achieved an early success and distinction. To the study and work of his profession he devoted himself assiduously for twentyfive years. During that time, as always, he took a lively interest in public affairs, but cared very little for political distinction. In politics he was a Whig of the Henry Clay school; and while he preferred the rewards and distinctions which are the fruits of professional endeavor to political prefer ment, he was several times brought forward as the candidate of his party, — then largely a minority party in Virginia, and in the sec tion of the State in which he lived. In 1855, his health having been somewhat impaired by the labors and confinement of his profession, and important business inter ests requiring his attention, he removed to Rockbridge County, and settled at Glenwood, where he resided until 1866, and devoted himself chiefly to the supervision of his iron property and farm. He continued, however, to be a studious observer of the events and measures of that critical period, and devoted much of his leisure time to reading and study. In 1860 he was one of the electors of the Constitutional Union Party, was elected, and was chosen president of the Electoral Col lege which cast the vote of Virginia for Bell and Everett, — the first occasion in her his tory when the vote of the State was cast against the presidential nominees of the Democratic party. He took a profound interest in the events and controversies which led up to the war between the States, cherished an hereditary devotion to the Union, and earnestly urged the adoption of such measures and policies as would prevent civil war and the threatened disruption of the Union; but when what he believed to be an unconstitutional and unjustifiable war of coercion was precipita ted upon Virginia, he justified and advocated the course which her convention adopted, and throughout the struggle which followed, gave his warm and active adherence to the Southern cause.
In May, 1861, he was elected, with Col. S. McD. Reid, to represent Rockbridge in the Legislature of the State; and in that body was distinguished for his zeal and ability in devising ways and means for the support of the armies in the field and protecting the people at home. In 1863, owing to impaired health, he declined a re-election, but in 1865 was again chosen one of the delegates from his county to the Legislature; but owing to the over throw of the Confederate Armies, and the refusal of the Federal Government to rec ognize the then Government of Virginia at Richmond, he never took his seat. In 1869 he returned to the practice of law, and in March, 1870, was chosen by the General Assembly one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the State, which position he held until Jan. 1, 1883. He was always the devoted friend of education. In 1853 he was elected one of the Trustees of Washington College, and there after gave much of his time and labor to the service of that venerable institution. He participated in the action of that board in 1865, in the reorganization of the college, which resulted in securing the services of Gen. Robert E. Lee as its President; and he co-operated with that illustrious patriot in his plans for enlarging the usefulness of the institution. In 1879 he was chosen Rector of Washington and Lee University. — a position which he held until his death. His career as a judge was in some respects a surprise to some of his acquaint ances, who supposed that it would be impos sible for one who had been for so long a time largely engrossed in the business of a manufacturer and farmer, and whose atten tion had been so largely given to public affairs, to adjust his mind to the labors of a high judicial position. He had doubtless forgotten something of the details of the statute and common law; but the great principles of that science, which he had mastered with painstaking fidelity, and which he had made his guide
