Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/132

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

off the highest honors for oratory. Re- turning to L3nchburg, he was admitted to the bar, and engaged in the practice of law with his father, the partnership continuing until the death of the latter, seven years later. In 1869 he was elected to the state legislature as a member of the house of delegates, and served for two years. In 1875 he was elected to the state senate, and was re-elected four years later. In the meantime he had twice been an unsuccess- ful candidate for nomination to congress on the Democratic ticket, against older men. In 1877 he was a candidate for governor, before the Democratic state convention ; a deadlock between himself and his leading competitor, gave the nomination to a com- promise candidate. In 1881, when he was the candidate for governor, the chief issue was the funding of the state debt. The Read- justers were successful, and Mr. Daniel was defeated. In 1884 he was elected to the na- tional house of representatives, and in that body acquitted himself most creditably. In 1886 he was elected to the United States sen- ate, to succeed Senator Mahone, and was four times re-elected without opposition, serving until his death, having served longer than any other senator from X'irginia, in all the history of the state. He was a pioneer in the establishment of the free school system cf Virginia, and the patron of the act that aided school restoration when the school funds were contracted by the funding act of 1870. In the fifty-ninth congress, on his initi- tive, southern representation in the South American Congress at Rio de Janeiro was provided for. He also procured the adoption of a motion for the establishment of a na- tional powder factory, with the purpose of breaking the power of the powder-trust.

He took a leading part in the debates on the railroad rate bill, and his speech on that measure was one of his most notable efforts. In the senate, he was second to none as a loader, and his words in debate attracted the attention and admiration of the whole country. As a member of the committee on foreign relations, on finance, on appropria- tions, and on the industrial commission, the powers of his well-trained mind, his broad information, and his lofty patriotic purpose, commanded the utmost respect of his oppo- nents. A Democrat from conviction and principles, he v^-as in the very forefront of party leadership. In 1876 he was a Demo- cratic presidential elector ; and he was a delegate-at-large in every Democratic na- tional convention from 1888 to 1900. In 1896 he could have been the party nominee for vice-president by simply yielding assent, and the same was true in the convention of igoo. In the state constitutional conven- tion, he made a minority report on suffrage, which, after a long struggle, and with slight amendment, was finally adopted, and its presence in the present state constitution has practically solved the suffrage ques- tion in ^'irginia. As an orator. Senator Daniel was very distinguished. His appear- ance was impressive, his voice sonorous and musical, and his gestures graceful, without being theatrical. He delivered addresses covering a great variety of subjects, and sev- eral are of permanent historic value. His ad- dress on Washington, in the hall of repre- sentatives, Washington City, and that on General Lee at the unveiling of his recum- bent statue at Lexington, are fine examples of dignified eulogium. He was the author of two law works which have been accepted as standard — "Daniel on Xegotianle Instru-