in which body he early took high rank and became for several years the presiding officer of the Senate. When the question of the Constitutional Convention of 1829-1830 came up for discussion before the Legislature, John Randolph came from Washington to Richmond to attend the debate. It was upon this occasion that he declared the speech delivered by Dromgoole against the reform convention to be the ablest plea in behalf of conservative institutions he had ever heard. Notwithstanding his great effort on that occasion, the journal of the convention that soon afterwards assembled shows the remarkable fact that Dromgoole took no part in its proceedings and did not speak on a single question. John Randolph, in one of his speeches before the convention, complained of Dromgoole's silence; saying he deeply regretted the indisposition to participate in the debates evinced by the delegates from his congressional district, an indisposition arising not from lack of ability, or from a lack of confidence in displaying that ability; that he had looked to Brunswick for a display of the talent that he knew it to possess, but had looked in vain.

In the convention Dromgoole represented the district of Dinwiddie, Brunswick, Mecklenburg and Lunenburg counties; his colleagues were Gen. William H. Brodnax, of Dinwiddie, Mark Alexander and William O. Goode, of Mecklenburg. William O. Goode was a rather thin-visaged, wiry man and a good talker upon the hustings, while not quite eloquent; he indulged a good deal in platitudes, with some of the aggressive thoughts of bolder speakers. Niles' Register of May 1, 1847, says; "Mr. Dromgoole was distinguished for prompt eloquence, extensive experience in public affairs and great parliamentary knowledge." In politics George C. Dromgoole ranked democratically. Indeed, he was born a democrat and continued one of the most pronounced type throughout his entire career; he not only believed in Jeffersonian, but perhaps, also, in the Athenian type of democracy. He was emphatically a man of the people, acknowledging allegiance to them and them only, holding firm faith in their capacity to govern themselves. His opposition to the Convention of 1829 was the only reactionary tendency he ever exhibited. Inside the Democratic Party he was not a Calhounite, probably not as much wedded to slavery as those who shared the feelings of that illustrious senator. His beau-ideal of a statesman was Silas Wright, who was the head of the "Barnburners" or antislavery faction of the New York Democracy.

In 1833 Dromgoole was a candidate for Congress for the first time, against Alexander Knox and William O. Goode, of Mecklenburg, and James H. Gholson, of Brunswick; the first three Democrats and the last a Whig. The result was as might have been foreseen. Gholson was returned, and the Whig Party strongly intrenched itself in the district. The ensuing election (1835) was a contest between Dromgoole and Gholson alone,

and the former was elected over his able competitor and never after failed at an election. So completely did he break down the Whig Party in the district that generally he had no opposition. Years after Gholson's disastrous defeat by Dromgoole in 1835, Gholson was asked by a friend what he meant by making a canvass when the odds were so overwhelming. He replied that he had arranged to move to Petersburg to practice law and ran against Dromgoole simply as an advertisement of himself, which step he had never regretted.

The Richmond Enquirer, May 30, 1845, under caption, "A Portrait of a Politician," paints an interesting sketch of General Dromgoole and his mental characteristics, personality, etc. Says he was the leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives on all trying occasions, no matter who had been chosen nominal leader; as a parliamentary tactician, unrivalled in this country.

No man ever enjoyed or merited to a greater extent the confidence of his people than did George C. Dromgoole, but in the latter years of his public career his habits were not of the most fastidious character and his liberal libations to Bacchus came to be the subject of criticism, even by his friends; political enemies were, of course, ready to seize upon such vulnerable features of a public character, and in the election of 1847 they made them the ground of vehement attack, hoping with the disaffection among his friends to unite the opposition and break down their hitherto invincible foe. They brought out against him Colonel George E. Bolling, of Petersburg, a Whig leader of courage and character, who had achieved distinction in the Legislature. As designed by the Whigs from the outset, the contest became largely one of personalities between the two candidates and, as was natural, it assumed an acrimonious and sometimes unpleasant spirit. Joint discussions took place throughout the district, and the opponents of "Old Drum," as they called him, thought they had at last made sure of their prey; "the eagle was quarried in his eyrie, the wounded lion was hunted to his lair." Bolling, while respectful, was earnest in his personal assaults and boldly criticised what he thought delinquencies in his opponent. At Nottoway Courthouse he exhibited the "Journal of Congress," by which he showed that Dromgoole had been very inattentive to his duties in Washington and really absent from his seat the greater part of the time. "Here," said he, "on day of an important vote was taken, and Mr. Dromgoole was not recorded as voting on either side; the question was vital to your interests, fellow citizens; where was your representative at that time? And so, examining all the pages of this Journal, I find your representative during all that long session of Congress was in his seat and voted only eleven times. Fellow citizens, can you afford to have your interests so neglected?" Pursuing this line of argument, supported by documentary evi

dence, Bolling seemed to have the command of the situation, and Dromgoole's friends began to despair of his defense. His opening sentence, however, dispelled all fears and immediately reassured his followers. He said: "Fellow citizens, Colonel Bolling has read you the Journal of Congress," and I presume he states the facts as they are; it may be true that I voted as he asserts, but every time I did vote I represented you and your interests. Should you elect Colonel Bolling to Congress I have no doubt in the world that if the session continued through every day in the year there he would be, in his seat every day, and every day vote against you and your interests. One of us two must be returned, and the question for you to determine, my friends, is whether you would rather have a man to represent you eleven times or one to misrepresent you three hundred and sixty-five times." From this the old war-horse went on to defend his record and expose the pretentions of his opponent until Whigs themselves hung their heads in shame. His splendid ability prevailed upon the hustings, as seen by the following vote for Congress in the Brunswick district:

Dromgoole's majority, twenty-one. (From Richmond Enquirer, April 30, 1847.)

The Richmond Whig of April 27, 1847, said: "General Dromgoole has long been the acknowledged leader of the old Hunker division of the Locofoco party in Virginia-a post for which he was peculiarly qualified by his fine talents as a debater and his singular adroitness as a party and parliamentary tactician."

Dromgoole's friends allowed Bolling to run him such a close race as a rebuke to his intolerable habits, but his feelings were so deeply wounded that after this exciting canvass, though he had prevailed over all the efforts his enemies had made for his political destruction, he never appeared again before the people. His health declined and he died in the quiet seclusion of his estate in Brunswick County, on April 27, 1847, at the early age of 49. He sleeps with his ancestors and "may his faults lie gently on him."

Richmond Enquirer, May 22, 1847, contains editorial on Dromgoole from the Memphis Monitor, pays high tribute to his memory and says he had by will left his estate to the children of Daniel Dugger.10

The Washington Daily Union, April 29, 1847, stated: "One of the first men in Virginia, occasionally the strongest man in the House of Representatives. Everyone admitted the extent of his powers and the stability of his principles,-few who knew him but will lament his fate."

The National Intelligencer, May 3, 1847, said of him: "He died of bilious pleurisy on Wednesday night last. Mr. Dromgoole was a distinguished politician, endowed by nature with the sagacity to plan and courage to execute. He was the ablest debater of his party and unequalled as a legislative tactician. His death will be sincerely regretted by those who have always known him, as we have done, as a decided political opponent, it is true, but also as a courteous and kind-hearted gentleman.'

The Richmond Enquirer, April 16, 1847, in detailing the services of Dromgoole in Congress, stated that he was the first parliamentary lawyer in Congress.

The Richmond Enquirer, April 30, 1847; editorial on the death of General Dromgoole, headed, "Died in Harness": "General Dromgoole was a giant in mind, and his honor and character were never impeached. Faults he had like other men, which in the language of the Pennsylvanian, somewhat 'impaired the usefulness of one of the brightest intellects in the Union'."

Niles' Register, May 1, 1847, said: "The Hon. G. C. Dromgoole, the late distinguished and talented representative of the State of Virginia in the United States Congress, and generally recognized as the administration leader in the House at the last session . .

Richmond Whig, of April 30th, 1847, said: "Tho' opposed to him politically, we have always felt profound respect for his fine endowments and an admiration of many traits in his personal character-qualities which enabled him to wield a powerful influence over public sentiment-particularly in that portion of the State where he resided and where he was best known."

The Richmond Enquirer, December 24, 1847, contains a brief speech made by James M. Mason in the Senate of the United States on Dromgoole. It paid high tribute to the deceased, concluding thus: "Virginia and the Union may both regret the death of one of the most able and practical legislators that ever rendered valuable service to either."

Richmond Enquirer, May, 12, 1847: "The late George C. Dromgoole": "Not only in Virginia, but throughout our whole country the solemn tidings of the death of this distinguished statesman have been received with the deepest regret. The New York Globe pays the following well merited tribute to the mem

10 See Dromgoole-Dugger Duel, p. 55.

ory of this brilliant light, whose name will ever stand enrolled with the first of Virginia's sons." Then follows the editorial from the New York Globe. Obituary notices, comments and resolutions are also contained in the following issues of the Richmond Enquirer:

May 7, 1847, quotes editorial from the New York Globe; June 2, 1847, republishes from the March number, 1839, of the Democratic Review, a sketch of Dromgoole; May 15, 21, June 15, 1847 contain various resolutions.

WILLIAM BRANCH GILES.

Probably the most notable man of the Southside was William Branch Giles, Democratic leader of Congress during Jefferson's administration and one of the ablest politicians the country has produced.

William Branch Giles was born in 1762, of respectable parents in comfortable circumstances, according to Judge Nash in Richmond Enquirer, 1830. Dr. Richard F. Taylor says he was born in Powhatan and Dr. Theodorick Pryor says he came from Hanover to Amelia at the same time with his own (Dr. Pryor's) grandfather.

Giles lived near Giles's Bridge (from whence the name) at a place now owned by a Mr. Blair, of Richmond. He resided at one time at "Wigwam," Amelia County, and subsequently at "Elk Hill." Dr. Richard F. Taylor showed me Giles's study chair, which is now in Dr. Taylor's possession (1890). He was the youngest child of William Giles, of Amelia County. His elder brother, John Giles, was an officer in the Continental Army and died in Charleston. One of his nephews, Samuel Jones,11 lived in Powhatan County. His son, Thomas Tabb Giles, was a lawyer of considerable repute; of great care and accuracy in chancery cases (so Judge Farrar says); a member of the State Democratic Committee in 1854. He lived near Mannboro facing the Namozine Road, until a few years preceding the Civil War. He died in Richmond about 1880 and was, until about 1875, a partner of Judge Farrar. Peyton Giles, son of William B. Giles, died in St. Louis, Mo., 1854, in the forty-second year of his age. He was a lawyer of extensive information, but modest demeanor.

Giles had a varied and singular career. He was educated at Hampden-Sidney College and Princeton, going from Hampden-Sidney to Princeton as a member of the family of Dr. Smith. He left Princeton before graduating and went to Williamsburg to study law under George Wythe. Later he settled in Peters

11The Richmond Enquirer, January 16, 1812, has an account of the burning of the dwelling house of Mr. Samuel Jones. Speaks of Miss Nancy Bass and Mr. Edward Bass, brother and sister of Mr. Jones. Miss Bass perished. "Mr. Jones and Miss Bass are the nephew and niece of William B. Giles, Esq."