 | CHAPTER VII History of Virginia |  |
Wyndham Robertson, Lieutenant and Acting Governor,
March 30, 1836-March 31, 1837.
On March 30, 1836, Mr. Robertson became senior member
of the Council and as such Lieutenant Governor, and on the
same day by the resignation of Governor Tazewell succeeded
Virginia. He was a son of William Robertson and Elizabeth
Gay Bolling, his wife, and was born January 26, 1803. He
was a graduate of William and Mary College in 1821, and
entering upon the study of the law was admitted to the
bar in 1824. He travelled in Europe, and in 1833 was made a
member of the Council of State. March 30, 1836, he became
Acting Governor, and after serving his year out retired to
private life. Soon after he moved to the country and engaged
in agriculture. In 1858 he returned to Richmond and in 1860
acquiesced in the wishes of his constituents to serve them
in the Legislature. In this body he was a strong Union man,
but, as the organ of a committee reported on January 7, 1861,
the resolution known as "the Anti-Coercion resolution,"
declaring the purpose of Virginia, if a war of coercion was
undertaken by the Federal Government to fight with the
South. The resolution was adopted. After the secession of
Virginia Mr. Robertson gave all the assistance he could to
the State government and the Confederacy. He was an ardent
student of history and two of his contributions, "The Marriage
of Pocahontas" and "The Descendants of Pocahontas,"
of which he was one, have permanent value.
In his first message to the Legislature Governor Robertson
called further attention to the abolition movement, designating
it as "a mad fanaticism," the march of which, if
unchecked, "could well be over violated faith, the rights of
the slave-holding states, chartered liberty and the cause of
humanity itself." The Legislature adopted resolutions in
January, 1836, warning the North for the peace of the country
to regard the rights of the States.
There was a meeting of the Colonization Society in Richmond
at which John Tyler was elected president and James
Madison one of the vice presidents.
A notable death occurred. The solemn announcement was
made in the papers of July 5, 1836, that the "Father of the
Constitution," James Madison, was no more. A great procession
turned out everywhere to honor the great President.
During this year the first railroad to Richmond was projected,
the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. Books were
opened at the Eagle Hotel in Richmond for the subscription
of stock. W. H. McFarland was made president and Moncure
Robinson was made engineer. The enterprise was scarcely
organized before the books were opened for the Richmond
and Louisa R. R.
| CHAPTER VII History of Virginia | |