Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-12

Commonwealth Or is tariit tax so
different from direct tax that our
ncighbor would rather pay S27,00o,O 900
of tariff taxes than S6,0OO,O00 OF direct
taxes?
Ex-Governor Wyndham Robertson.
Ex-Governor WYNDHAM ROBERTSON
died at his home, near Abingdon, yester-
day at the ripe age of eighty-tour years.
Thus ended career that had been
crowned by many public honors, all of
which were borne with lofty sense OF
responsibility to those who conferred
thom, and with the modesty of the true
Christian and gentleman. WYNDHAM
ROBERTSON was born in Richmond and
received his early schooling IN his ma
tive city. His education was COM
pleted at William and Mary College,
under the presidency of DIR. JONI Az
CUISINE SMITH, and among his college
contemporaries are numbered some of
the most brilliant men Virginia has ever
produced. In 1924 he was called to the
bar in 1927 made q visit TO Europe, and
in 1880 was elected to the honored and
honorable position of member OF the
Council of State. In 1888 he was re-
elected to the State Council, which
had then been reduced to three
members. In 1886 he became Lieuten-
ant-Goyernor, and by virtue of the re-
signation of Governor TAzEwELL sue
ceeded to the gubernatorial chair, which
he held for the remainder Of TAzEwELL's
term. In 1887, the Wings declining to
contest the executive offices owing to
the large number of Democrats IN
the Legislature, Governor RODENT
SON stood for the Legislature from Rich
mond, was elected, and was continued
in that body until 1911, when he removed
to the country. In 1853 he returned to
Richmond, was again elected to the
Legislature, and continued to serve his
old constituents until the close Of the
civil war. Governor ROBERTSON was
strong Union man, and vigorously and
actively opposed the overtures of South
Carolina in 1889 for southern conven-
ton. Even after South Carolina and
other States had seeded he opposed
Virginia's following their example, and
on January I, 1861, introduced into the
House OF Delegates the Anti-Coercion
resolution, of which he was the author.
This resolution denied, in effect. the
necessity Tor secession. but declared
if coercion was employed by the
Federal Government against the Sc
coded States Virginia would fight for
the South. The resolution passed,
but Virginia's efforts to secure
peace failed. Then Governor RoBEET-
son proved that above all things he was
Virginian. He did not hesitate. To
him the path of duty was plain. lie
cast his lot with his State and remained
faithful to the end Through all the
trying years of the war there was no
man who did more according to
the measure Of his capacity than
did Governor ROBERTSON for the
success of the southern cause.
Governor ROBERTSON was man OF keen
observation, of bright mind, and Of
broad culture. As a member OF the
General Assembly he welded great in
huence, acting as be did always from con-
viction that he was right. His conscience
was the only arbiter of his acts. He not
only took deep interest in politics, but
ever had an eye to internal improve
ments that he thought would advantage
Richmond and the rest of Virginia. In
1884 at the first meeting of the James
River and Kanawha Company he pro-
posed railway connection between Rich
mond and the great West in lieu of the
projected canal The study of Virginia
history was with him passion and he
frequently contributed the results OF
his researches to periodicals. His
latest publication was a little work
on PoCAHoNTAs and her descendants.
Some time after the war Governor ROB-
ERTsON removed to 1.-THE Meadows, near
Wytheville, where in his declining years
he had the respect, veneration, and afec-
ton of all who knew aim. The news of his
death will be received with profound
sorrow throughout the Commonwealth,
for Virginia has lost one of her truest,
gentlest, and most patriotic sons. The
memories of his services are a golden
sheaf, bound with the leaves Of the lau-
rel and believed with the tears of the
mother he loved so well.