any but a Virginia Court, would
have been fatal to his cases. His arguments,
except when aroused to unwonted energy, were
careless and Ineffective, though usually to the
point. AS for discussing the questions of law,
which were raised in profusion by Mr.. Sennott,
he never thought of it. Sure of his object, he
would simply say that he was obliged to nurse
his voice, which threatened to tail him; or that
he had often before made such and such sub
ject clear to the Court; or that the time pressed
TO LQdC degree ludt ITO dUSUlutciJ huot U0 ga
cused from entering upon irrelevant details
Knowing that he was arguing upon foregone
conclusion, he naturally shrunk from over exer-
else of the brain and body, which after all, could
in reality novse effect the result, that being al
ready settled. But when urged to great efforts
az he sometimes was Mr.. Hunter gave abund-
ant evidence of his real power. More impress
sive forensic orators are rare. His manner OF
speaking is mostly quiet and grave. His tone of
voice is deep and full, singularly like Rufus
Choate's. His gestures are few, but always re-
plete with expression. Generally his styles that
of subdued conversation and very persuasive it
is but at times he rises to an eloquence that
rings through the courtroom, and moves listen
ers to approving outbursts that call for subjuga-
ton by sheriff and constable. In the case OF the
free negro Green, allusion was made by the
counsel for the defense to an attempt to intro
duce impertnent evidence respecting the ad-
vances of the prisoner toward muatto girl at
the time of the midnight entrance into the plan
tations. Mr.. Hunter pursued his answering ar
gulnent quietly, until he reached this point, and
then, lifting himselfto his full height, and com
pressing his fine features to unwonted sternness
for he usually wears smile-he turned upon
the negro, and with rapidity that certainly ex-
hibited wonderful acquaintance with the vo-
cabulary of invectfre, hurled for q while inces-
SAINT denunciation upon the guilty passions which
he assumed to have inspired Shields Green to
join the expedition. How the negro sat so sto-
lid under it, cannot understand, but the crowd
that filled the hall blazed with fury, and cench-
ed fists in agones of virtuous Indignation. i
suppose that the consciousness of having offered
endless similar impure examples never entered
their minds at all. Mr. Hunter, however, gain
ed new and blushing honors 1t was his best
display of the season, and far surpassed anything
offered by other orators.
Mr.. Hunter is apparently about fifty five years
DID, is six feet tall, very erect, and well proper
toned. His countenance is always agreeable
though scared with many'lines, and his elegance
of manner is equal to his dignity of presence
lie does not at all resemble the pictures of him
that have been published.
CHARLES B. HARDING
This is an unfortunate man. That person
so enslsved by degrading habits should be In
trusted with the delicate and responsible Office
he holds, speaks i'll for the judgment of the citi
zens of Charlestown. He is the regular prosecu-
ting attorney for the district. He has legally
the right to conduct all cases which come before
the Court in which the invaders have recently
been tried He has to be sure been induced to
waive q portion of his right, tor the past few
weeks, to Mr.. Hunter, but his uncomfortable
w;ts have often. durinp that period, Qot the bet