The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-27

IecIuhI Dut mas nv
tion-A Power Behind the Throne
in virginia During the War-The
Man Who Wrote Gov. Letcher's
state DOcuments-And the Only
Man Who Could Match Extra Billy
on the Stump-The AbIest PrOsecu-
Tor I'm the Old Dominion-would
NotLet Personal Claims Interfere
with the Discharge OF PubIic Duty
War and Peace EpisOdes-sIeep-
Ing on the Bosom of Virginia.
DUNMoRE, w. VA, Dec. IL, 1877.
With the death of Co. William b.
Terrill, who recently died at the home
Of his son-in-law, Col. Geo. A. Porter
field, in Jefferson county, in this State,
mes passed away one OF the mos. remark
able men Virginia ever produced. tie
was the intellectual peer of any son OF
the Old Dominion and possessed the
highest literary accomplishments, yet
was without particle of ambition. In
early life he served one term IN the
LEGISLATURE of his State, which was the
only public office he ever filled, except
that of prosecuting attorney for the
county OF Bath, q position ne held Tor
thirty-seven consecutive years. Not
withstsnding his self exclusion from
public lie, there was no
man more widely or more iaVorab!y
known in the State OF Virginia than Col
Terrill. At the bar and at the hustings
ne stood pre- eminent, and as many gilt
ed speakers as Virginia possessed IN
those days, there were but few cared 10
meet him IN debate. He is said to be the
only man who ever got the better OF EX-
trs Billy Smith in political discussion.
Extra Billy" WAS the dread OF all the
stump orators in his day, but on GER
tsin occasion the friends OF Col. Ierrill
prevailed on him TO meet the dlstln-
guished stumper Smith led Oh, Ierrlll
followed, and so successful was he IN de-
stroying the argument OF his antagohisl
that when Extra came to reply ne
broke down and threw up the sponge.
During the war Col. Terrlii was the
power behind the throne in Virginia.
He was the warm personal friend OF Gov.
Letcher, and spent good portion OF his
time az the Executive mansion, when
Letcher WAS so honorably filing the po-
sition OF War Governor.
Some of the most finished State papers
of American history were those
emsnsting from the executive office
while Gov. Letcher controlled the des-
times of the old commonwealth. OoI.
Terrill was their author, as he prepared
all the important State papers OF that
administration. But so unambltious was
be that it was matter OF no consequence
to kim whether he got credit tor 1t or
not. If he could serve friend, or could
have All hours social enjoyment with
Jolly crowd, he was happy.
have said that Col. Terrill was with
out ambition, yet il he took pride In
ANYTHING it was in the discharge OF his
duties as common weslth's attorney. De
WAS q native of Madison county, Viz
,-iuis but soon after he was admitted TO
the bar removed TO the Warm Springs
in Bath county, where he continued
to reside until few months previous to
his death. For thirty.sev consecutive
wears he was prosecuting attorney 0!
Bath county, and was acknowledged tue
most able prosecutor in the State. lie
sever permitted his personal relations 10
Interfere with his duties. On ire con
trary il is said that his ability u pros
ecutor was more fully displayed IN case
where Young man, the soa ot an ola
rlend. was indicted, than in any other
1t had been said thst Mr.. Terrill would
not make vigorous prosecution against
The Young man, because OF the intimate
relations existing between himself and
the father. This came TO his ears, and
being exceedingly sensitive about such
matters, the whole force OF his intellect
WAS aroused, and the result was that the
nrosecutlon was conducted with more
bower and ability than any previously
known in the courts OF the State.
II WAS once the fashion in Viz
GINA tor the prosecuting attorney
to deliver the charge to the grand jury
instead OF 1t being done by the Judge AS
ia now the case. The famous MIR. Petll-
grew. of South Carolina, who was exceed
ingly fsstidious in his manner and dress,
WAS visiting the Warm Springs during
the summer season, and was shocked 10
see Colonel Terrill charging the grand
iurv with pipe in his mouth.
He possessed
COMMANDING Personal APPEARANCE.
He was six feet two inches tall weighed
about $50 pounds and very straight. de
WAS extremely urbsne and digniied IN
his manner, but his dignity could relax
as gently and with as much facility a. ice
thaws beneath the warm rays OF the sun,
when be came in contact with set OF
Jolly good fellows. Visitors at the
Warm Springs Tor the last few years
will remember the peculiar stat
with which he always walked. 1t
was a. tall as himself, with
handsome silver knob on top OF it.
When asked why be used such specuIIsr
walking stick, he would reply that it was
al that was left hun from the wreck Of
WAT. He had been possessed OF a large
fortune, which, together with most OF hls
family, had been swept away IN the con.
fict. He was possessed Of rare fund OF
anecdotes which he could relate IN the
most inimltsble style, and wherever
there was jolly socisbilty his presence
was always sought. He was always
ready with JOKE, and could give q
humorous coloring to the gravest subject.
BE was in Washington City immediately
after the war, A number of prominent
Republicans who had known snd loved
him IN ante bellum days, were prompt to
call on him, and were profuse in expires.
sions of sympathy for his mistortunes
during the war, and all OF them offered
their services TO aid IN sn effort TO re-
move his political disabilities The
Colonel dropped his lower lip in way
which those who have ever seen
him will be sure to remember, and with .
chuckling laugh peculiar to himself, re-