104
VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
off the highest honors for oratory. Re-
turning to L3nchburg, he was admitted to
the bar, and engaged in the practice of law
with his father, the partnership continuing
until the death of the latter, seven years
later. In 1869 he was elected to the state
legislature as a member of the house of
delegates, and served for two years. In
1875 he was elected to the state senate, and
was re-elected four years later. In the
meantime he had twice been an unsuccess-
ful candidate for nomination to congress on
the Democratic ticket, against older men.
In 1877 he was a candidate for governor,
before the Democratic state convention ; a
deadlock between himself and his leading
competitor, gave the nomination to a com-
promise candidate. In 1881, when he was the
candidate for governor, the chief issue was
the funding of the state debt. The Read-
justers were successful, and Mr. Daniel was
defeated. In 1884 he was elected to the na-
tional house of representatives, and in that
body acquitted himself most creditably. In
1886 he was elected to the United States sen-
ate, to succeed Senator Mahone, and was
four times re-elected without opposition,
serving until his death, having served longer
than any other senator from X'irginia, in all
the history of the state. He was a pioneer in
the establishment of the free school system
cf Virginia, and the patron of the act that
aided school restoration when the school
funds were contracted by the funding act of
1870. In the fifty-ninth congress, on his initi-
tive, southern representation in the South
American Congress at Rio de Janeiro was
provided for. He also procured the adoption
of a motion for the establishment of a na-
tional powder factory, with the purpose of
breaking the power of the powder-trust.
He took a leading part in the debates on
the railroad rate bill, and his speech on that
measure was one of his most notable efforts.
In the senate, he was second to none as a
loader, and his words in debate attracted
the attention and admiration of the whole
country. As a member of the committee on
foreign relations, on finance, on appropria-
tions, and on the industrial commission, the
powers of his well-trained mind, his broad
information, and his lofty patriotic purpose,
commanded the utmost respect of his oppo-
nents. A Democrat from conviction and
principles, he v^-as in the very forefront of
party leadership. In 1876 he was a Demo-
cratic presidential elector ; and he was a
delegate-at-large in every Democratic na-
tional convention from 1888 to 1900. In
1896 he could have been the party nominee
for vice-president by simply yielding assent,
and the same was true in the convention of
igoo. In the state constitutional conven-
tion, he made a minority report on suffrage,
which, after a long struggle, and with slight
amendment, was finally adopted, and its
presence in the present state constitution
has practically solved the suffrage ques-
tion in ^'irginia. As an orator. Senator
Daniel was very distinguished. His appear-
ance was impressive, his voice sonorous and
musical, and his gestures graceful, without
being theatrical. He delivered addresses
covering a great variety of subjects, and sev-
eral are of permanent historic value. His ad-
dress on Washington, in the hall of repre-
sentatives, Washington City, and that on
General Lee at the unveiling of his recum-
bent statue at Lexington, are fine examples
of dignified eulogium. He was the author of
two law works which have been accepted as
standard — "Daniel on Xegotianle Instru-
