The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-02-04

signal interposition Of Providence in favor |
OF justice and humanity. Just before the |
setting sun Of 1866 the remains of this |
poor misguided victim of a vice which is so |
greatly increased by the idleness incident !
to slave v, were brought by his mourning |
relatives and buried by the side of his |
worthy and excellent father"
Nothing can be a more perfect picture |
OF Mr.. Underwood's character than this |
letter. ffH tf9 ieJ tsr.l
Courageous and undaunted in danger,
he still maintained an immovable kindness |
and sweetness of disposition, which led |
him to put the most generous construction
on the character and actions of his adver-
saries. At any time his bitterest enemy
might have entrusted Mr.. Underwood to
represent his character and motives, sure
that he would appreciate every virtue and
allow for every failing. His faith in the
good that there is in every human being
was strong, even to the verge of credulity
and the world-wise sometimes consid-
cred it a weakness. Perhaps, after all,
however, it was but a manifestation of
that higher wisdom, spoken of in Holy
Writ, that thinketh no evil, beareth all
things, believeth all things, hopeth al
things, endureth ali things. si.
After the family left the homestead they
never returned. For one reason or another
they never received much pecuniary return
for the sale. 1t was virtually giving
away of the property. The house was
rented to careful and friendly tenant;
the household furniture stored away. At
the time of the John Brown raid, shortly
after, the rumor got abroad that the place
was a deposit of arms and ammunition, and
a rendezvous for slaves. A detachment of
Black-Horse Cavalry was sent down by
Governor Wise to search the house; and
down they came forcing an entrance with
such violence as to wound with a bayonet
the arm of the woman who, in blind terror,
had sought to bar the door against them.
They shattered mirrors with their bayo-
nets, searched and tumbled over the
goods and chattles of the occupants,
but found nothing. So great was the ter
ror they produced, that the tenants gave
up the place, and it was left unoccupied.
When the war broke out, the Governor OF
Virginia declared the place con6scated.
All the furniture stored in it was taken and
sold at public auction, including a trunk
containing Mrs. Underwood's bridal dress,
which she had carefully preserved, and
which was bought by q thrifty housewife
in the mountains, dyed brown, cut up and
made into vests, and sold.
The house and out-buildings gradually
fell into ruins, and the farm went back to
the wildness of nature, and such was
the end Of the Virginia home. Mr.. I'M
derwood, however. found employment in
the service of society for promoting emil
grafton into the different unoccupied states.
Western Virginia was a special field of in
terest to him, and he still hoped, by pro-
noting an emigration of free laborers, to
effect the future character of the state.
Some million acres OF land was sold to
free labOrers, and the destiny of Western
Virginia to free institutions was decided.
Mr.. Underwood was a member Of the
Chicago Convention which nominated Presi-
dent Lincoln, and stumped the Western
, states as speaker during the canvass that
ended in his election. After the election OF
Lincoln, he was appointed consul to Calao,
: and had made preparations for leaving the
country but Secretary Chase, unwilling
that so true and tried friend Of liberty
should leave the country during our great
national struggle, offered him The situation
of fifth auditor of the treasury, and he re-
NAMED at Washington. n.
1t would seem that Judge Underwood
had devoutly entered into the spirit of Je-
sus, and that his great life purpose had
been in sympathy with His, who came to
. proclaim liberty to the captives, and the
( opening Of the PRISON to them that are bound.
, Like his Master, when reyiled, he reviled
not again when he suffered he threatened
not, and as He commanded he was through
his life ever ready to return good for evil.
+ 1t was only an evening or two before his
t death that he drew upon himself q shower
, | of circumstances from whole social circle,
. by taking up the part of famous guerilla
! captain. who, in the war time, had hunted
! his life most perseveringly. Judge Under
wood seemed to have the most charitable
hopes that, having now taken the oath Of
allegiance, this man would prove true tc
the government, adding, she is brave
man, and brave man cannot deceive
Though all demonstrated then, yet few
hours after we could not but feel that this
merciful and charitable view of character
was fit preparation for the higher
sphere to which even then he was draw
ing near. tesEEfta e
After the death of Judge Underwood,
crowds of mourners flocked to the house.
He was, above all things, friendly and
helpful man. His whole life was d
series OF thoughtful care for others. and
when such an one dies there are many
mourners. More than once we heard
from some of the poor and lowly who
came to take last look, the expression,
1--WE lost my best friend" ''He was
always ready TO help" said another.
"When he could he gave money but if he
could not, he always gave sympathy"
"Ah," said another, "the world has
been hard and cruel to me, but the
; Judge was always kind-he was never
too busy to hear or to help" G
The funeral was attended in the Uni
tartan church, which was crowded, and
after the services the whole congregation
passed in turn around to take last
look upon his face; and it was observed
that many strangers dropped tears in
passing-they were probably among the
many whom he had helped.
The pity and sympathy of Judge Under
wood were so characteristic as to make
him known to every one who had grief
to tell or help to seek. The drain upon
his purse was SO great that the only
way to secure anytl lg for his family was TO
have his purse in other keeping than his
own. The times of receiving his quar-
ter's salary were remembered by many
| haitian than him calf and IN ono oocoo;nn