Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-02-18

THAN in Virginia, where t5e people, IN aho
|outside of his congressional district, de.
handed that the new admins ration going
Into power under Gee. Harrison should
have in the House Of Representatives, the
distinguished citizen that Augusta could
spresent for such honors
MR.. STUART IN THE 9th con GREsS.
His contest for seat in the House Of
Representatives Of the 9th Congress 1871
/ was made with Jas. Mcdowell Of Rock
bridge, his senior in years, who preceded
! him in the public service as msnber Of
1 the legislature of the State. The district
embraced the Valley counties from Augusts
ito Montgomery inclusive. l. was repre-
scented by Rob't Craig, an adhereat of the
u aekson-Van Buren, school OF politics fol-
Ia number of terms coBseeutively except
| oue when Sam'l Mcdowell Moore of Rock
bridge won it, Augusta polling over eiever
hundred majority for The champion against
j Mr.. Craig. 1t was splendid success fol
] Mr.. Stuart, after the district lad returned
ito its old party allegiance for three terms.
a5o carry it over Gov. DcDowell. a gentle
man possessing personal popularity which
made him stronger than his party.
1t is doubtful if there was any period Of
MIR. Stuart's long and distinguished career
lin which the situation was attended with
!grsver apprehensions, except that in which
|he labored to restore to his State self gov
!ernment in reconstruction times, tina. when
lhe entered the tire shod of bis career as q
National Representative. The majorities
Iof the vote of the people in many States
which had elected Van Buren, in 1886 had
and the Electoral Colleges al
Jail but seven States had been cast fer Gen.
Harrison as his success ar. Both branches
|of Congress were by decided majorities ii
sympathy with the popular will. President
Harrison Immediately after his accession to
the Executive chair, called an extra session
|of Congress, but, before it convened, the
Nation was called to mourn at his bier, and
Mr. Tyler, the Vice President, assumed
the duties of the Presidency. Millard Fill.
more, of New York, al able and Influential
Wing member of the House. who had sery-
ed in previous Congresses, was made the
Chairman of tie important committee OF
Ways and Means. Then commenced that
strong political and personal friendship bs-
tween thu future President and the young
and accomplished Statesman from Virginia,
who became his associate in the Cabinet.
The transactions of that extra Session of
Congress. from May to September, 1871,
need not be recited, except to say that all
the questions growing cut OF a disrupted
aud the economic measures and
internal and foreign policy Of the govern;
ment were involved. Virginia had abs rep
in both HOUSEWIVES aud
Archer in the Senate, and Stuart, Hunter,
Bolts, Summers, and others in the House.
Mr. S5nart's counsels were called immedi.
ately into full association with the older
and the more experienced of his political
friends. Mr.. Webster, thsn Secretary of
State, was chief among those who thus
placed his ability and prudence and saga
city in position to aid il saving, if posi-
bic. the country from the disastrous effects
Of divided counsels between the President
and tie Congress, After serving in the
two regniar sessions of that Congress, Mr..
Stuart re ired from public life, but not to
very far from it, for the progress
of the people aud the State in all that per-
tanned to the advauceme Of every valua-
Bile purpose received bis encoursg cement
and patronage.
The last survivor of the Senate of 1S41-
40 vas WIN. Allan, Of Ohio, then the
Younges. member III age, who died g few
years ago. The death of Mr.. Hunter.
three years ago, left Mr. Stuart the only
survivor Of the Virginia delegation, as he
is of ali the members of that Congress, uni
less Henry W. billiard, member of the|
House, then of Alabama, but of late years
residing in Georgia, is st;ll alive. Samuel
L. Southland from New Jersey, for whom
sIr. Stuart entertained great admiration,
was the President of the Senate. John
White, of Kentucky, was Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
Though engaged, after bis tenn orary re-
tire nent from the public arena, in the pro
seoution of his profession covering large
practice IN the Courts and bestowing atten-
tioa to bis extensive farming and private
ss we'll as conducting an almost
unlimited correspondence with the leading
men Of the country, it could not be other
wise than that the people in large numbers
you'd tasn to him as tho grave questions
ef reosgan'zing the State and county gov.
were assuming an im portsnt
phase. The views he entertained were not
in accord with a majority of the voters of
the district which included Augusta, Rock
bridge, and Highland counties and with
Mr.. Thos. J. Niche, who mainly agreed
with him. was defeated for a seat in the
State Constitutional convention called in
1856.
THE NATIONAL CONTESTS OF 1874 AND 1S4S
Daring the interval of ii me Just advert
ed to, came on the memorable National
contests of 1874 and 1S49
The Tyler administration, which ended
in 1915, had absolutely ceased to be identi-
fed with any of the principles of the Wing
party. and as early as 1912, by the spon
sansous voice CT thatparty reflected through
every medium for the deliverance Of sent.
meut, Mr.. Clay was declared in advance
the leader for 1874. The position and SER
vices of Dir. Stuart in the canvass is a part
of the history Of the country, ard then it
was that Ee wrote the celebrated editorials
in the Rich nond Whig alteady adverted. to-.
As previously, 60 in 1913, he was in the
tiaickes5 Of the conflict, ard with Gen. Tay
Tor for President, Mr.. Fillmore was associ-
ated as the candidate for Vice President and
3 great victory resulted for the Wing party,
aud the now administration was inaugu-
rated in 1S49.
Gen. Taylor died in July, 1850, which
,,oaod Mr Fillmora in tho Presidential