Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-31
The Lnie James KnrbOar.

OF the late United states senator John >.
Barbour. lie was about &c years of age.
lie was educated in tie schools Of Cui-
peper his native Counfy. and at me
University Of Virginia. lie then studied
for the bar and early took rank as q
LAWYER. and at the same time became
active in politics as member of the
Democratic party. lie served his county
as Cornmonwealths Attorney, ana was
n member OF the convention of 1srl- 81
called to revise the Virginia Constitution.
Before and after the war ne was mem
Der OF the Legislature. and several times
he was voted for for United States Sena~
Tor. And We believe that he came WIthih
a few votes of being elected TO the con-
fcderate Senate.
For n considerable period OF the war
Mr.. Barbour served on General Early :
staff with The rank OF major. ana ie-
turned to his home after the surrender
broken in health and fortune. HIS sym
pathies were ever with the Impoverished
asriculturists Of the STATE. and he was
an earnest advocate of the stay laws
which were in force during the war ana
for several years afterwards
In 1870 Mr.. Barbour became the owner
and editor of the Richmond Enquirer,
then published in the building at the
southeast corner OF Franklin ana Tweifth
streets. He was not friendly TO the au-
ministration OF Governor Gilbert {.
Walker. and regarded ''the funding bill.
which was urged and approved by
Walker. as a Pandora's box for Virginia
His brother John s.. was at that time
the president OF fhe Virginia Midland
railroad company and there being the
warmest affection between the two
brothers, Editor Barbour fought with all
his might all the railroad schemes-and
they were many-which ne believed 10 be
hostile TO the Midanis interest. On more
than one occasion he came near having
a duel: for though man or very gentle
manners and quiet speech. he was pos
sessed OF great courage and would brook
no insult.
As a writer Mr.. Barbour was distih-
guished rather for solid argument thah
ornate phrases. After the death OF Henri!
Rives Pollard Mr.. Barbour furnished
most Of the editorial matter for the
Southern Opinion during the few months
thar il survived its founder IL was later
on that he acquired control Of the En-
uurer, hut as it was not financial sue
cess, after a year or two's experience
with il he sold out his holdings there
and was succeeded in the editorial CHAIR
by MIR. James G. Sou,hall.
Subsequently Mr.. Barbour represented
Culpeper in the House Of Delegates for
one or more terms lie was the author
OF the Barbour BILL for the settlement
Of the public debt Of Virginia. when Dill
was vetoed by Governor Holiday. THE
public debt question was thus left In
far worse tangle than before. In 1881 the
Hon. John W. Daniel was nominated by
the Democrats for Governor. James Bar
bour for LieutenantG and +. w.
Mckinney for Attorney General MI
Barbour's nomination was a concession
TO the large element in the Democratic
marty that believed that the funding bill
of 1871 was a mistake. TO say the least
and that il had saddled upon Virginia
greater share Of the debt or the old state
than il should have assumed. The tax
receiving COUPONS were likewise obnox-
ions. Daniel. Barbour, and Mckinney
worked hard 10 win; but having won the
legislative elections of 1879 the ReadJusters
were still in the full flush Of victory. ana
our ticket was defeated by Cameron,
Lewis, and Blair. Subsequently, as
member of the House Of Delegates. Mr..
Barbour was a member OF the legislative
committee of conference which met Sir
Edward Thornton and Mr.. Braithwaite,
the representatives of the English bond
holders. This attempt to settle the deot
was also futile; but perhaps 1t cleared
the path for the settlement which We
subsequently, effected, and under (which
the State has easily met the interest.
whilst the new bonds have greatly risen
in value.
The latter years Of Mr.. Barbour's life
we're spent at his home in Culpeper IN
the practice OF the law and in writing
occasional communications for the papers.
Though he had long been in delicate
health. and was never a robust man, his
death, which resulted from pneumonia,
was sudden and unexpected.
Mr.. Barbour and the Dispatch were not
always together on political questions,
but our personal intercourse was friendly.
He belonged to a family Of statesmen,
and had the honorable ambition Of max
ing as great a name as any Of his kindred
had made, but the times were inauspi-
cious and i'll success attended him. When
ne was in his prime he was counted as
one of the best stump speakers that the
Democrats had in Virginia, and his SER
vices were in great demand by the Demo-
Gratis in every important canvass; but a
throat affection with which he was afliict-
ed at times in later years impaired MS
efficiency as a public speaker. His dis
position was amiable and his bearing
modest, and in his neighborhood and
county and elsewhere in the State he
had many devoted personal and political
friends.