Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-08-08
James Barbour.


Jsm;s Barbour, otq Who Wss nominated By
scclsmation for the oifics Of Lieu!. Governor,
AID who yielded 10 tho demand for his services
though he had determined to accept no place
on the ticket, WAS born 10 tho county Of Gull
pepper 10 1929 His father was John s. Bst
bour, who served several terms in tho Fireina
Legislature. end for ten years with m,IIed
Of tho United States. Mr.. Barbour was edu-
! oatod partly at Georgetown College aud pattl7
at tho University of Virginia. successfully con
tending ell the whilo against i'll health, to which
q less determined man would havo yielded alto
gather.
ln lSiG no entered upon the praosico Of the
| law. and in 1850 offered himself, ior tho iitst
| tne, fJr tho support Of his follow oitiaens as
| cacddsta for tho Constitutional Convention.
So youthful was he in appearance That tho poo
pie. or a. lcast many of thenl, would no! bsievo
that ho was tTentysono yeara Of aga. llo had
| eonstautly to o,nradict that impression. aad be
had to canvass Wish tho record Of his sgo ever
ready to show. Tho result, however. vas a
| great triumph fnr him, and, with Banks and
Voolfolk, Mr. Barbour VAS ra!ur1ed 10 tho
| ConvcntloI-as democrat OF reform pIinoi-
| plcs-iroM tho distric! composed of tho ooua-
ieS Of Culpepcr. Orange. Madlscn; anu 0feen'
Coming. nnl OF thu Convention, he was elcos
90 TO tho House Of Delegates from, Culpeper--
| q Whlg c0uuty-by what WIS thou considered
| a large majorily. Ilo occupied very promi
| nent position on tho Finance Committee, and
| vas ono OF tho leaders of tho Dim ,craoy.
ln 1851 Mr. Barbour WAS again returned 10
tho House OF Delegates as O Domccrat. without
| opposition. lio Wa1 placed second on the
FInaEca COMMITTEE. but was really tho chair.
| man. lilo uUntinued 10 tho House uatll 1861,
| whom, as an snti-seoessicn democrat, he Wss
elected to tho convention. When, however,
! the tina cams when the great public sentiment
! OF the State considered Virgins could no longer
with honor remain mombar of tic fedora
ton OF States, ho declared in favor of secession,
and went homo ard offered to ratiign his sca!;
but being endorsed by his constituency, lie ro-
| NAMED 10 place. and voted for AMI signed the
ordinance Of secession.
For long tmo after tho war Mr., Barbour
was under political disabilities and took but
llttlo p:rt 10 pIblio affairs. Ia 1;S70-'7l ho
became tho oWnor ald editor Of tho Esnuifcr,
and Tor yoar or moro persissently presented
to tho people tho views which no thought 10
fq7lty and justice should obtain ia tho settle
mens OF the public debt of Virsil lis. Ho left
tho editorial chair Just before tho old funding
OIL was passed., but bis sntaso.iam to tha.
measure was thorough aud uudisguised lu
1914 ho offered for CONGRESS- ir .ho disty;ck
which bis brother now represents ,rhcro Waa
some trouble 10 the convention. Mr.. Bar.
oour's frisnds Withdrew, uancd him, aud
claimed the nomination; but thai was by no
menos conceded by General Hun ton'a friends.
The result was he ran against General Huuton.
dls own ccuoty Of Culpepor supported him
] al:h unsnlmity never before cqualleG, and no
al
| General Hunton vas elected. SGfic, it that
| mcss OF thcgo then cstraneod have renegoj
| their friendship sna will give him hearty
support.
ln 1877 Mr.. Barbour vas orco moro olcotcd
| to The House OF Delegates upon a declaration
OF principles Witch in substarco found record
| soon afterwards in tho famous "Barb6ur BILL"
During that torn he waa chsirmsn of lho FL
nance Com rnittee. For tho ncys term h, Mt.
| terry refused to ruu.
Since 1879 no hss been at h0mo resting and
quietly pursuing the practice of tho law. His
| boa!tb, though never robust, is now unusually
good. ln the comiog CANVASS hc will bo ablo
10 do his lull part. lie has long osioycd q
| high reputation as Iu3lic speaker. and on the
questions to be discussed ia this campaign is
particularly we'll posted.
Mr.. Barbour is of moderate height and s3sro.
% uccouat OF shor ness OF vision he hos long
| VCrl spto:aolos. His iaca is ruGdy ard BRIGHT.
| lo conversation he Is very pleasant end his
| manners era so easy aud unaffected that his
| capacity for making friends seems Unlimited.
From his long tXoatevo, io puhIio lie. ranjus
! 10 iLflnsuoiDg men, ability and irdusry and
| personal popularity, it is 90. doubted that he
will briog TO tho ticket support srony aud
steady y.-Richmond Dispatch.
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