The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-04-16
Gheg'tteIEige,lrre !.
Death Of Ex-senator Van Winkle.

A special telegram rom Pafkefsbure
this morning announced the death o.
Hon. PETER G. VAN WNK1E, who had
been in declining health for several
months. ''l''' anu
Mr.. VAN WNKLR was o native Of New
York, and descended from the old Knick.
erbOckers. He went to Parkersburs
some twenty-five or thirty years ago, and
there pursued the profession OF law, to
which he had been bred. Upon the
organization Of the Northwestern Yir.
ginia Railroad Company he was made
Treasurer Of that. company, and subse.
qucntly became President Of II, and held
the position up to the time Of his death.
MIR. VAN WNK1E held many posts
Of public trust and honor. he was .
member Of the Virginia Legislature and
Of the Convention which revised the
Virginia Constitution In 1850. He was d
member OF the Convention which IN
this city on the 11th Of June, 1861, and
recognized the government Of Virginia,
and took an important and honorable
part in Its deliberations. While not per
haps the original suggestor of the theory
on which that organization proceeded,
hewas q Jealous believer IN 1t, and cx.
planned 1t elaborately in speech IN the
August session Of the Convention that he
repeated in the Senate Of the United States
soon after taking his seat in that body.
In this August session the question Of
dividing the State was fought over and
decided. Mr.. VAN WNKIE opposed it
moderately but sleadiasly, and made a
very strong and able presentation Of the
case against IT. When the Convention
bad decided against him, however, he CO.
operated cordially and efficiently in car.
ryiug out their decision. ~ y E3,'aa g..
In the Convention which framed .othe
Constitution Of the new State, Mr.. VAN
WrNKLE bore q leading and valuable
part Alarge part ofthe Constitution Is the
work ofhis hand and brain. He was Chair
man Of the Committee on Fundamental
and General Provisions and drafted a large
part Of the general features Of the Con
stitution embraced in the opening chap
tiers. His specially was county organiza-
ton and he was the author Of the present
article in the Constitution on that subject
Mr.. VAN WNKLE was also member
Of the first West Virginia House, and was
the author q considerable part Of the
legislation enacted by the first Legislature,
While member of that body he was
chosen United States Senator, he being
the first chosen and drawing the long
term. AS Senator he was industrious
and able, and stood especially high among
his fellow Senators as a member Of the
Finance Committee. He was ono Of the
eight Republicans who voted against the
impeachment Of President JOHNSON; and
while doubtless conscientious in his vote,
he lost standing by itwith tho Republican
party OF the State. When his term ex-
pired he did not seek a reelection, and
was succeeded by Gov. FOREMAN, who
took the seat in March 1860.
As in his public life Mr.. VAN W1NKLE
was laborious, capable and Of. stainless
repute, so in private life he was most
genial and companionable man and Of
spotless purity in his morals He was
possessed Of a large and active brain,
which was supported most generously by
a superb physical organization. In his
person he was scrupulouSly neat and tas-
tidious and as refined and sensitive in his
feelings as woman. He possessed supe.
rior literary tastes and culture; was fond
Of theories and peculiar in some OF them.
Heidi something we have understood, in
authorship, and wrote a book, yet un-
published, in which are set forth his
theories and beliefs on many interesting
questions. One of Mr.. VAN Wrinkles
minor theories was that there is an inti-
mate relation between the human organ.
ism and the magnetic currents in the
earth or atmosphere, and that to harmon.
lie these people should sleep pointing
north and south like tho magnetic needle;
and his own bed was always carefully ad.
justed with reference to this idea. 81.
There aremany men in West Virginia
who could have been better spared than
PETER G. VAN W1SKIE. He was still at
an age thatpromised many years of use
tuIness, his intellectual poweFsb being just
in their prime, It happened to the writer
Of thisto be o constant observer Of his
action while he was . member Of the pub.
lie bodies that sat In this city and we
can say in all sincerity that we never
knew man who governed himself in all
his public acts more obviously and en-.
tirely by public and unselfsh considers-
tions. It's a pity the body that recently
sat at Charleston had not more members
like him. His impress will long be felt
on the Constitutional Of the State for the
Charleston tinkerers have been constrain'
cd 70 take as the groundwork Of Their
patching the most otswhatvA AN;W1aKIz
and LAMB and GoRDoN BArTE1LE gave
to West Virginia in her present Constitu
tion. a q 81 ; +" I. ;. ~ az rs ~
u A coRRrsroSpkN,Tt lthis morning sboa,