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

cling position for ore of h;s age, It was,
Showever. but the beginning of career OF
zdistipguished usefulness in which be was az
Eoonspicuous as an advocate and moulder OF
sentiment fer LEGAL and state development
gas he was in the field of political action.
s There are but few parscns now living
Hwho remember the old Stone Court House
cot Augusta county, which stood On the
aground occupied by tie present building
Hdedicated as the temple of justice for the
Epeopie. Mr.. Stuart wss among the fore
Emcst in declaring it unsuitable fer the pur.
Eposes, and thata new edifce was demanded
MAt previous term CT the court tn 1884, he
Mmade the motion that the justices of The
Acounty in full berch be summoned 10 the
august term of that year to take into CON
Federation the erection of u
81 NEW COURT HOUSE,
d In the meantime be had thoroughly
Mstudied his subject. and prepared plans fol
Esthe building which he presented. and dis
Scussed the whole subject with his co,em
Hporaries at the term stated. An order was
made accordingly, appointing Alex. Il. Il
AStuart, Joseph Brown, James Crawford,
emo. 81. Peyton and Briscoe G. Baldwin
commissioners to take charge of the matter,
ssand to supsrintend to completion the new
Hedifice. Thus to the youngest of these
commissioners-nenw whose names illustrat-
ESed the renown of the county and the State
Gin local progress, in the halls of legislation
sand the highest Judicial tribuuals-was
assigned the distinguished position ss the
first in charge of this leading public interest.
The building was completed in 1886.
81 MR.. STUART IN THE LEGISLATURE.
81 During a few years previous, to 1886, Au.
'sgusta was represented in the House of Dele
sjgates by Robert S. Brooke and John J.
#Craig. For both of these gentlemen Mr..
sEssStuart entertained the warmest attachment.
EsHe was, as it was natural he should have
sAbeen, pressed to announce himself a candi-
|adate for the House of Delegates by the peo-
4ple who we're voting by increasing MAORI
Cities in sustaining the political views of
ssand that had eliminated in the permanent
of the Wing Tarty. To all
sSthese manifestations of popular strength he
Mdeclined compliance SO long as the friends
named desired to occupy the positions they
ESQ highly honored. Both of them, however,
ESsdeclined to be candidates after the session Of
ssSSthe Legislature of 1886. The public
sentiment concentrated on Mr.. Stuart and
|sKentoa Harper, editor Of the SPECTATOR,
gard they we're returned By large vote
Ssthe election occurring 10 April.
q THE INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT PARTY.
8 The year previous to BIZ. Stuart's en-
&c rance into the councils Of the State, Pro.
sifessor Rogers, the "Father CT America
AGeology," had been commissioned to make
IA geological survey of the State. This move
B ment had greatly strengthened the grow
Sing sentiment in favor of internal improve
Sment, as did the discussionsssof questions at
tissue between the National parties by the
81 ollowers Of Mr.. Clay all over the State, o
Flew only here and there Oh the seaboard
adissenting Their constituents did not then
sconsider their interests Identical with the
of lie do. mantresources of the
Estate, and about the value of which they
Chad grave doubts.
q The reader can veil imagine the ability j,
ahe thorough equipment, and the bold lead
sershjp OF the young Statesman from Angus
ga as he entered upon The arena of public
9 action involving the question, az he pre-
;ssdicted it would be, of the highest considers
ssstion to all parties and 10 the entire people,
Iaof the Commonwealth. Governor Tazewell,
Abefore his tenn expired, had been transfer
cred to the United States Senate, and theI
ssExecutive chair wasthen filed by Wynd-
CHAM Robar'aon. e man Of superior ability
Sand pure hears. who was at the cradle of
ssthe internal improvement party, and, like
& Mr.. Stuart, lived to see tho fruitiop Of its
ssgrowth and the bright realities that follow
s|ged its maturity. Here might bo introduced
;sSthe long roll of his contemporaries, old and
sayoung, with whom he stood shoulder to|
Ssbouldsr, but none more able ard zeslous;
Ethan he, o. who brought to the altar of his
Estate love ard devotion more deeply in
sgspired with patriotism.
"a Railroad building in the country at large
shsd then abo-t fairly commenced. The
GproEecution of the construction eff the
James river and Kauawha canal was large
ely absorbing The money resources Of the
MState that ooulS be appropriated to opening
new transportation linaa. West Of the
q Blue Ridge montana the people in large
Emaasure we're primarily Interested in turn
Epikes as the best method FOR INN ediate re-
Esef, and as avenues leading out to the few
Esp0ints atewhich it was possible railroads
smight a. distant day take in whenever
Ethe mosntain barriers to the east were
sSo7ercnme. Mr.. Stuart occupied more
Eadvanced position. He declared the time
Ehad All ed ard the peop.e of the Valley
land the vest were entitled to be taken into
Mimmediate consideration, and that they
should, along with all their magnificent and
Hundeveloped resources, be included at once
gin any system looking to the development
SSof the State AID its resources. By degrees
Eathe position he and bis associates in wag-
ling the contest assumed, was recognized as
sS5he true oi2e and was approved and adopt
Ned. Upon the lesser field, the advance
Eusnt of the local interests of his constitu-
cents both in and cut of the legislature, his
Services il charging the old and building
Enew Safe. institutions at Staunton, and the
Enumberless instances which attes, his pub
Slio spirit are ell SO. closely associated with
1.-THE leadership he VOL in the councils of
1.-THE State that all subsequent local history
u was but the filling up of the lines be then
$50 ably and distinctly mapped out for liber
BAL progress and great prosperity.
EMR STUART in THE PERILs OF THE CoUN
r. Our financial institutions undergoing
1c - !