The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-11-20

vices to the country, or the exercise. of his
great mental powers and the display of his
legal learning, on Unrestricted field of labor
in the Department of Justice, is CUES
tion which has never been discussed, and
to which his mind has never probably beer
directed. Be this. as it may, he stands
pre-eminent among the many other public
men of the South, and were he to be cho-
sen for the position in question, it would
carry assurance to the country that a
wise and peculiarly proper selection had
been made.
With the extreme Southern section thus
accommodated. it would naturally be sug.
gested that the other position would be as
signed to the border South, and that Vir-
ginia would likely be considered as the
State from which the choice would be
made. Upon this hypothesis, frequent
mention is made of the name of Hon. Jno
S. Barbour, whose party services and adj
ministrative abilities are acknowledged
not only by his political friends, but by
those who are opposed to him and have
felt the force Of his character and the eff
fectiveness of his organizing powers.
Whether Col Barbour would be willing
to surrender the position he now holds and
the promise for the future, should his par
ty continue to hold control of the State, is
a q Uestion. 1t is generally conceded that
if the Legislature, to be elected next fall
shall be Democratic, by general consent,
among his political associates. he would
pass to the higher branch of the National
Legislature, as representative from Vir-
ginia, to take the seat in the Senate March
4th, 1886, now occupied by Gen. Malone
His position as member of the House OF
Representatives places him in the line OF
promotion should the political current be
favorable ; while his transfer to the Cabi
net would be regarded as compensation
sufficient for his services and open the
way for other aspirants to Senatorial hon
ors. And further, should he be rendered
and accept a placein the Cabinet, its du
ties would necessarily draw him from The
more active political Ilabors Of his State!
and limit his efforts to retain Democratic
ascendancy in the Legislature. The grow.
ing sentiment in the country, in favor OF
civil service reform, would precludea Cab
met officer from the details Of Il political
campaign, and to a greater or less degree
withdraw him from the arena Of compete
tion for higherpolitical honors. We assume
therefore, that if Col. Barbour is made W
Of the same material moved by similar am
billions which influence others actively
identified with party politics, in looking
forward to promotion, that he would moi
accept Il Cabinet position, but would pre-
fer relation which would neither restrict
his labors nor embarrass his aspirations, il
such he has.
II we are right in these conclusions, {ane
they are only conjectures shaped in look
ing over the political situation as it pre-
sents itself at this time,) we venture tc
suggest to our Democratic friends name
that carries with it the force of John S.
Barbour's, and will be readily recognized
as representing as much talent, as sterling
integrity and peculiar fitness, as attach to
any Democrat in the State. We refer tc
James Barbour, of Culpeper. Modest. re-
firing, studious, brave and courteous, he
combines within himself. in a high degree.
all the qualifications to discharge the du-
ties Of any position under the government
to which he might be assigned. An able
lawyer, a trained thinker, u thoroughly
the term, there are few men in Virginia
who are his equals, and none his superior.
He has never been afflicted with an in
ordinate itching for public position
When political emergencies have arisen
which seemed to him to demand that his
convictions should find expression, he has
gone before the people to impress his be-
liefs and maintain his faith, from a sense
Of duty more than from desire for polit-
lcal .notoriety. From considerations of
this kind, he became a member of the
Legislature Of IL and ~, or about that
time, and his commanding talents. were re-
cognized in placing him in the front Of his
party in that body, Those who remember
the stirring events of that period, will re-
call his remarkable resources-his sleepleSs
vigilance, his ready perceptions and bold
leadership. He measured up to thetlenaands
upon him, and showed to the country that.
retiring and modest as he was and is,when
occasion required he was equal to the
most exacting emergencies broad enough
to grasp and bold enough to execute all
that was implied of duty to his convic-
tions and what he believed to be right.
From our earliest political association
we have entertained a high opinion of
James Barbour's capacities and often
wondered that he was not more frequently
connected with the active politics of the
State. Duty to his family, doubtless, and
an indisposition to engage in petty parti
zan squabbles which have so lowered po-
litical life in these later days, have inhu-
enced his course. Love for his profession
and the charm of domestic life have had
more attractions to him than the angry
strifes and Improbable contentious, which
have been the warp and wool of political
contests in Virginia of late years, and
from such considerations Mr.. Barbour has
preferred the quiet, unpretentious life he
has led. 1t is of such men of either party,
that public councils should be constituted.
We have had too much of the noisy poll
ticians. To them more than to anything
else, may be attributed the unnatural pref
udics, the ungoverned passions, and despi-
cable hates, which mark and mar party
contests, estrange friends and make of
community a seething cauldr0n of angry
feeling, forgetful that men will differ on
public questions and policies, and that one
man has the same right to his opinion as
another, and ought to be as much re-
spected Ill its expression and maintenance
as those who may reach different con
cluSion.
Partizan aspirants and ring managers
may not thank us for bringing forward the
name Of gentleman so eminently quail
fed for Cabinet council, tive are sure
that the conservative sentiment of the