Mahone, if for no other reason, ought to be remembered with gratitude for his fine engineering work on this highway. Yet as early as 1859 the directorate turned over the roadbed to the County, "on condition that it shall be kept open as a public highway." The court accepted it on those terms, but the condition has not been faithfully fulfilled.

In 1851 a section of the Blue Ridge Turnpike was opened to travel, and a right of way across the public lot was granted to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company (now the Southern) on condition that it keep the public buildings insured against fire.

The public buildings were removed higher up the street some years later, but, though still enjoying the right of way, the company does not keep up the insur

ance.

At this period was held the great "Reform Convention" to revise the State Constitution, framed by the world-famous Convention of 1829-30, which was utterly cast aside, except that George Mason's Bill of Rights was retained almost word for word. White male suffrage became universal, and every office from constable to judge of the supreme court of appeals, was made elective by the people. Dire things were prophesied of it by the traditionally conservative, but so long as it lasted, practically only to the outbreak of the war, it gave great satisfaction, and the judges elected under its provisions conformed to the highest judicial standards of former and subsequent periods.

The whole State became a storm centre of politics about this time, and the "Know Nothing Party" was

launched. It received its definite quietus in 1855, when Henry A. Wise, its leading antagonist, was elected governor.

In 1850 a ten-mile section of the Rockingham Turnpike was opened to travel, and since its completion no macadamized or other improved public highway has been built in the County, except the short reaches at the County seat.

In 1857 the present courthouse was ordered, with permission to the Masons to add a third story for use as a lodge, they to pay one third of the insurance on the building. The Masons did not accept. The court held its first session in the new building in July, 1859.

In 1859 occured the invasion of the State, and the attempt to incite the negroes to armed insurrection, known as the "John Brown Raid." It occasioned wild excitement, and a good deal of local apprehension, and was, indeed, the alarum gun of the war that so soon followed.

The "Montpelier Guards," a fine volunteer company at and about Orange Courthouse, commanded by Capt. Lewis B. Williams, Jr., was promptly ordered to repair to Charlestown, where they remained till Brown and such of his accomplices as had been caught were hanged.

A roster of the company, as then constituted, believed to be complete, is printed in an appendix.

One of the immediate results of this raid was the organization and equipment of panies throughout the State. ville Greys," Capt. William C.

many volunteer comTwo, the "GordonsScott, and the "Bar

boursville Guard," Capt. W. S. Parran, were organized in Orange, received arms and equipments, were uniformed, and began regular drills in preparation for the direful conflict which everybody felt was coming, indeed was almost come.

And here, it may be said, ends the history of the Orange of the old régime—a regime which all who can recall it will delight to cherish in their memories, and the like of which no one may hope to look upon again.

But relentless time goes on, and with it the history of the people that made noble sacrifice, suffered and endured; and who, like the brave yeomen of their motherland, never lost "the mettle of their pastures!"

CHAPTER XVIII.

The War Period.

It is not within the scope of this book to treat of the war period, except in the most cursory way, narrating briefly what relates particularly to the County, and more shall not be attempted; but a résumé of local happenings ought to be recorded, with such impartiality as a participant in the struggle may command. In the presidential election of i860 the vote in Orange was as follows: for Bell and Everett, the pronounced Union ticket, 427; for Breckenridge and Lane, the States Rights ticket, 475; for Douglas and Johnson, also a pronounced Union ticket, 12; for Lincoln and Hamlin, o. Thus in a total vote of 914, there was only a States Rights majority of 48, and adding the Douglas vote to Bell's, a majority of only 36; so it will be seen that love for the "Union" was still strong in the County.

After the election of Lincoln, which was followed so soon by the secession of South Carolina and other Southern States, the Secessionists of the County grew bolder and more aggressive, and when the State convention was called to determine the course of Virginia, party feeling became very tense. Rosettes of blue ribbon, called "cockades," appeared everywhere, even

at the churches. Men, boys, and even girls, wore them. The Unionists were less demonstrative, but no less resolute. Candidates to represent the County in the convention were numerous and eager. Col. John Willis, Major John H. Lee, Hon. Jeremiah Morton, and perhaps others, aspired to represent the Secessionists. The contest finally narrowed to Mr. Morton, on that side, and Mr. Lewis B. Williams, the elder, who had then been the attorney for the commonwealth for thirty years, for the Unionists. The exact figures are unattainable, but Mr. Morton was elected by a good majoirty.

The convention assembled at Richmond in February, 1861. But there was no secession; the Union party was in control. It is likely there would have been none but for the attempted reinforcement of Fort Sumter by the administration, while peace loving people were yet endeavoring to avert disunion and war.

Another shot was "heard 'round the world," when Sumter was fired on, and the echoes of it have hardly yet ceased to reverberate. At once there were no "Unionists" in Orange; certainly none that disclosed themselves until after the war had ended disastrously, and an office was in sight.

All the people seemed of one mind, and on the night of April 17th the three volunteer companies of the County, with many fresh recruits, hastily assembled, and under orders from Governor Letcher, proceeded to Harpers Ferry and took possession of the national arsenal there, which had been partially burned before their arrival; and war was on.