The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-14

was greeted throughout his address, and the
enthusiasm which his presence excited,
showed concusivey that the choice met
warm response In the popular heart, espe-
cially among the old soldiers who were gath
cred at the capitol to hear the result.
A Coincidence.
This is the second occasion upon which
a Lieutenant-G Governor of Virginia has been
elected to the high Office of United States
senator. Hon. John +. Lewis was the
first and Colonel Withcrs is the second.
Colonel Wiihers will succeed Mr.. Lewis,
whose senatorial term expires on the 4th
Of March, 1878.
biographical sketch Of Colonel
wathcrs.
Colonel Robert 4. Withers, the Virginia
gentleman who has been thus honored by
| the representatives of the Old Dominion in
the General Assembly, was born in Camp
bell county, Va, in 1921. lie graduated at
the University of Virginia, and became
| practitioner of medicine. to which ne de-
voted himself exclusively for nineteen years.
| Hc resided first In Campbell and then in
| Danville. going to the latter place IN 1903,
and there remained until the late civil war.
| Colonel WitheIs entered the war at It's be-
ginning, and in April, 1861, came to this city
| in command of battalion. Here he was as
signed bV Governor Letcher to the COM
maud Of the Eighteenth Virginia regiment.
| He participated in the battles Of First Ma
uassas, Seven Pines. and GaineS's Mill. In
| the iast-named he fell dreadtuly wounded
| while leading his regiment in the final charge,
in which the enemy was routed. He re-
| ceived wounds through the right lung. the
| peviS. and arm, together with wound in
| the scalp. So fearful, indeed, was he wound
| ed that his recovery was considered almost
hopeless. He, however, so far recovered as
| to feel that he could return to the field. Sew
eral times he attempted to resume his COM
nand in the active service, but was so much
| disabled that each trial was found to be In
vain. Colonel WitherS, indeed, has not yet
| been entirely restored from the effects Of his
fearful wounds.
He was before the close of the war assign
| ed 10 the prison post at Danvile, and heldit
| until he surrendered to General wright on
the 22d Of April, 1860.
When the war ended he was too much of
cripple for the country practice Of medicine,
| and seeking some pursuit better adapted to
| his physical condition. he became editor,
first of the Lyncaburg Ne,os, and afterwards
OF the Richmond Enquirer. The Colonel
showed readiness and facility as a writer, and
wrote with vigor and force, and we can say
| that for his honorable, fair, and manly con-
duct as an editor he was an ornament OF the
| profession.
In the spring of 1868 be was nominated
for the Office of Governor, and canvassed the
State against the Radical party and the then
pending Underwood Constitution. He so
aroused public opinion against the Constitu-
ton that the military authority General Can
by, fearing its rejection, postponed the vote
upon it.
Before the campaign was over the ( Libe-
| raj movement" Us it was then callef, was
set on foot. 1t contemplated union Of Libc-
raj Republicans and Democrats, and Colonel
| Withrrs being rather ultra, it was hbu ght !,
for that time,-the State being still lout of
! the Cnion-he yielded 10 The wishes okmany
| friends and withdrew. Governor Walker
was then nominated upon the iuslonI ticket,
and the grand triumph of that ticltet fol-
loved, which is familiar to all the real Iders of
the Dispatch. For Colonel Withers'S rtnasna-
nimity ut that time it has been geherally
thought that he should have been hk,nored
with some prominent position, aEd his
: friends thought it good opportunity. and
nominated him as Licutcnaut-Govefnor in
August last. General kemper was nomi-
mated over him by the Conservative Tonven-
ton, and all parties combined to Ibestow
upon him the second place, which he ac-
cepted under a sense of duty, in spite of his
Just pride and seIt-rcspcct.
In every relation in life Colonel Witbcrs
has proved his loyalty, yaor, truth, and
virtue; and us Senator from this Common
wealth viii honor The ONCE he has been
: placed IN.
The Election.
: The nomination of Colonel Withels by the
Conservative members of the Leeislatl,re
. yesterday of course amounts to an Section.
though at noon to-day the two Houses will
meet with the usual formaities) in joint
assembly and cast their votes for theno,ni
nee OF the party.