The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-24
HON. JOHN DANIEL.

ders.
HON. JOHN w. DANIEL.
At caucus of the democratic members
of the Virginia legislature, held in the
capitol at Richmond, on the night of
Monday last, Hon. John w. Daniel was
nominated to succeed United States Sen
ator Malone. After considerable discus
sion, the vote was taken, with the follow
ing result: John w. Daniel, Sc; John S.
Barbour, 30. The nomination was then
made unanimous.
John Warwick Daniel was born in the
city of Lynchburg, Va, on the 9TH day of
| September, 1912, and has but recently en-
tered the 43d year of his age. His father,
to whom the senator-elect bears striking
resemblance, VIM. Daniel, jr., was lawyer
of eminence, and from 1S47 to the close of
the war, was a judge of the court of APP
peals of Virginia The mother of the
subject of our sketch was daughter of
John M. Warwick, leading citizen of
Lynchburg, and the middle letter in the
senator-elect's name represents the fam
lily name on the maternal parents side.
When the late civil war commenced,
John w. Daniel was attending select
school in Nelson county. His young
bosom swelling with love for his own dear
native South, he Immediately packed his
books, babe his preceptor farewell, and
entered the Confederate ranks as pri-
| vate.
! He was three times wounded in the first
battle of Manassas, and was promoted to
a lieutenancy for gallantry. By success
sive promotion he rose to assistant adju-
tant-general, with the rank of major, on
the staff of Gen. Jubal A. Early. At the
battle of the Wilderness, whilst rallying
an infantry regiment, Major Daniel was
shot from his horse, his thigh being
crushed by a Minnie ball. From this
wound he has been a great sufferer at
times, and it necessitates the use of
| crutches.
At the conclusion of the war Major
Daniel commeced the study of law with
his father and later he took the law class
at the University of Virginia for one
year. At the close of that year he was the
orator of the Jefferson society. His adj
dress, styled ''The People," attracted wide
attention. He at once entered upon re-
markably successful legal career.
In 1869, when the Walker movement
commenced, Major Daniel made his first
appearance in politics. He was nomin-
ated by the people of Campbell for the
house of delegates, and after brilliant
canvass was triumphantly elected. At the
close of his term he declined reelection,
and was not long after heartily urged by
his community for congress. In 1875 he
was chosen to the state senate, and in
1879 he was reelected. While in the leg
islature Major Daniel originated many
measures of benefit to the people of the
state at large. 1
In 1875 Major Daniel was We
ed for the United Statesesenatofs
only failed by~one vote in receiving
democratic caucrNnomination. In n
he was candidatS for the gubernatoriar
} nomination, and was only defeated by
! Genoral Malone and his supporters go-.
ing over in a body to Col. f. w. M. HolliA I
day.
In 1881 Major Daiel was the unanimous
} nominee of the democrats for governor
despite his protests, and made brilliant
canvass. But Malone was then in the
! height of his political power, and Daniel
was defeated by Cameron. In 1884 he
was the unanimous choice of his party in
the sixth congressional district, and was
elected to congress over r. p. w. Morris,
republican, by over 1000 majority.
/ In addition to an extensive law practice
and his active participation in every
political campaign in Virginia since 1869,
) Major Daniel has found time for the dis
charge of a large amount of literary work.
Indeed, his capacity for work, despite his
frequent sufferings from his war wound,
! is quite phenomenal. He has written
several law works, which have been ac-
cepted as standards in practice. He has
delivered numerous university and col
lege addresses, which have attracted atten-
ton because of their excellence.
His address on the Campaigns and Bat
ties of Gettysburg" delivered before the
Army of Northern Virginia in Richmond:
his address on the unwilling of Valentines
recumbent figure of Lee, at Lexington
. Virginia, and his Grafton on the unveiling
of the Washington National monument
the present year may be especially men
toned. Major Daniels speech in the
g Democratic national convention at Gin
: cinnati in 1880, in seconding the nomina
y ton of General Hancock for president
n wa->also fine effort.
+. AS aff>sxator it is a matter for debate
T that he has ah>sQual in the United States
s He certainly has nNsuperior. This is the
e opinion of the most a knent men in tn
# country, many of whom haye not hest
tated to express such an opinion
3 In personal appearance it is universally
v conceded in Washington that his is one Of
( the most purely classic faces in the country
y and as he goes in and out hmping upoI
:, crutches with genial smile and grace
= full bow for all acquaintance, he presents
! one of the most conspicuous figures II
. either house of congress.
r OST-Confederate land scrip No. 1885, issued t
/ LW. n. Braswell by the commissioners OF TIN
general land Office September 10, 1881. If not heart
- M Il rnlic will no