The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-01-08


tinguished jurist, Judge Briscoe G.
Baldwin. Mt Stauntou, was subsequent.
ly admitted to the bar. and practiccd
his profession with ability during the
remainder of his life. lie served as
director Of the james river and Kan.
awha Canal, aud was for several years
member of tho Virginia senate and
house Of delegates. Ills last senatorial
term in the Legislature ended in 1860,
and in 1861 he was elected q member
Of tho State constitutional convention
which passed the ordinance Of secession,
and was afterwards elected by the Leg.
islaturc Of Virginia u member of tho
Confederate States senate, in which
body he served until the close Of tho
war.
After tho close Of the war be return
cd to his home in the mountains Of his
nativity, where borrowing the idea FROM
another, it may be said, the air is pure,
heaven serene, and God is near,
Here ho intended to spSnd the eve.
ming Of bis life in his professional and
private pursuits and in the enjoyment
Of bis home lie engaged actively
in presenting 10 eastern capitalists the
vast and superior coal and timber re.
giOns Of the southwestern portion Of
his State, and to his energy and ability
perhaps Us much as to those Of any
other gentleman are the citizens Of the
East aud West indebted fer that de-
vclopmsnt which gives cheap fuel,
cheap lumber, and promises Of cheap
transportation. But bis mission had
not yet been fulfilled; his people bad
further need for bis talent, bis expert
encc, his learning, and his purity, and
after an exciting and somewhat bitter
contest between other gentlemen for
seat in tho United States Senate in the
winter Of lS7+-'75 the Legislature Of
bis State conferred that high honor up.
ou him. he was an element Of con-.
promise acceptable to all. and the hon.
or was tho more thankfully aud gra-
ciously received because it came to
him unsought.
In early life 10 was a wing in poll
tics. was an admircr Of Henry Clay,
Josiah Randall, and their compecrs,
and co.worker with them. Tho most
cordial personal relations existed be.
tween himself and Mr.. Randall, and
the visits Of tho latter gentleman to the
mine raj springs Of Virginia, and to his
landed interests in tho coal regions on
the Great kanawha, brought them in.
to frequent association. Upon the
disinterlga,iOu Of the whig party Mr.
Randall was prominent in heading the
movement 10 unto the wings with the
conservative. iemocratic party. Ills
great speech. delivered at Chambers.
burg, Pennsylvania, on the 9Th Of
August. 1856, at the request of the
democratic convention Of that State,
defined tho policy of tho wing Of the
party who aided Tue democrats 10
achieving the victory Of ,ha, year. 10
this movement he was ably seconded
BY Mr.. CupCrton, md during tho re.
nainder of their lives they co.opcratoi
in carrying out the policy tRps iaau.
guratcd. 4
Mr.. Caporton discharged Tho duties
of the various positions he was called
upon to fIl with honor to himself and
bcnsfi, to his constituents 1t was in
tho constitutional convention. Of vir.
giniu, 10 1851 that | became intimately
acquainted with him. lie there as al.
ways before and since, displayed the
fine culture, high character, and con-
servatiye views that drew around him
the love and confidence Of bis people.
He was Il oonsOrvatire.uulon man, op.
posed to accession, uad declared that
it was not the remedy for the evils Of
which bis State couplained-tha, So
cession wOuld lead to.coerCion, coercion
would produce war, and war would re-
suit in distress and dss0lation. 1t was
not until bis State had takon the fatal
step that he determined to follow, but,
beiug Of that school which regarded
the doctrine Of paramount allegiance
to ths State. when llis mother, Viz
GINA, cas-. her fortune with tho Con-
fedOratc government, no threw his in.
auonOc for veal or for WOO with that
mother and determined to share her
fate, whatever that fate might lie.
Upon the close Of tue war no accepted
the situation. and acquiesccd in tho
abandonment Of secession and the
overthrow Of the institution Of sla.
very.
He also acquicsccd in tho validity
Of the thirteenth, and fourteenth, 6t-
teenth amendments to the Constitu.
ton Of the United States. giving 10
them the brOadost Interpretation
placed upon than by the courts of the
country; bat he also tcnaoiously clung
to those other familiar provisions Of
tho Constitution. on, Of which guar.
au tOos TO every State in tue Union a
republican form Of government, and
tho othor roscryiug to tho States res
peclivsIy. or to tho people. tue pow.
crs not delegated to tho United States
nor prohibited by it to the States.
His earthly career is ended, and bis
friends in their grief point with salts.
faction to bis lie as one we'll spent
upon which neither spO. nor blemish
can be found. The chief feature Of
Ii. ohn "a ntan r.o5 ;kn ,,,,;k,, anI ,uL