The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-01

contest was the last ever known IN
the state when great principles, divid-
ing the parties. were thoroughly Ills
cussed by their respective champions
in the broad light OF day.
Governor Lctcher was inaugurated
or the list day Of January, 1860, and
commenced his administration under
the most trying circumstances that
ever beset public man in Virginia.
He advised concillation and compromise
until forbearance was no longer a
Virtue He was ardently and devotedly
ATTACHED to .he constitutional Union OF
I1.s9, and would have freely given his
.lllfe for the preservation Of It's honor.
He exerted all his great powers to pro-
vent disunion, but when the real crisis
came, he threw himself into the breach
with all the energy and determination
OF hig manly nature. When President
Lincoln made requisltion upon him for
Virginia's quota Of $4,000 troops. to
Icoerce tho Feceding States OF the South.
| furnish no troops for any such pur-
pose. and added; You. sir. have chosen
to inaugurate civil war"
stood By the Old Flag.
He realized fully that the Union had
already dissolved by the withdrawal
LOT the seeding States from the South,
and that there was nothing left for
Virginia to do but to espouse the cause
Of her sister States from that section.
] Before the final action OF the conven-
ton Mas taken adopting the ordinance
OF secession. an incident occurred
(which ILLUSTRATED fully what manner OF
man he was. When some OF the more
hot-headed citizens threatened to haul
down the American flag which floated
over the State Capitol. side by side
with that of Virginia, Governor Letcher
sternly fnterposed. and refused to pre-
vent the flag from being disturbed
until the State had dissolved tho bonds
that bound her to the Union. When
i the ordinance OF secession was adopted
he acted with characteristic energy
and decision. He had burned the
bridges behind him. and had no such
word as fall In his cabulary. He
devoted all the energies Of his mind
and heart to the successful prosecution
OF the war, and was everywhere recog-
nized as a tower of strength to the
Southern cause.
He was fruitful in resource. and ever
prompt to act. according to the emer-
gency OF tho occasion. During the
prosecution Of the war, when the cele-
brated Bread Riot" occurred in the
city of Richmond, and the fate of the
lefty seemed to be involved, Virginia's
war Governor came to the front, with
watch in hand. and gave to the rioters
three minutes In which to dispense.
which he was made, and that he would
permit no disobedience OF his orders,
the rioters quietly dispersed and the
Danger was happily passed
Arrested by the Federals.
After the termination of the war
Governor Letcher was arrested by or
der of the United States authorities at
Washington, his home at Lexington
having been previously burned by or
der OF General Hunter. when the Vir-
lginia Military Institute suffered a like
fate In 1864. Upon the Governors re-
lease from prison he returned to Lex
irgton, and applied himself most assId-
uously to the practice OF HIS profession
and to the rebuilding of his private
fortunes. He continued to devote him
| SELF as l have said. most enersetically
to the practice Of his profession until
1875, when he was again elected to TIL;
House of Delegates of Virginia. and
while attending a session Of the AS
sembly he was suddenly stricken down
by an attack Of paralysis. from which
hs died in the midst OF his family on
the 2f'h of January. 1854 The whole
Southern country was filled with sor-
row, and the General Assembly OF
Virginia adopted a joint resolution OF
unfeigned respect to his memory. from
which the following Is an extract:
Through lifetime. covering the
most evantful period In the history
nf Virginia ~ y
mind and tho warm affections Of his
heart were devoted with constant
faithfulness and energy to the service
| of his State and country. AS a repre-
sentative of Virginia in the Congress
/ OF the United States, as her Governor
In the most trying epoch OF her his
tory, he won the love and admiration
OF her people and q place in that his
tory where his name will live as long
as unswerving honesty, In theSadminis-
tratlon Of public trust and great abil-
ity, wisdom and patriotism, in the
discharge OF official duty. shall be hon
ored among men,"
His Lament for jackson.
Governor I.etcher van sincerely and
devotedly attached 20 his former
toWnsman and neighboy. General Stone
wall Jackson, and when the latter
went down to death with the light Of
victory upon his brow, the Governor
sent a message to the General Assem-
bly, Of Virginia. from which make
the following brief extract:
Since the commencement OF this
war Virginia has been called upon to
mourn over the loss OF many OF her
gallant sons; but OF all her Jewels, the
most brilliant was the tllustrlous Liau-
tenant General Thomas ], Jackson. a
graduate OF West Point, highly dis
ltirgu!shed in the Mexican War. and
at the opening OF the present war a
laNiet and unpretending professor lin
lour State military institute, He was
called from the professors chair to the
lAeld, ana his sagaclty, his energy. ana
|tha unparalleled success which crowned
his efforts won for him a reputation
that made him the pride of his own;
Estate, endsared him to the people OF
1.-THE confederacy attracted to llin,Eithe
IattentIon al the nations Of the earth,
az compelled the respect and q raiga,
|tion even Of those hsartless ,ellsntteal
lswho have drsnohed our land In blood
NJ, \, q, NJ ~ N In a and lament tInn