The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-04
Che Uir9illia State Jollrnal
THE DEATH OF ANOTHER vETER
AN, WITH REMINIsCENCES
OF THE CONFLICT.

The following deeply interesting re-
miniscences of the late John Z. Under
wood, by Mrs. Harriet Beeeher Stowe,
are copied from The Christian Union OF
the 9TH instant:
John G.. Underwood was a native OF
Herkimer county, New York. Like many
other young Northern men oil education ana
culture, he accepted the situation OF tutor IN
one of the old Virginia families, where his
fine requirements, his steadfast and quiet
dignity of character, his calm consistency
of principle, won for him the respect oil
all who knew him.
After while he married daughter OF
the family, Miss Maria Jackson. His wife
might be truly said to have inherited and
to represent the blood of the highest Vir-
gnia families. There is one district in
the state which was represented IN Con-
gress for more than thirty years by mem
bers of her family--by Colonel George
Jackson, her grandfather, by Edwin b.
jackson, her father, and by John G. Jack
son, her uncle, whose first wife was sister
of Mrs. Madison.
Mrs. Underwood was both by the pa
ternal and maternal side cousin of Stone
wall jackson. When only seven years OF
age she was brought across the mountains
on horseback, under the charge of Stone
Wall Jackson's grandfather, to the house OF
his sister, her grandmother.
In his wife, Mr.. Underwood found a
convert to all his convictions, which she
advocated with the iearlessness whch 'ne
vantage ground of her high position IN
society gave her.
Alter his marriage Judge onuerwooa
resolved to devote himself 10 the great
conflict OF libertyunot IN a N9 o. state,
nit On we soi' VI rnsihia. my nop ~,
that perhaps something mlght DE aohe ny
introducing iree laoor lil.o 'ne s.a.e' o;nh t
therefore bougAt properly Oh some eighl
hundred acres ID Clarhg oouIey; ~ .n1
romantic vicinity OF the biue hiuge, anu
undertook 10 INTRODUCES the qaily lnuuS ;a.s
OF ms native county Oh nerklther mug
Virginia. low TINS enterprise 'a WN
can be Judged by an extract from a VT
glnll paper, which shows now ne anu ms
,chemes were looked upon ~ MS he'gh'
bors, ana now 'ney prospeleu
Mr.. Underwood commenced operations !,
among US by establishing GARY LOT tht
nannlature OF cheese, ana soon drew
around MN quite llt'le colony
aboltlonlsts from ms natiVe state, ol
much more objectionable class than nun
sell--they were apoiitloh'sts "a uar,l'
son, the real simon pure ahia,gal''a.lo'',sts
The men, wolully lacking lhe sense ane
education OF Underwood, ms goodness 0
temper, his gentlentss OF manner, sool
rendered themselves h'ghy obnoxious t'
their new neighoors, ana, becoming
dlsplrted thereby, or rom some cause no
known TO the writer, dispersed, seeking
more congeniai surroundings IN tht
Nothern states, ana the enterprise lei
through"
notwithstanding thc Ill success OF Ihi
enterprise, Mr.. Underwood succeeded II
founding very charming home, the sea
Of domestic peace and hospitality LII
neighbours could not refuse to IKE mar
whose obhg'ngness ana prompt love {,
helpiulness were so remarkable, althoisl
they considered HIM as tinctnred with cx
IRENE and fanatcal OPINIONS. LIS takinI
Of the New York Tribune ana Evenln!
Post was sore matter OF suspicion and re
greet in SO otherwise good nelghbor, but
was borne with. Still, all his actions w!f
narrowly watched, and some deep deslg
was supposed to Turk under most lnnocen
deeds. For example having 3iscoVere'
that large number of the settlers in tn
mountains were destitute OF the Bible b
wrote to the Bible Society Tor box OF Bible
and Iestamehts, ana employeq man a
his own expense to distribute them. Thl
awakened the attentionoi the vigilance com
mittee, and he was waited on by gentle
men who informed him that he was &C
cused of distributing "incendiary docu
ments." He replied, "Gentlemen, It !
true. have been distributing incendiar.
documents; but they are only The Bl0l'
and New misunderstanding more. Ihe.
are, and always have proved incendlar.
wherever there was wrong to be right
ed" Yet, as one OF the newspaper wrl
tiers afterwards said OF HIM, Mr.. Under
woods manner was so childlike and lnno
cent, and ne appeared to be, SO unaware 0
the mischief his peculiar sentiments mlgh
produce, that his nelghbors ieit disposed
TO do all they could to defend him.
Bnt 1t was season when the ho.tes
fervor OF the conflict between freedom ant
slavery was gong on, when the who'll
forces Of the South were arraylng them
selves to gain the new territories Tor slave
ny, and Mr.. Underwood could not rest II
retirement in silence. lie went ON to Phil
adelphia to the great national convention
that nominated Fremont IN 1896, ant
there poured OUT MS burning heart IN