Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-05
AFTER THE WAR.
A sfste prisoner nnd Brutaliy Treat
ed-Theory OF Public Duty.

ed-Theory OF Public Duty.
After the war closed he was made a
State prisoner, Imprisoned at Fort Pu-
laski. subjected TO coarse and brutal
treatment such as no southern gentle
man ever deals out to a negro and wher
beloved child was being borne TO the
grave. ne. who never harmed or wished
10 harm human being, was denied the
privilege OF dropping a tear on tina grave
or Offering comfort 20 the bersayed
mother He was not sordld He was
| 700 oid-fsshioned for that. His life at
washington an senator Of great in
| nuence was as simple and unostenta-
tous IS that OF any plain Virginia farm
or. With ample opportunities for &C.
| curing wealth in public Office. he smass-
I'd nothing. and the results OF the war
ien him poor indeed. He died a poor
man-poor In this worlds goods. but
rich. UNNECESSARILY rich. In honor. /
knew him long and closely. To know
him was TO love and venerate him. To
have known him and to have enjoyed his
friendship and confidence till The hour
Of his death I shall always count as
privilege and most precious remem-
brance.
To the rear Of the present hall of the
House Of Representatives at Washington,
there IL a long gallery in which are hung
up the portraits Ok all the lllustrious men
who have been the Speakers OK the body
There you see Henry Clay. Cobb, Andrew
Stevenson, Polk, Kerr. Randall, James
c. Blaine. and the present able occupant
OF tho chair. Mr.. Reed. There. too, you
see the youthful. almost boyish, face or
Speaker Il. NJ. T. Hunter, OF Virginia,
ingenious open. true. and strong-there
is no dark shadow on that brow, no
wrinkle written by sorrow and care,
but rather the light of hope and OF a
confident, brave soul. To me- as
wander there and involuntarily turn my
gaze upon ii, there Is hardly anything
more touching than to contrast as /
must, this portrait with the saddened.
melancholy face which haunts my men,
DRY Of him who. burdened with private
grief and public calamity, had. like the
parrot. Grattan, survived the liberties OF
his country, and who. loving Virginia
as he did. was called on TO witness and
mourn the unspeakabls shame OF a great
State that had given Washington and Jef-
ferson 70 the country, and By the wisdom
and patriotism OF her sons had secured
to all tho Colonies freedom and govern !
msnt OF consent subjugated by arma |
plundered, oppressed, and scourged by |
the very communities she had so gene |
rously warmed into life. He saw The |
sad story Of Poland's conquest and dis
memberment, so eloquently told by tho |
poet Campbell, reproduced IN the New |
World. with fresh horrors and the add I
ed element OF ingratitude by tho con-
querora He saw his mother-Virginia--
with bleeding breast. in her hour or
agony
Find not a generous friend, plying
foe,
Strength in her arms nor mercy In her
woe"
have said Mr.. Hunter was con-
servative. No man loved truth more. or
was quicker 70 discern abstract princi-
pies; but In action for the state he be-
longed to the wise school of Edmund
Burke. His theory OF public duty was
.he attainment OF the best political re-
suits under existing conditions and cir
,umstancer. He would take tho half
oak His mind was emlnently practical 4
Ia did not seek 10 tear down institu-
lions, bN 70 build up 10 preserve what
vas good, 70 develop so "a 20 gain basis
or national growth and this constant bet
erment of the masses. He opposed al
iass Liquidation. He was a friend 20 vest ,
d rights and 10 property and compacta :
'eace, Cancellation. fair argument.
tudy Of tho harnponles Of our system
nese were the weapons of HIS intellectual |
rmory. The lessons of history wers !
into tho very web and woof :
{ his mind. Had he lived IN the days =
{ JeffsrSon. that great man would have : :
allied on him no less than on Madison
, employ his fertile mind and ready pen
exround those doctrines OF liberty ard |
freedom which have made
great school OF thought, destined 10 live
5 long "a this republic shall survive. r
More than any one whom l have known n
civic trusts, Mr.. Hunter reminds me J p