History of Virginia :: :: University of Virginia Library

James Barbour was the son of Thomas Barbour, a member
of the House of Burgesses in 1769 and in 1775, and was born in
Orange County June 10, 1775. He was a member of the House
of Delegates from 1798 to 1811 and in 1831; Governor from
1812 to 1814; United States Senator from 1815 to 1825; Secretary
of War from 1825 to May 26, 1828, when he was sent by
President J. Q. Adams as envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary to Great Britain. He was a man of commanding
physique and noble mien, and President Adams greatly
admired him. In his diary, he declared that he did not think
the North could show his equal in ability. He was recalled by
President Jackson in September, 1829, and he only again
emerged from the retirement of private life to preside over the
Whig convention at Harrisburg in 1839, when Harrison and
Tyler were nominated. He died at his seat, Barbourville,
June 7, 1842. To him is ascribed the authorship of the bill to
establish the Literary Fund of Virginia and the anti-duelling
law—one of the most stringent and effective legislative acts
ever passed. Barbour County, now in West Virginia, was
named for him.

Governor Barbour's term of office as Governor pretty
nearly covered the period of the War of 1812. He rendered
great assistance to the Government of the United States in
the prosecution of the war. The people were enthusiastically
loyal, and they viewed the course of Massachusetts as treasonable.
This is the way an article in the Richmond Enquirer
began: "Rebellion Foiled and Union Stronger. March 9,
1814. The Legislature of Massachusetts has struck their tents
and gone home. Massachusetts threatened to secede and thus
destroy the Union because the war with England was not

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brought to an end. How unlike Virginia, which flew to the aid
of Massachusetts when in 1776 the British made their attack
upon Boston."

But Virginia did not regard the Union as other than voluntary
and would have shed no blood if Massachusetts had
indeed withdrawn.