The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-01
The Civilian Leaders Of the Confederacy
BY John Goode of Virginia.
Sometime Member Of the Confederate Congress Of the Virginia
Secession Convention Of the Congress Of the United States and
President Of the Virginia Constitutional Convention Of 90l-2
By John Goode, of Virginia.
tNo. 1917
JOHN LETCHER.

known as Honest John" or the Watch
Dog OF the Treasury" He was de-
sccnded from that remarkable race OF
Scotch-1rish who SO impressed them
selves upon George Washington, that
| In the darkest hour OF the Revolution,
when the American army was almost
destroyed2by privation and hunger. he
exclaimed: Leave me but banner
to place on tho mountain OF West Au-
gusta, and will rally around me men
who will lift our bleeding country
from the dust and set her free.
John Letcher's carly education was
obtained in the schools of the neigh
bcrhood In Rockbridge county. where
he was born. He subsequently ratricu-
lated in Randolph Macon College, and
afterwards entered Washington and
Lee as student. He entered into
Journalism and edited for time the
Valley Star. He was subsequently ad
m!tted to the bar In 1893. He served
| in Congress from 1852 to 1853, during
which time he was prominent mem
ber of the Committee OF Ways and
Means. His political career was
marked by strict construction of the
lConstitution, frugality in public cx-
pcnditurc. honesty in tho public SER
vice.
Wax Union Man.
lie was born In Lexington. Va.
March IS. 1913; practlced law i'll Lex
inston after his admission TO tho bar:
was presidential elector in 1S4S; was q
member OF the State Constitutional
Convention in 1850: was Democratic
representative in Congress from 1852
1859. and was Governor of Virginia.
from 1850 TO 1864. lie was opposed
to secession. but he exerted himself
in providing supplies for the army
after the state had taken her position.
When the war terminated he resumed
the practice of his profession until 1876
and 1877. when no was again elected to
the House of Delegates of Virginia.
During his service in the House of
Delegates he was stricken with paraly-
SIS, from which he died at Lexington,
Va, on the goth of January, 1854,
universally incurred and lamented by
all who had known him In life. It
may be truly said that he was the
architect OF his own fortune. He was
essentially a self-made man. He
achieved success by his own strong
aim. Unaided and alone. no climbed
the steep, whence fame's proud temple
shines afar." What an inspiration, and
how worthy OF imitation by the aspir-
Ing youth of the land? His success
what may be accomplished by high
purpose, unfailing constancy and in
domitable Will.
With an Unsuitable desire for learn
ing, he accumulated. by his own un-
Iaided efforts, sufficient means to en-
able him to attend Washington and
Lee University and Randolph-M Macon
College.
Having studied law for three years
in the law Office of Hon. w. Taylor,
he was admitted to the Tar in 1929.
In carly life he was honored with the
Friendship of that gifted statesman,
Governor James Mcdowell, whose SYM
pathy and encouragement he priced,
above all earthly price. as long as he
lived. After being admitted to the bar
he enjoyed. to an unlimited extent. the
friendship and esteem of such eminent
leaders as Rriscoe G. Baldwin. Thomas
y. Niche, John w. peterborough. A.
r. II. Stuart. and others, whose names
will not be forgotten as long. as emf
nent talent and lofty integrity are
cherished among men. AS have al
ready stated, he established at Lex
irgton the Valley Star, and edited 1t
with such ability as to attract the at
tcntion and receive the commentator
or all of his contemporaries.
HIS Power Debater,
He very soon became prominent in
the political arena as a public debater
of consummate power. In the cele-
trated contest of 1S4s he was In the
zenith OF his fame He traversed the
entire Valley of Virginia and attracted
great attention by his strong and ar
gumentative speeches. He was emil
nently plain and practical in his public
addresses, and never failed to carry
conviction to the minds of all unpreju-
diced hearers.
In 1874. as editor of the Valley Star,
he was conspicuous for his zeal and
ability In the discussion Of all the
great questions which vera champ!oned
by his party at the South. particularly
the annexation OF Texas.
In 134S ne served as Democratic cleo
tor, and when the convention was called
in 1850 to adopt an amended Constltu-
ton for the State. he was elected to
that body by q large majority. al
though his district was decidedly Wing.
In 1851 he was elected a member of
Congress from the Valley District.
without opposition. and continued to
represent 1t In that capacity for four
successive terms. Few men Of his day
achieved higher reputation in the ma
lIOIdl COuuCllS VI sWdo HlO4S tllulNeEshl!y
respected for his nigh courage and
lefty ability.
Elected Governor.
In 1850 he was nominated ty the
Democratic party OF the State for the
hiGh office OF Governor his colleagues
on the Democratic ticket being Robert
L. Montague, Of MildlNSAS. WHO was
nominated for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
and John Randolph Tucker who was
nomlnated.for Attorney General. His
competitors IN the.srace We're William
II. Goggin. OF Bedford. for Governor;
Mailman T, Wiley for Lieutenant-
Governor. and Walter Preston. OF
Washington county, for Attorney Com
eral, The contest that ensued was one
az the most notable ever Known In the
history OF the Stats, The conditions
Tor public favor dislnclined men to
Indulge In mere clap trap. hut, on tia
contrary, they addressed II themselves Is
the reason and tho understanding Of
the lienceg Ills famous c:,n, IA terr