Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-09
MISUNDERSTANDING Q, 1893.
Dc,t,, of Ex-Govcrnor kcmPcr.

James J.. Kcmper. whose death we
announce this morning. was man WHO
had served Virginia often and ably. lie
had DISTINGUISHED himself in civil and
military life both. He had fought at the
head of Virginia troops In two wars.
As soldier he had risen to the rank
If maior-general. As a statesman ne had
won a name for himself in the Legisia-
ture and later as Governor, and 1t is
p,ohablc that he might have been elected
10 the United States Senate had he con
sentcd to become candidate.
What is more. he excellcd as an orator
and writer both. His power on the
bustings in the Greeley campaign
OF 1872 won for him the Democratic
nomination for Governor in 1873. HIS
brief address at the unveiling OF the
Jackson statue (Which we reproduce this
morning.. and his messages TO the Gene
raj Assembly whilst he filed the execu-
tive chair are models of vigorous English.
General Kemper's competitor for the
Democratic nomination for Governor was
rolonrl Robert T.. Withers, who after
safds became United States Senator.
Nthers consented 70 take second place,
ma our state ticket was Kemper'
Nthors. and Il. T. Daniel. for Governor,
..eutenant-Go Governor. and Auornoy-Gone-
al respectively. Colonel Robert ".
Hughes. now United States Judge, was al
he head OF the Republican ticket. and
'e'made a gallant tut unsuccessful
ight
Kemper succeeded Gilbert c. Walker
ls Governor. and was the second Demo
Matte Governor elected in Virginia after
me Wal lie was the first to have t.
Zeal with the Tuhlic-debt question in its
-cadjustmcnt phase. Under Walker
funding bin was passed. in which Viz
snip assumed two thirds OF the debt
If the old Stat. and which provided
Tor the issue Of bonds bearing taX-re-
ceiVabe coupons 30 sooner had Kemper
.ome into Office than il was made plain
.hat Virginia had undertaken a heavier
Interest charge than her revenues war
-an;,d. Then the funding WAS stopped.
ana conference Of our creditors Wa
called. Bat no satisfactory settlement
Was reached during Kempers term; nor,
indeed. until long afterwards. The ques-
ton, however, veXci and burdened Gov
ernor Kemper's gubena,oral life as II
did the lives of several Governors Who
came after him.
Governor Komper did his duty as the
Chief Magistrate Of Virginia faithfully
and fearlessiy. lie did not 20 out OF
his way to seek popularity, and he did
his own thinking. General Malone, then
IN great favor with the Democratic party.
in the campalen for the nomination, had
given his support to Kemper rather than
to Withcrs. and doubtless expected TO be
influential In the Kemper administration,
but he soon found that Kemper did
rot require his assistance. kemper, in
deed. was independent to n fault. But
the man was so unselfshly patriotic, so
honest and frank that those who found
themselves disagreeing with him on State
questions. were compelled TO admire his
exceeding uprightness.
Governor Kemper was a man OF strong
aud stern convictions of duty and once
persuaded in his own mind that thing
was right. there was no budging him
from his position by quoting the opinions
Of Others 10 matter how powerful or
influential those persons might be- And
on some occasions. when suffering more
acutely than usual from his wound, he
displayed an irritability Of temper which
was foreign 10 his natural disposition,
and caused him to be unfairly judged.
All during his gubernatorial term
General Kemper was sufferer from the
wound that he had received at Gettysburg
and his suiferings increased as time went
on. Thus was he robbed Of health and
strength, and compelled TO abandon pub
lie life and the practice Of the law. OF
late years he had rarely left his farm.
In Orange, but he always took an active
interest in the affairs of Virginia, and on
the occasion of the unwilling Of The Sol
diers' and Sailors monument here
propped up in bed and suffering In every
limb and muscle OF his body. he wrote the
Dispatch. under his own signature. a
stirring tribute TO the valor and sacrifices
OF the men who served under Lee and
Johnston.
or Governor Kemper the faithful his
torian and biographer must say that he
was distinguished for purity OF character
in personal and public life; that he was
courageous on the field and IN the forum;
that he richly earned the distinction that
he won as general and as a states
man. and that Virginia never had a
more loving son, nor one that served
her from more unselhsh purposes.