Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-28
The First West Va. Legislature.
7lg SENATE
Sketches Personal. Political and Bi.
ographical.
SENATE.
JAMES BURLEY.

Mr.. BuRLEY 10 sixty.two years of age
and was bora among the Butleruu,s q
Green county, Pennsylvania. At the ag
of seven bis parents moved to Westcrr
Virginia. then Ohio, now Marshall county
in one or the other of which counties b.
has ever since resided. He was raised
farmer, which business he " now cngarer
in, bat for many years ucred as depu,,
sheriff for Ohio county before the divisioI
thereof, during which time he resided ID
the city Of Wheeling, where his Grst VII,
died Of cholera 10 1888, 10 1884 he moved
to Marshall county, where he acted az
deputy sheriff tor several years. Subss.
quenlly he engaged 10 the merchandising
business, and used to purchase and send
a great deal OF the produce Of his county
to the Eastern and New Orleans markets
Alter term Of fourteen years 10 this bus.
mess he sold out and moved to the farm
on which be has ever since resided, III Il
style that good many people would envy.
His Iarn is said to be splendid and the
buildings and improvements all that could
be desired.
Mt. BurIey wns never II candidate before
the people tor auy Office higher than JUS.
ticc OF the peace, until the call for the mem i.
ornble Rshmoud Convection iu 1861, 10
which Convention he was elected by u
large mrjoriry of the voters OF Marshall
county, where Notwithstanding all the
threats on the one hand and all the lA,te.
Fy ou the other, used by the disuniouists
OF that body, to induce the numbers to
favor secession, be remained fnithtuI 10 the
last, and was Que Of the fifty Eve" whu
voted against the ordinance of Secession.
Whilst there, 10 secret session, he learned
many of the plNus laid by the rebels to
force the people OF Western Virginia io
acquiesce in what bad been done, aud hvlp
do the fighting, or rather 10 do il them.
selves, or what was worse, 10 hHte it OIL
their owu soil.
Ar. Burley loves 10 hate old Henry A
Wise, aud raised the ire Of that distinguish.
ed person 6y Offering series of resolution,
10 that Convention, which, while they de.
MED the riRht Of secession, took the grounC
that . part Of the State had the same righ.
to ltevoluiiOnize The State Shat n pnrl
Of the Union IA Suite or S,ales) had Il
revolunnnize the NAtional Government.
Mr. Burley does not love tue editors o
the Richmond Enquirer, aud thinks but III.
tie Of the editor. aud proprietors Cfthe ole
Wheeling Union. and anything which ha,
arisen upon its ruins; but has high opiu
ion OF tue loyal people Of his own district
and watches their interests with IL jealous
eye
Mr.. Burley gives Il glowing description
Of the members Of the Richmond COnvcn
Iiou; b, says that Nyers W. Fisher aud th,
two Goodies were the meGntst; Wise lbr
most hateful; Harvey the most quarrelsoln,
aud fullest Of threats; Jim. Barbour th,
greatest bypOrsite; Sam, Woods the mos
susceptible Of tla,tery; Baldwin the sharp
est mani Summers the 6uest orator; Wy
sor the most gentiemauly rebel; GrAhlt1
the biggest fool old Morton eOull drink
tbe most wine aud brandy; LIS. Hall thl
most whiskey, aud that Baldwin aud Mas
lers were the handsomest men!
Politically he is sn old Henry Clay Wing
ani voted for Bell and Everett, IN 1860
and was and is yet In favor OF the Union
,he Constitution aud the enforcement o
The Laws, ~
He israther good uatnred, shoull judge
II little exciteable, but free lo, forgive Is
large man, built on the FalIBtntIian style
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