Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-11
The Barbour IIulogics.

The Barbour EuloSics.
The following are the remarks made
by Senator Faulkner, of West Vir-
ginia, when the eulogies upon the late
Senator John S. Barbour were recently
delivered in the U. S. Senate
Mr.. President, cannot permit this
occasion to pass without paying my
humble vet sincere tribute to the mem
ory of John s. Barbour, of Virginia.
Representing, rs do, in part, State
that thirty years ago was part OF the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and a peo-
ole who are proud to claim as part of
their heritage the traditions and history
OF the mother State, it is but natural
that since our separation we have
watched with the deepest interest the
progress of events in that State and the
record of her sons, to whom has been
committed to a great extent the desti.
MES of her people.
Because Of this fact, the public record
of John s. Barbour was as thoroughly
known to the people OF my State as it
was to those of his own that he served
so Loyalty, but personally | had never
had the pleasure Of his acquaintance
until he was sworn in as n member of
this body.
Assigned to a seat next to the one l
occupied, and serving with me upon
two committees, / soon learned to APP
prcciate his many valuable qualities and
to seek his counsel in reterenceto many
public questions of mutual interest
TO those we represented. As our
acquaintance rapidly ripened into a
warm friendship, and those sterling
qualities of mind and heart which
stamped upon him his individuality be-
came better known to me, learned to
appreciate most highly those character
istics which had made him the central
figure in one of most important crises Of
Virginia's history.
Mr.. Barbour was man possessing
the highest elements of leadership, OF
firm and accurate convictions in refer
ence to those fundamental principles on
which mist depend the peace, tranquil
ity, and perpetuity of our dual system
of government; of n fearless honesty
in the expression of his opinions upon
any public question, regardless as to
whether at the time the position he as
sumed was popular or unpopular, re-
lying upon the sober second Judgment
of the people to vindicate the correct
ness of his action, and ola tenacity OF
purpose in seeking to secure practical
results, scarcely surpassed, if at all, by
anyone | have met in public life.
Mr.. Barbour was not man of i'm
pulse or sentiment, nor was he dream
er or theorist. His was essentially
practical mind. Practical in legislation,
practical in politics, and practical in all
the business pursuits in which he en-
gagged, whatever course he selected to
pursue was the result Of mature retlcc-
ton and earnest conviction. He subor-
dinated everything to directness ofpur-
pose. His success in life was not OBJ
tained by diplomatic maneuvering, but
by concentrating his powers for direct,
aggressive, and unmaskcd attack.
Mr.. Barbour was one who never
sought to obtrude his opinions unasked
upon others, nor did he hesitate in Civ
| ing them expression when duty or cir
cumstances required him to speak, and
when he gave expression to his views,
it was done in no hesitating or doubtful
manner. He was always plain, blunt,
and positive in his utterance, being
careful to leave no one in doubt as to
the conclusion he had reached. He was
not time-server, and consequently his
position was never equivocal.
AS an advisor and counselor he had
few, if any, superiors possessing
quiet, calm judgment, broad experience,
and mind we'll stored with accumu-
lated information, the result of years
of critical observation and deep retlec-
ton, coupled with delicate sense of
right and wrong, his advice was sought
by friends and colleagues, and his wise
counsel was received with the respect
inspired by the confidence which his
associates had in the correctness and
accuracy of his judgment.
Mr. President, Virginia has been
represented upon this floor by many of
her most distinguished sons, but l ven
ture the assertion that among that
brilliant galaxy of statesmen whose
patriotism and genius has assisted in
guiding the destinics of our nation, no
one among them was more loyal to her
interests, more devoted to her tradi-
tions and history, more sensitive of her
honor, or moro truly representative of
her people than John S. Barbour. In
his death we, his associates in this
Chamber, are sensible of the fact that
we have experienced q personal be-
reavement the Commonwealth of Yir-
ginia has been deprived of the services
of q true, loyal, and representative son,
and the nation has lost wise and pa
triotic legislator, q pure and incorrupt-