The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-08-16
Ths Famous Metropolitan In the Con-
gr,ss Of the Ante-Bellum Days.
REPRESENTED BY BRILLIANT MEN
N Brief Sketch Of the History OF inc Con
crsssIonsi Contests since the w"
and a Passing Notice of Illus
trious Representatives.

creased population and the facilities io'
public expression. there has come "
e.ss,uino OF the influence of any one 10
uallty. and of the great pre-en''''''' -
Individuals -.
Moi that our people are. perhaps "'s
wis. In their day and gener~'ion' anu
surely not that the eternal hfeS u
pstrioiism burn less brightly upo" ou'
.ltsrs. but with the natural grown OF
-. ,o,,,,o,, country and In the general
accumulation Of a knowledge oil Snai'
mast ana current. 4 is proper IN no''0e
~ the Third Congressional distilct Oh
Virginia TO refer TO her early prestise
"a well as her present POSITION
In the earl, days OF American MS
,orv Virginia stood unchaliensed as 'ne
leader among her sister states Tor 'nS
croduction OF great public men, 1i it, la
Ser list even ended alter " aS,' .-.s -
jefferson. Marshal, MfuisVn' ','1 60
.n6 TYLER she might sun DE Pi"""
~, that her SONS had given 10 'he
yopubnc. first. its freedom and hDerF'
90 then the inViOlate precepts IN the
,sg6, Of which the unrivalled march Oh
civilization has been made.
WIN Richmond as the bright centre OF
a. glorious Commonwealth, her hght was
"a brilliant beacon that shed its splehuor
60 the rising republic. and IN the
>so,,.,,ifs - the nation the voice OF her
rsnresantatives has always been heard
and needed. and their history touches
avery great public action that mas mil
sated for the nations good
THE METROPOIITAN DISTRICT.
with the inception Of our form Of gov
.rnment. and tho adoption of popular
sepresentation in the Congress Of the
Rjnited States, a certain prestige at
1ached 10 rhe representatives from the
Old Dominion and always chief among
chem was the man who came from thls
district
In the annals Of political history this
district was early christened the
METROPOLITAN district and with but few
exceptions In all the years It's representa-
sIve in Congress has enjoyed peculiar
distinction and many Of them have
LETT records as endurable as history IL
relf
with reference 10 some Of these. and
not taken in the order of their coming.
1t can be said Of this what can be said
iof no other district, that it sent a man
20 Congress who upon his first term was
chosen Speaker OF that great body.
John Winston Jones. of Chesterfield
rrounty, was so honored by his associates,
md strange enough his portrait Is the
only one Of all the Speakers which does
mot appear In the gallery AT Washington.
Some years ago when Samuel j. Ran
dali. OF Pennsylvania. was Speaker. he
discovered this omission and at his sug-
gestion lion. George ID. Wise communi-
Gated with the family. but never succeed
led in procuring a likeness from which
d portrait could be painted.
Early in the history of the district
gohn Marshall who was subsequently
The great Chief Justice. was its repre-
sentative. and again the name of John
Tyler appears.
Mr.. Tyler enjoys the distinction of
never having been defeated In a political
fight. and the aggressiveness OF his early
campaigns was prOyerbial. He was prac-
ticing law at nineteen years or age. IN
1909. and in 1911 he was elected 10 the
legislative assembly OF the State, and
in 1916 was chosen to Congress 60 fiji
the mexpired term Of John Clopton.
In 1871 Mr.. Tyler declined renomlna~
,iion on account Of his III health. but
was nominated 10y the Wings at Harris
burg. Pa, December 4, 1889, for the Vice
Presidency. being ON the ticket with
William Henry Harrison. who was also
born in Charles city county. Va.
Nir. Tyler. although a WING. had de-
ClOel DEMOCRATIC lcnleIcleS. Inc Wings
had no platform that year. The Senate
and House had Whig majorities and
they passed the famous bill establishing
''the Fiscal Bank of the United States. "
but this was vetoed by Tyler The Demo
cratic platform that year $50 had de
clared against the bank. and also against
the constitutional right OF Congress to
protect manufacturers by tariff
OTHER REPRESENTATIVES,
John Minor Bolts, for many years
represented the Metropolitan district. and
his force and ability kept the district
constantly before the public gaze and
sustained IT'S reputation for able men.
John Robertson. of Richmond was also
a notable figure OF this district. and with
John $. Caskie and Dan @. Dejarnette
OF Caroline, was reckoned among the
best OF It's ante-bellum representatives.
Hon. James A. Seldom, of 6oochlanG
county. who was afterwards Secretary
OF War Of the Confederacy. also repre-
eented this district for several terms
before the war. and during his terms
Hon. George u. Wise served as a page
IN the House Of Representatives.
During the period Of war and for some
years subsequent thereto the Metropolitan
district was without representation. but
upon the adoption Of the new Constitu-
ton, Nnich was ratlleu uf Nhc ptvlit
on July 6. 1865. she was again heard
from IN Congress.
The district was Then composed OF
the counties Of Louisa. Hanover Henrico.
Caroline. Chesterfield. and the cities OF
Richmond and Manchester. and so con-
tinued until the reapportionment Of 1850,
when Louisa was put IN the Eighth dis
trict and Caroline in the First. and New
Kent. King William and COochland added
20 the Metropolitan.
The first representative from this dis
trct after the war was Charles TT. Porter.
Republican carpet-bagger from the
State Of New York
Our people knew comparatively little
Of him and cared consequently but little
Tor him. but Porter stayed for two terms.
and IS now practiCne law in New York.
and mailed some copies OF the 4th Of July
GRAFTON ne delivered this year to several
gentleman IN the district.
In 1872 John Amber Smith. n Republi-
can. was elected over Hon. George ID.
Wise Who made his first fight for the
Democrats Of this district Just twenty
four years arc this fall. Smith lasted
only ono term and then took No his resi-
dence IN Washington. IN which city he
died few years ago.
rIRST DEMOCRATIC VICTORY.
In 1874 Gilbert G. Walker was elected,
snc served two terms. or until 1878. THis
was the first Democratic victory for the
Metropolitan district under the nav
regfrne and vrsg hailed with s-raot 10