Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-02
just estimate of his character ahc
Hon. w. w. Henry.

a just estimate Of his character anu
ability:
Hon. w. w. Henry.
II was my good fortune TO kno" WI
Ex-Governor Philip w. Mckinney Irom
the time he first came to the bar. as we
practiced In the courts OF Chaflo',e a,'u
Prince Edward counties. lie from 'iiO
first took rank as an eloquent adVoca'e.
and afterwards developed INTO ohe
the most brilliant nisi prius lawyers Vi
his day. He was devoted 10 inns VI :.
Of his profession. and cared nolhihs ~
chasing practice In damage cases ue
won reputation which causel MN
be dreaded by railroad compahle.. "a
prosecuting attorney for Prince r." -
he never allowed a criminal u -,If
whom he believed to be guilty Dui , .ii,
the war he served with gailantry M
disabled by a wound. and after the war
he became u scourge 10 the cal 80
gentry who infested our state. n H
( heard more severe invection IMAM ""
him on the stump. when we were
ing most deeply the insulting RUE u '.o
conquerors. With such talents uiii'0
a life of the greatest purity anu 'he
highest honor. Captain Mckinney became
a great favorito with the people oi
ginia and was easily their choice VII"
the time came TO select Governor I'm
the Southside. How abe anu NJ"
clean was his administration need no' NC
related. as IL Is fresh in our memories
10 ono who ever came IN contact with
Governor Mckinney could IAN 10 Ne IN
messed with the combination ~ MIN o.
gentleness with hrmness, ana II" men
have ever had warmer or more devoted
friends. Even his political enemies were
often his warm personal tflehus' ~ ~
home dis kindness of heart anu SCI"
sacrificing spirit made him the oDJeo' ~
the yarmest affection. and he was inc
bride Of his town lie was - noDle spcC'-
men of the true Virginia gentlei-aH' an an.
well worthy to fill any Office III tHe ST.
OF his State. My relations 10 MN W."
even more pleasant. and l deem II On
of the privileges Of my life 10 nave nau
so noble a friend. Such was the proprie'y
of his life that when 1t was announced
q short time ago that he had connecleu
himself with the Church. it was surprise
TO many. for they had always looked upon
MN o. W W. HENRY.
Judge IL. II. CnrdWei'
News of Governor McKinney's deatt
brings me real sorrow: indeed, it has beer
a source Of the deepest regret 70 me ina
his retirement from the position OF GOV
ernor was so soon followed by talihe
health. which. as has been apprenehUed'
resulted in his death. | made the &c
ouaintance of Captain Mckinney, as NJ
was then known 20 his friends back II
the 7O's, which acquaintance soon ripeheG
into warm friendship. | saw d good ueal
of him. more particularly AT our Slate
convention. which he always attended
as he took a great interest in pu2lc mat
ters always ready TO stand up Tor Wha'
he believed to be the best interests or me-
people and TO render any service IN MS
power to uphold and maintain Demo
cratic PRINCIPLES IN the State. As a com
panion he was always genial and arabic
as a cOnversationalist. charming. no
man within my acquaintance was more
loyal 10 his friends and to his state, ana
throughout the darkest days OF our po-
litical history since the war he was as
faithful and as true as the needle IS 10
the pole; always loved and respected by
his neighbors and the people with whom
he was thrown, and his popularity was
ever increasing and gaining strength, al
though he went down along with our
splendid ticket iu 1851 in defeat He was
earnestly pressed by his many friends
with renewed yigor for recognition by
his party after the defeat Of the ticket IN
ingly nominated over the lamented Rich
ard Bierne and others for the office OF
Governor; and his nomination was fol
lowed By an election with a majority over
his distinguished competitor rarely eX-
celled If equalled in any gubernatoridl
election in this state. This was a grea-
tribute his worth, and indicated i'm un-
mistakable tone the degree Of affection
and regard in which he was held by the
people OF the State. His election was
followed by the administration Of the
affairs Of State for four years that was
in every way creditable TO him. Virginia,
without disparagement TO any, never had
more conservative, faithful, and vigil
liant Executive than Governor Mckinney.
lie was sympathetic in his nature, and
nothing concerned him more than the
welfare of the people among whom he
lived. Prompted by that interest which
be always took in the affairs Of his peo-
pie, he set about in the very beginning
Of his administration to devise every
scheme that was feasible 10 reduce the
current expenses of our government and
10 lessen the burdens of taxation. lie
conceived the idea. entertained by a great
number of our people, that our State
owned oyster interests that should be
made far more profitable in the production
OF revenue IMAM ldu tNtl bttH
the case, and with zeal and earnestness
he pressed upon the Legislature the enact
ment OF such laws as were. In his opin-
ion, calculated to produce the desired re-
suits, and there was, during his admins
tration, beneficial legislati- on that
lire, not measuring up, no. b.. TO the
fun extent Of his hopes. for .e believed
that by a proper utilization OF the oyster
planting ground owned by the State that
the burden Of taxation borne by the peo-
pie at large would be greatly lessened.
He was greatly gratihed at what was
accomplished in the direction Indicated.
though he realized, as | said, that he had
by no means accomplished the full mea-
sure Of his hopes. l had the honor 10
serve with Governor Mckinney as a
member of the commission which nego-
tiated and finally settled the iong-disturb
ing state debt question. Here he displayed
at all times that prudence, caution, and
characteristic OF the man.
He had not heretofore familiarized him
self with the details OF the debt ques-
ton to the extent that many others had