New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-18

| Popular education, the reform movements
of the day, liberal Christianity, and Radical
Republicanism in Virginia have all lost a
warm supporter in the person of the late
Hon. J. c. Underwood. The daily press of
| this city have recapitIlateG the leading events
in his life in a manner which shows at n
/ glance the straightforward course he took
all through his life in the cause of humanity
in the crusade against chattel slavery and
the pioneering OF reconstruction.
| Born in New York State more than a
| quarter OF a century ago, he took mp his abode
i'll Virginia. In 1856 he dared to take part
with the Republican party in the memorable
contest of that campaign under the standard
of the gallant Fremont. a few years after,
for his radical opinions, he was forced, in the
administration Of The notorious Henry A.
| Wise, to leave his adopted State and find
| safety in the State OF his birth.
| AT the close OF the war we again lind him
| in Virginia, Judge of the United States Cir
cult and District Courts, and shortly after
ward elected by the Alexandria Legislature
| to the United States Senate, in which he
| failed 10 obtain q seat 1t was from this
time that, in the vanguard and ahead Of pub
| lie opinion, his course deserves more than
ordinary notice and commentator Iy the
people Of Virginia and the entire country
who favor equality before the law His
charges to his iuIirs urging them viglautiy
to use every cndcavor to protect loyalty, to
punish the enemies Of the General Govern
mcnt, and to enforce the revenue law, made
him the special target Of the Virginia press,
which has ever since lost no opportunity to
shower on him all the utilization and Vita
pcratjon it could command. In May, 1867,
colOrcd men were summoned rs Jurors in his
court, then sitting in Richmond-thc first in
stance in the Southern States where colorcd
men were allowed TO act in that capacity.
This increased the bitterness of the opDO i
ton press and helped to give him Il national
reputation
! In the fall Of the same year he was elected
by a large ma jority delegate II the Consti-
tuti0nal Convention from the city of Rich
mond. As President Of this body his deci.
sions were marked by their uniform imparli
ality and courtesy to the Conservative mem.
hers. The structures and caricatures which
graccd the Southern opinion and Lacrosse
Democrat at that period will be remembered
as unmstakable evidence Of the feeling to
ward him at that time and the attempt o
the Conservative members of the Conslitu.
tutional Convention to impcach and eXpe
him shows their disposition towards THEN
presiding officer.
Nevertheless, Judge Underwood sccmct
not incenscd by the anger Of the press, or tt
cherish any feelings of revenge for what he
had suffered. His willingness to support
Henry A. Wise as candidate for Governor
and his wish that the Republican party would
make him their nominee in the recent can
vass are a striking illustration Of that Chris
tan spirit Of charitable forgiveness charac
teristc Of the man.
1t is owing to the decisions Of the case:
brought before his court that several Of tht
railroads operating in the State were force,
TO recognize the light Of Col1red persons +
travel in first-class cars. His construction
Of the common law, the duties Of the inn
keeper, and the nature Of the public schOo
would obviate the necessity for the Ciyi
Rights Bill to secure what are already guar
anteed nder the amended Constitution.
We shall all miss him in his judicial capa
city, the object Of universal hatred and con
tempt by the enemies of progressive Reput
licanism. Howard University will miss hif
il this the trying hour Of her existence; tn
Frcedman's Savings and Trust COmpan
will find it difficult to replace him by one =
capable, 50 willing, 50 sell-denying; til
cause Of equality before the law i'll Virgin
must mourn his sudden demise.
"Giye sorrow words; the grief that does no
speak,
/ Whispers the o'eriraught heart, and bids il
break"
J. ". CROMWELL.
Wait "a senafor krUyyutOv.