The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-18

| ranks aS soon az parties were organized III
| Virginia, but for the last few years he has
cherished q desire to see all persons in the
State well disposed towards thc Union, and
dcsirouS of speeding recon Struction, united
in one political organization, upon plat
form embracing no extreme views on the
great questions Of the day. To This end he
was active in the ''co0peration movement
of 1867. and in the "new movement Of
1868, and finally saw his hopes realized in
the organization Of the Walker party Of
1860. He was the first signer of the paper
putting Gilbert c. Walker and associates in
the field, and to his zeal and efficiency
throughout the campaign all members of
the True Republican and Conservative State
Central Committees can testify. The tri-
umph Of that party at the polls on the 9th
| of July was the greatest joy of his life.
| Mr. Stearns has ever since the election
been prominently before the people rs a
candidate for the Senate, but this has been
brought about by the enthusiasm Of his
friends rather than by any desire on his part
for senatorial honors. Indeed, he rather
protests against bis own election, and with
the magnanimity characte ristic of the man
is working and talking night and day to
have the claims of his friend, Lieutenant
| Governor Lewis, appreciated by the Legs-
lature.
| ROBERT WILLIAMS.
| General Robert Williams i n scion Of an
old Virginia family, and was born in Cul-
peper county. OF the exact date of his
birth we are not informed, but he is now
about forty-four years of age. lie received
an elementary education at home, but at an
early age was appointed to the military
academy at West Point by his uncle, Hon.
John s. Pcndlcton, who ut that time repre-
Sented the Culpcpcr district in the United
States Congress. He graduated with dis
tinction in 1851 or 1852, and, receiving a COM
mission in the cavalry branch of the United
States army, went Immediately into active
| service On the western frontier. Here he
remained until few years before the war,
when he was relieved from duty with his
regiment and ordered to West Point as one
of the instructors of cavalry tactics ut that
institution. His colleagues in this duty
afterwards became distinguished in the
military service of the Confederate States
They were Maor-General FitZ Lee and
Najor-General Fields.
Lieutenant Williams Che then bore the
rank Of first lieutenant) was engaged at
West Point until the outbreak of the
war, when he took the field as Colonel COM
mandinG a regiment Of cavalry, and served
in South Carolina with Burn>ide's expedi-
ion. and received honorable mention and
promotion. He there remained until the
tall Of 1862, when he was ordered to join
Mcclellan in Maryland. He then left the
field not wishing to enter his native state
in arms, and was assigned to a responsible
post in the War Department at Washing
on. lie was not in Virginia during the war
1t all except once when he paid n visit to
&hcridan's camp in the Valley. Since the
var he received from the President, with
The advice and consent Of the Senate, the
ank of brevet brigadicr-general United
| States army, which rank he now holds.
From the time Of the surrender Of the
Confederate armies until to-day General
Williams has been active in his efforts to
ice his native State from all her ShackleS
nd to restore her to the proud rllce which
he once occupied in the community OF
;tatcs. None hut those who have visited
Washington during our darkest hour can
know IF what advantage to IL it has been
20 have 50 true a friend at court, ever ready
20 speak Il word in our behalf. or TO place in
| hcirtruc li"!.t before 9 the powers that he Z"
he machinati0ns Of the internal enemies Of
Virginia. lie is lamiliar, too, with our in
-rrEaI improvements: has Il just sense OF
Inc Importance OF the great enterprises for
he fuitherance OF which we need national
id, and will be III active ally III pushing
hem 70! ward. It may he we'll to add that
lie has The thorough confidence ofPrcSidcnt
Grant and the General Of the Armies, ant
wen within the last few weeks we nave re-
,oeni2cd his nstilmcntality in timely in
exposition Of Federal authority when the
interests nf irgina were cndNga. ci.
General Williams has Il very large family
connection IN Tirgini,. being n":Gly allied
20 the Fcndlctons, MortonS, strothers, Pat
aus, CattlcttS, and others, and al Of III
lear relations are IN this State. lie married
he widow Of stephen \. Douglls, Lady ol
.rcat popularity in Washington, aud an %c-
'lnowledged leader Of fashionable circlcS.
We had almost forgotten TO state that Gene
al Williams owns considerable operty Ill
Virginia, and has a large interest in miEc-
al deposits in various parts of the State,
0ut principally IN the Piedmont region.
JOHN F. LEWIS.
Lewis is n name well known throughout
VIRGINIA Ii has been worn By many of hCi
best citizens in colonial and revolutionary
tines, and in the present day. Not a few
members Of the family nave been honorcd
With positions OF trust in the State and Ma
ci0nal Government. The subject Of this
sketch is son of General Samuel II,
Lewis, of Rockingham, Il man OF unusual
talents and fine attainmeDts, recently de-
ceased. lie has always lived in the neigh
borlood Of hi, birthplace, and. deyoting
himself to agriculture, has, by industry and
honest dealing, atnassed competency fOr
his family. He has never dabbled in poll
tics, but his opinions on public affairs are
llways clearly defined, frankly expressed,
ind generally known, to the people Of his
county. In 1860 they elected him by Il
handsome majority to the state Convention,
is Il candidate he proclaimed himself an
! Unconditional | Cnionist, and as Il member OF
Ene Convention every vote cast proved him
faithful to his pledges. Conscientious i'll
the belief that the true welfare Of Virginia
depended upon her adherence 10 the tede-
ral Government, he stood out, like Lewis,
to the last, and was one of the few members
who perSistently refused to sign the orui
nance Of secession, and never aid sign 1t.
During the war Mr.. Lewis maintained his
Union sentiments. when nearly every man
Of us believed it treason to do so; but he wa:
always Nirginian, and whatever might have
been the Judgment Of the body Of the peO.
pie upon his course, ne never for a moment
lost the respect or confidence of the people
Of his Immediate vicinity, to whom he was
best known. Since the war he has taken {;
prominent part in the work Of reconstruc,
zion, but has never fraternZed with the eX
tremists, believing that the work might be
safely entrusted 10 citizens Of Virginia. Al
the late election he was chosen Lieutenant.
Governor by majority Of %, AS ; his per.
:Onal popularity being atteSted by the fact
.hat he led his ticket by 2,liG votes. lie
aew tiilsth oiiice Of Lieutenant-Govelnc1
by military appointment, and IS er Q5fcic
President Of the Senate.
Governor Lewis is about City years OF
age, is tall, rather awkward in his move
melt-, but has very pleasant manners, and
makes friends easily. lie is 4 highly
esteemed member OF the Episcopal Church,
and is Il frequent attendant upon the coun-
Ills and conventions of that denomination.
! ROBERT L. OWEN.
The name Of Robert l.. Owen has been