Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-07-30
The First West Va. Legislature.
Sketches Personal, Political and BIZ
Ographical.
JAMES CARsKADoN.
SENATE
BY AN OB-ERvER

shire aud Morgan cOupies, was born and
raised in HamPshirr county, as WAS his
father before hIU, aud Is forty-four years
of age His father was su officer in the
Federal army during tue war with England
in 1912, and for number of years repre-
scented Hampshire county in the Legisla-
ture al Richmond EE ss2u \
Mr.. Carskadou is full six teet bigb, aud
is straight aud squarely built, presenting
the appearance OF great Muscular strength
His complexion is dark, his features regu-
lar, aud bearing its firm and austere ex-
preston, his cOuntenance is open and plea
SAINT. His forehead is rather narrow hor-
riLoutally, but of average height and pref
" well developed, HIS eyes small, black
aud deeply sunken under his forehead, and
are oEerhung by heavy black eyebrows;
nose large, straight and we'll formed; mouth
of pretty good size, with lips thin, and
compressed With drmness his face is quite
long, after the style fscetioEsly given to
sAnetimOniOus PreSbyters on SuudAy; big
hair is very thick aud black, now slightly
tinged With grey, and is always combed
straight up from his forehead, giving him
look OF great sternness. BE dresses
plainly but we'll, generally in grey pants.
black cloth coat, white vest, large black
cravaT, and clean shirt His habits are
l
his seat quite early every morning. indeed
he beats the Clerk sometimes. either in
tently engaged over his desk writing, or
leisurly loungingsiu bis arm chair. reading
the morning Lnte!igeEesr, the New York
TSass, TTi5uAs or Post or the Cincinnati
Commercial, of which papers he seems very
fond, and INDUCES rather spaEinEly in the
World and Reroid And just here l may
| be INDUCED In saying, that there Is no bet
ter index Of what man thinks than the
newspapers which he hsbitually reads
Mr.. Carskadon is : very Industrious
member, snd being always in his seat, new
though when be does, be expresses HIM
self in : remarkably brief, clear, forciole
manner. He examines everything with
great caution, and when he arrives at
CrOckeIt's conclusion, ''gOes ahead" He
Is very useful member.
Politically be was, il other days, LOG
Cabin and hard cider Wing, aud during
the campaigns OF ls40+-S, be took a
pretty active part IN political matters,
when be turned his stteulioa 10 the more
IAudsble work of making money on his
farm, At which business be is still eugsg-
ed. He took = hrm stand against seces-
sion in the spring of 1861, and st the Msy
elecIiCu in that year. VAS chosen 10 repre-
sent the counties OF Hampshire, HARDY and
Morgan 10 the Senate of Virginia, alter =
struggle of great bitterness, aud through
the fiery ordeal OF Southern mobs of SOL
diers and citizens. on the platform of uu-
conditional Uniouism- He describes the
sos-es of the canvass aud election on the
OniInance of Secession aud bis own cleo
ton as disgraeeful aud humiIiAliug beEond
suything that eau be imsgiued. AObs OF
the revOlters bsset the Uuicn candidates
on the highways Eith threats Of death or
baujshmeot II they did not AbSndOn the
cause or leave the country, and at some Of
the voting pisces. citizens and soldiers
took possession and oTeIAwed aud buliied
the men int JOtiHg tor secession or drove
them from the ground. Printed hand bills
Eere posted up, Announcing that TO TOtH
against secession would be treason, aud
that those who so voted would be punished
accordingly. Yet through all this desPo-
lisD, the terror of the mob though power
falW cot OmniPOseat, for out of the con-
dtet cane the Union pSrIy victorious, so
strong was Ghe devotion OF the people 70
the Institutions of their country.
Mr.. CarskSdon WAS a member Of the June
and August Convention of 1861, By viz
tue OF bic election to the Senate, and took
his seaI in the latter body, July let, 1851,
where be continued until the organization
Of the new State, aud Was elected to = seat
10 the Senate tor the district meOtiOOed.
He Is & STAKEHOLDER, baying Inherited
them from his father. bat has always be-
| heved it = moral sTil sEd 4 great iriGry 20
she country in Ubieb 1t existed. but held
that the question Of slavery belonged prop
erly to toe States and territories Ia which
/ it haFPeue3 70 b located; and be is now,
more than ever eoRTinesi that is Is 10
compatible with our republican iuStitu-
iioas, and great barrier 20 the progress
Of human rights and Christian liberty.
His farm Is situA;ed nice miles south
east OF New Greek, in the direeIioa of Rom
rey, Where his wife and children have bees
duriag the rebellion. Two OF his children
have died since be has been : rstuEee.-
His house has been OceuPisd By the rebel
forces AZ difereat times, and their piekets
have stood at bis door for weeks IN saeces
sioo. During the rebellion ne has rarely
been able to get home except by stealth
I He has lost great amount of property,
stock, Sc, and the PROFITS Of his lands,
heretofore valued AZ $50, zoo. have bare
I ly paid his family expenses since the rebel
lion began.
Mr.. Carskadon is member of the n. E.
Church, and Is = considerations, upriEht,
moral man, and felt an obligation resting
: upon him, as : christian man, 20 labor for
the restoration % the Uaiea and The Gov
eminent against the iaiQaitoaS policy Of
the South, uor eoald he - EEti Tl-gsaSz
( il her crusade against that GoveSnneat,
or renaia ssatraI, which he REGARDED A.
eOEArdiy secession
He Is Casirnan Of the Couuittee on
Privileges and Eleeifoos AID nEmber Of
various other constitutes