James Barbour
James Barbour | |
---|---|
Hugh Nelson | |
Succeeded by | Andrew Stevenson |
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Orange County | |
In office 1807-1812 | |
In office 1804-1805 | |
In office 1798-1803 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Barboursville, Virginia, British America | June 10, 1775
Died | June 7, 1842 Barboursville, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 66)
Political party | Democratic-Republican (Before 1825) National Republican (1825–1834) Whig (1834–1842) |
Spouse | Lucy Johnson |
Signature | |
James Barbour (June 10, 1775 – June 7, 1842) was an American politician, planter, and lawyer. He served as a delegate from
Early and family life
James Barbour was born in what became
On October 29, 1792, Barbour married Lucy Johnson, the daughter of Benjamin Johnson, who had represented Orange County in the General Assembly in 1790. They had three daughters (one of whom, Frances, died as an infant in 1802); the second, Frances Cornelia, married William Collins of Baltimore. They also had four sons, including James Barbour and Benjamin Johnson Barbour (1821–1894, later rector of the University of Virginia).[3]
Career
Early years
Barbour served as deputy sheriff of Orange County beginning in 1792. In 1794, he was admitted to the Virginia Bar. With wedding gifts from his father, as well as by building his legal practice and running his plantation, Barbour was able to build up personal wealth. His friend and neighbor at Monticello plantation, Thomas Jefferson, helped design the mansion in which Barbour lived most of his adult life, called Barboursville. By 1798, Barbour owned several enslaved people and would expand that plantation over the years, as would his somewhat neighbor on the other side, President James Madison at Montpelier plantation.
House of Delegates
Orange County voters elected Barbour to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1796, and he became that body's youngest member. Reelected several times to that part-time position, he served until 1804 and again from 1807 to 1812.[4] Barbour became known for eloquence, and served on various committees, rising to chairman of several, including the Committee of Privileges and Elections and the Finance Committee. Peers elected him as Speaker of the House of Delegates for many terms.
Barbour held strong Republican beliefs, similar to his neighbors Jefferson and Madison. He vigorously opposed the
In the House of Delegates, Barbour took pride in writing the bill establishing the Literary Fund of Virginia, passed on February 2, 1810. This provided some funding for public education in each county in the Commonwealth. Barbour later requested that the only inscription on his tombstone be a reference to this Act,[6][7] affirming his firm belief that society would progress only through education. However, he also believed intellectual abilities were connected with gender, race, and land ownership.
Governor of Virginia
In 1811, Barbour declared his candidacy for the governorship but lost to the incumbent, George William Smith. However, Smith died in office on December 26, 1811, during a fire at Richmond's Monument Theatre. On January 3, the Legislature convened and elected Barbour governor. At the time, British raiders were impressing American sailors (including Virginians, especially near Hampton Roads and Norfolk). Barbour favored war with Britain, which he viewed as the only way to end British interference with U.S. sovereignty. Barbour's father had trained the Orange militia, so the new Governor knew their inadequacies. Governor Barbour sought funding for Virginia's militia on February 11, 1812, and personally toured the tidewater region most at risk.
On June 18, 1812, Congress declared war, so the
U.S. Senator
On December 1, 1814, Virginia's legislators elected Barbour (then 40) to succeed
Senator Barbour aligned with Senators John C. Calhoun and Henry Clay on internal improvements and slavery. Although his brother Philip P. Barbour served contemporaneously in the U.S. House, their stances and votes often differed. Senator Barbour proposed a committee on roads and canals, supported the Bonus Bill (authorizing spending the bonus from the national bank on internal improvements), and proposed a constitutional amendment to grant Congress the authority to appropriate money for internal improvements. Senator Barbour also opposed reducing the national army, supported a bill abolishing imprisonment for debts, and introduced the Navigation Act of 1818. That Act closed U.S. ports to any ships from British ports closed to U.S. ships. Barbour hoped this would encourage the British to open their ports. However, that effort failed. In 1823 a compromise led to the Elsewhere Act, which allowed for reciprocal trade.
Peers elected Barbour President pro tempore of the Senate in 1819. The 16th Congress, over which Barbour presided, adopted the Missouri Compromise on slavery. Barbour proposed combining the bill admitting Missouri (after he spoke in favor of allowing that state's voters to elect to support slavery) with the bill admitting Maine—both in an attempt to deny the Northern Senators an opportunity to gain four anti-slavery Senators. His speech may have foreshadowed the Southern position in the American Civil War after his death:
Sir, no portion of the Union has been more loyal than the South. Is this your reward for our loyalty? Sir, there is a point where resistance becomes a virtue and submission a crime. Our people are as brave as they are loyal. They can endure anything but insult. But the moment you pass that Rubicon, they will redeem their much abused character and throw back upon you your insolence and your aggression.
As Senator, Barbour sponsored a resolution giving an honorary sword to Colonel Richard Mentor Johnson of Kentucky for his efforts in the Battle of the Thames in 1813. Johnson and Barbour would become quick friends following Barbour's efforts. Later, Johnson promoted Barbour's appointment as Secretary of War under President John Quincy Adams. However, that association with Adams, whom the Senate narrowly elected over Andrew Jackson, would later devastate both Senator Clay's (and Barbour's) political careers.
Virginia legislators elected the Jacksonian Democrat John Randolph of Roanoke to succeed Senator Barbour in December 1825. Like Barbour, he would defend slavery, although a member of the American Colonization Society like Henry Clay. Unlike Barbour, he would later emancipate the people he enslaved upon his death. Randolph opposed the national bank and the Missouri Compromise of 1820 that Barbour had helped Clay pass.
Secretary of War
Following Adams' inauguration on March 4, 1825, fellow Senators confirmed Barbour as Secretary of War and Henry Clay as Secretary of State. The War Department's primary functions were managing the army and overseeing Indian affairs.
Barbour soon came into conflict with Governor
President Adams renegotiated the Treaty of Washington (1826) on slightly more favorable terms to the native peoples. Both treaties provided for removal west of the Mississippi (as President Jackson would later do the Cherokee Indians on the Trail of Tears). Governor Troup was upset that the second treaty allowed some Creek to remain in Georgia and began a survey to prepare to sell those remaining lands and threatened to call out the militia. At that point, the federal government ceased protecting the Indians. All Creeks' lands were seized, and all Creeks removed from Georgia by 1827.[8]
Diplomat
By 1826, President Adams was deeply unpopular compared to his opponent in 1824 (and presumptive in 1828), Andrew Jackson, as was Secretary of State Clay. Although some advocated Barbour as a vice-presidential candidate in the upcoming 1828 elections, Barbour sought an appointment as Minister to Great Britain. Critics claimed Barbour sought a "harbor in the storm" from the upcoming election.
Nonetheless, European intellectuals accepted the new ambassador. During the 1820s, Barbour was a member of the Columbian Institute for the Promotion of Arts and Sciences, as were other prominent military and medical professionals.[9] On July 1, 1828, Barbour received an honorary LL.D. from the University of Oxford.
Final years
After President Adams' electoral defeat in 1828, Barbour returned to Virginia, announcing his candidacy for the General Assembly. However, Barbour's association with Adams and nationalistic policies made him unfavorable to the Virginian Republicans. Although his opponent was illiterate, the election was extremely close. And although Barbour was declared the winner, the election was contested. Before the legal decision, Barbour retired on February 16, 1831, citing the hostility in the Assembly against him.
Barbour continued to remain active in national politics. In December 1831, he attended the first national convention of the National Republican Party in Baltimore and was elected its presiding officer. The convention nominated Henry Clay for president in 1832 and John Sergeant for vice president. Barbour also became chairman of the 1839 Whig Party convention in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which nominated Virginia-born William Henry Harrison for President (who won the election of 1840 to become the 9th President of the United States).
Death and legacy
After retiring from the Assembly, Barbour appeared and gave speeches to support political friends. One observer declared: "Gov. Barbour presented an imposing appearance, with a striking face, long, shaggy eyebrows, and head covered with silvery flowing locks; with a majestic and sonorous voice, he filled one's conception of a Roman Senator in the last days of the Republic."[10] However, Barbour's health declined, and he spent his final months at Barboursville. He died on June 7, 1842. Senator James Barbour was buried in the family cemetery on the estate.
The grave and ruin of his mansion,
In addition to Barboursville, Virginia, Barboursville, West Virginia is named in his honor, as are Barbour County, West Virginia and Barbour County, Alabama. However, Barbourville, Kentucky is probably named after his uncle James Barbour (burgess)(1734–1804). The Library of Virginia has his executive papers.[11]
The Barbour family remained politically powerful in that area of Virginia for the rest of the century, despite no longer enslaving people after the
References
- ^ Margaret Vowell Smith, Virginia: A History of the Executives in two parts (Washington, W.H. Loudermilk & Co. 1893) at p. 321 et seq.
- ^ "Congress slaveowners", The Washington Post, January 19, 2022, retrieved January 24, 2022
- ^ "A Guide to the Governor James Barbour Executive Papers, 1812-1814 Barbour, James, Executive Papers of Governor, 1812-1814 41557".
- ^ "A Guide to the Governor James Barbour Executive Papers, 1812-1814 Barbour, James, Executive Papers of Governor, 1812-1814 41557".
- ISBN 0817301755.
- ^ Smith at p. 325
- ^ Armistead C. Gordeon, The Two Barbours (published speech on the dedication of portraits at Orange County Courthouse (Staunton, August 14, 1919
- ^ "Muscogee (Creek) Removal" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ Rathbun, Richard (1904). The Columbian institute for the promotion of arts and sciences: A Washington Society of 1816–1838. Bulletin of the United States National Museum, October 18, 1917. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
- ^ Bell, John W., Memoirs of Governor William Smith of Virginia: His Political, Military and Personal History. (New York: Moss Engraving, 1891), 14.
- ^ http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaead/published/lva/vi00878.xml.frame A Guide to the Governor James Barbour Executive Papers, 1812–1814] at [http://www.lva.virginia.gov/ The Library of Virginia}
Further reading
- Lowery, Charles; James Barbour, a Jeffersonian Republican; 1984, University of Alabama Press; (2004 paperback: ISBN 0-8173-5076-4)
- Long, William Stapleton; "James Barbour" available at Internet Archive[1]
- Marquis Who's Who, Inc. Who Was Who in American History, the Military. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who, 1975. OCLC 657162692
External links
- biographic sketch at U.S. Congress website
- Barboursville Community page
- Barbour, James. "[Letter] 1825 Dec. 24, Department of War to [the] Georgia delegation / James Barbour, Sec[retar]y of War". Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Digital Library of Georgia. Retrieved February 21, 2018.[permanent dead link]