The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-22
EARLY VIRGINIA DAYS.
JUST ArrEa TuE RryoLUrION.
Formative Period of the GovcrnmcDt.-Duties
Required OF Public oHioo's-'heef
OF soiicitor-GnneTai wood


The condition O. the State OF Virginia mime
diately after the Revo.ut onary war. 10 the
Increasing complications III her hranriAi
affairs. We saw that IL had become neces-
sary 20 appoint two auditors instead o. one,
and 70 add pIOpostonately 10 the c.eila'
force OF the Government Tie treasurer >
duties had also become excessive. during
the sessions Of the General Assembly meas
ures were adopted Tor his relief. so iar as
the action Of special committees could AFFORD
this. at the same time thattho powers Of these
two auditors were increased Tor ine Same
purpose In tho meantime. and before pro-
ceodinc further with these hastily CONSTRUCTED
notes. we deem Il proper 10 say soWe'Ni :
more OF those 20 whose care were lutfusieu
the States affairs. Should the history OF
Virginia he ever properly written tho ppt4c
will for the first time learn how vaiuhn.c
bad been the services o. her earlier omclAi7
and what manner OF men were they WHO OoIe
the daily exactions OF cabinet duties.
We ali know who had been her governors
what statesmen had shaped and directed noi
political policy and VINO were tLe sOiU.f'9
that bore the brunt Of war while the contest
WAS going on But when the struggle Tor T.
doubtful existence had % 20 encountered
when il became necessary % Keep me hhc."E-
ery Of government IN motion am 10 ".Ht
peace had begun. we shall find that amer
ent class of men were demanded for such "a
crisis. The tine for sentiment had passed.
The erninent.y practical prevailed ih''eau.
and the people found themselves Do tne iii4Nat
OF realities which they bad not ex3e tea ana
If which they could nave no experience.
FORMATION o. THE GOyHHNMrNr.
During this formative period Of the Govern
ment nnd when the occasion required -, -be
o.
They we're men OF ability end character.
Their names are scarcely known, except 10
tradition History has not yet tod altogether
who they were and what they dld. - u sfid
that when Daniel Webster remained ia rest
dent Iy,er's cabinet 10 settle the dispute over
tho Maine boundary question wish L'Tl
Ashlurt0n he become ac 3ua.D'od for TIE iiIat
lime with Judge AbelP. [ pshu~. VINO hal ac-
copied tho portfolio OF the navy undel me
now President The distinguished secretary
of State was SO Impressed bY the Jduge, thtl
he exclaimed is there 40 end 10 these 'r-
ginians, Where has this man been al tu-s
time SO 10 was in the early Gays OF Tie
Commonwealth. Her records abound WITH
the names of men whose ttes 70 iAine are
liph but whose modest lives were cOnihcd
10 the limits Of their own State. md eniifey
gwen With uusehsh devotion 80 the plosy
detnlls and responsibilities of official hi0
There was little glory 90 be gained IN suggest
inc the ways of gathering IN the revenues
necessary l. the life Of the state. 10 COM
maud n regiment OF horse was moro coagoDal
t. the soul of the patriot than 10 summon the
high sheriff TO IA settlement OF hrs nccOnnts.
And vet no higher duty coUld be imposed
upon the anxious citizen when endeavJ.ing
70 reconcile the necessities OF the H0Yern-
meut with the condition Of his suffering
neighbors.
LEIGHTON WOOD, JR.
The officials so often referred 10 in these
papers were generally men OF this STAMP
especially those who had exclusive control
OF the Treasury. We have afforded e4a;nplss
OF these sufficient for our purpose. AMI yet
there are Others remaining worthy of notice
The election of Leighton Wood Jr., Esq.,
10 the position of auditor by JOINT vote OF
the Assembly IN May. 1850 proved an auspi-
clOus event 20 the State. ~ il not necessary
T. recount here tho arduous duties thereby
imposed upon that officer. If the reader has
followed the narrative of the previous papers
he must by this time have perceived that 10
fulfill the requirements Of that Office proved
- be by no means q bed OF roses. 10 IS tcue
Mr. Wood had associated with him Mr..
Harrison Randolph.
Mr.. HARRISON RANDOLPH.
This gentleman was third son TO William
Randolph, of Wilton, one OF the seats Of that
noted family. still TO be seen situated On 'he
left bank OF James river few miles below
Richmond. He seems TO have been young
man of spirit and enterprise, was "a student al
William ana May College duiDg the troubles
between Lord DuumOre and the inhabitants.
When lis Lordship was driven from his
palace ana forced 20 take refuge on board the
FOwey, man oi-war. then lying IN James
ryer. Harrison Randolph iOined party of
enteTprlslng young patriots IN removing from
the fugitive Governor premises back o. the
Colonial magazine. now called the Powder
horn, the arms that had been stored there by
DunmOre for the defense OF himself and fam
ill., Ia. Z al VII "a
pie. Among those who were with him on
that occasion were Mr.. Monroe. afterwards
President of the United States and Ben amin
Harrison, u signer Of the Declaration Of indie
pendence.
IL does not appear how long Mr. Randolph
remained an auditor after the elevation of Mr..
Leighton Wood But we find him rs late as
1855 making official statements of the debts
due 10 foreign creditors. Later on he must
have lost his place lnasmuch as IN the spring
OF 1856 he Is found making urgent appeals 20
Governor Randolph TO have him retained as
clerk IN the office TO which he had been elected
ia 1850. In tine meantime. during ALI these
gears. MI Wood had given abundant evi-
dence OF his ntuess 10 control the finances of
the State.
s0LICfTOR-GKNFRAI.
Indeed so apparent had this become after
his election IN 1850, that when 10 was or
deret the same year 20 create another
officer % finance, Mr.. Wood was .u0mediate!v
promoted 20 the higher position. On ;he 80ih
of December 1850. no was elected by iOlut
ballot of the Assembly So,icitof-GenerN OF
the State. new office demanded 10y the con-
dit0n of the public finances and requiring
the services OF "a wise and experienced head
A glance at the duties Of the new officer will
AFFORD the reader some idea OF the dignity Of
the position. Ii WAS considered of create. i'm
portance than both or either OF the Auditors.
He was chosen by vote Of tae legislature
was exempt IRON military duty 20 continue IN
office subject 10 the action of the Governor
and Council. or the vote ot the Assembly
when IN session. He could perform no official
act until he had taken the oath of fidelity 10
the Commonwealth. and an oath 10 execute
his duty honestly and lmpaltially. these
oaths 10 be taken during the sitting of the
honorable general court II possible. Ac.
The duties OF the SOlicltor-General. author
lied and required him 10 examine from time To
time the books OF accounts KEEP; by the
board OF auditors. TO see that all moneys 10
be paid by their warrants are entered and
charged 10 the proper accounts therefor. OF
10 the persons properly charg eAble herewith
and that the taxes levied be also credited 10
their respective and proper accounts" &c
lie was 10 cause correct list of
all balances due. either 10 or from
the public 10 Ire stated. together with tho
amour; OF the several taxes. And lay the same
before the General Assembly ~ the first meet
lng OF evory session. He was 20 state and
prepare In regular manner accounts against
lIarst .x.a ii