Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-01-23
THE LATE WIN. BALLARD PRESTON.
EuIoey DELIVERED IN TIE HoUsE oy REPRESENTATIVES,,
JAZZ. Is, 1853, sy Hos. w. r. STAPLES, or ViRGsIA.

Mr. SPEAKER-The resolutions Just read announce to
Us the death Of the Hoo. WV BALLARD PREsros one Of
the Virginia Senators in the Confederate Congress
trust il will not be considered unbecoming in to
speak briefly to these resolutions Living in the same
county with Mr.. PREsros had ample opportunities Of
forming an estimate Of his character. He was my
frlend-my warm, personal and political friend-ever to
be gratefully remembered for words Of good counsel
fifty spoken and important services rendered ne at
eventful periods Of my life Inths last and only pub
lie tribute shall ever pay TO the memory Of my friend
should be glad to speak Of him as / knew him; I
should be glad not merely to portray his character as
public man, but 10 make mention here Of his many
shining qualities private citizen to lift the veil that
hides from the public gaze many noble and yrtuous
tons but know this is not the time the place
perform these melancholy duties OF afflicted friendship
the occasion only just6es brief mention of some Of
the most prominent events in the life Of Mr. PRESTON as
public man.
He was born at Smh6ed, the residence Of his fore.
fathers in the county OF Montgomery, Virginia in No
vember, 1905; he was consequently fhy-seven years
o. age at the time Of his death. He graduated at the
University of Virginia. he completed the study of the
law in the Office Of his knsman, the Hon. VIM. c. Pres
ton, in tho State of South Carolina. He commenced
the practice of his profession in his native county
practice that soon became widely extensive and emf.
nently successful and diet nguished.
Mr.. PREsros brought into public life by an cleo
ton first to the House ofDeegates and then 10 the Sem
ate of Virginia. His career in these bodins is well
know 70 the country, IL is incorporated with the his
tory of the State may be found In the documents and
journals of the two Houses in the reports Of their
mittees and in Of great public Importance and
utility. As representative in the Congress of the Uni
ted States and Secretary Of the Navy, he command
ed universal respect confidence and regard by the dill
gence and abilithe displayed In the performance Of all
his duties and the bameless purity Of his private and
public conduct
After the death of President Taylor he retired from
II l..
hitting in his e1erons deveOpe the Of his
native State. He loved Virginia with his whole heart
To her service the best years Of his life dedicate
Whether at home, advocating and enforcing whatever
might promote her prosperity and elevate her in the
scale Of moral and intellectual being or In foreign
lands representing her internal improvement companies
and unfolding the advantages Of direct trade with her
people he the fearless and uuAinching cham
pioa Of Vrginias rights and interests and his name
will forever stand brightly recorded upon the pages Of
her history.
At the first approaches Of the great struggle in which
we engaged Mr. PRESTON called from his retire
ment by the unanimous voice of his people. He
elected without opposition delegate TO the Virginia
Convention As n member Of that Convention he rem
dered important services TO the country. What those
services were the pen Of the historian will disclose when
the proceedings Of that memorable session come to be
written But this much may be said: Amid all the ag
iting and stormy Of that eyentfu period amid
all the men who differed with him. and differed widely
too, as to the e1igencies Of the hour-the dsp-
gers and probabilities Of the impending conflict and
the necessary 10 meet that conflict, there
not one that questioned his sincere devotion TO the
cause and his inhexble determination adhere TO the
right far he could and understand il. He
ardenty attached TO the old Union, he profoundly
soicious for its preservation But he saw the
dav the hour when he would have retained il for
moment longer than consistent with the great prn
cpes of public liberty and the rights, the harmony and
repose of all the States When the North defanty
jectng all Of peaceful adustment In the boosted
plenitude Of conscious power, manifested purpose to
coerce the seeded States he raised his voice for sepa
ration and unconditional and per.
peua-resistance at all hazards and TO the last
tremy.
The great work of the Convention ended. ". PRES
TON elected to the Provisional Congress and then TO
the Confederate States Senate. As q member of the
Provisional Congress and the Confederate Senate the
obscure committee as much the witness OF his
laborious application TO the mere drudgery OF egsa-
ton as the legislative hall the ready speech
reIete with elOqueuce aud wisdom. He justly dis
tnguished for his quick and accurate power Of obserya
ton, the force of his eoquence the extraordinary en-
ergy of his character, the soundness Of his deliberate
ia gment his bodnes in the assertion OF rights the clear
integrity and heightened honor OF his daily thoughts
1t his good fortune never TO have suffered
defeat His invarabe political success maintained
for years in the face OF all opposition. His nature
essentially democratic No knew the people bet
tered fully into all their sympathes and feelings.
His hand opened to the appeal for charity
His heart melted at the tale OF human woe
In his own county he was loved and respected before
any man of his time. He served the people faithfully
and they repaid him with the most afcctionaie con
fdence and regard
But Mr.. Speaker he has gone from all his honors,
couases and toils-gone in the meridian of his day
The eloquent tongue is mutethe true heart il pusees
now--the wise aud subtle brain will think and plan
more-hat lite of useful action has terminated in the
midst of public tolls aud wel-worn hOnors, and the
spirit that informed that life has been translated
to another, and reverenty hope a more glorious
sphere. Wars and rumors of wars-the vail Of
a bleeding country will disturb him no more. On
the 10th of November, when the fallen leaves and
signing winds of autumn proclaimed the dying year,
the patriot and statesman calmly and peacefully
breathed his last. He died at home, in the midst
of his family, surrounded by his friends. lie sleeps
in his native Valleys beneath the shadows of the blue
mountains he ever loved 70 WELL and whose arseeing
SUBMITS keep their ceaseess vigils DER the spot
where he reposes IL not given him TO witness the
final triumph Of liberty here but he doubted the
coming of that triumph The prophet aud patriot of
old standing for the last time upon the mount Of Pgah,
with the white tents Of the kindred tribes cleaning be-
fore him. did not behold the future gores of Israel with
eye of mer faith, than he saw these States OF the
South emerging from the carnage of war crowned with
honor and national independence, radiant with the
ilsrious commonwealth Of Confederate sovereignes,
commanding the applause Of all the nations The inde-
pendence of the South not more sentiment with
BALLARD PREsros; it the absorbing passion OF his
heart To this great end he abored with energy never
surpassed abored with enthusiasm that private dis
appointment no public calamity could subdue 10 the ar
dor Of his devotion be nseusble to the claims OF pri
vate interest the charms Of social intercourse, the raw
ages Of disease and the n6rmites of approaching age
He did not die upon the field Of battle but he was none
the les martyr the Of constitutional liberty
He will be missed in the Confederate Senate so well
adorned By bis virtues and enlightened BY his patriotic
labors. But Yrginia--wronged and outraged-sufer-
ing under ucalculable calamiteswi depore the los
of the intrepid and The faithful son. who
ready to sacrifice his life and his fortune that she might
be free She dedcaies him, abe has dedicated 9TH
ers freely to the sacred struggle Like the Lacede-
ronian mother she enquiries not Of her sons-but how
goes the battle for freedom The blood Of these, her
heroes the baon that must be poured at the shrine
of liberty She prefers rather to bleed for ages OF that
shrine than breathe hour Of peace under the rule of
l.. A.. 81. r..l1 LII