who had now retired from the bench. In adopting this profession the young soldier was following the traditions of the family, his choice of the law being doubtless instigated by his father's judicial career. He did not confine himself, however, to legal practice. An able orator and an earnest Democrat, aspirations for a political career early awoke in him, he became active in party movements, and his admission to the bar was quickly followed by his election to the Virginia house, of which he continued a member from 1867 to 1871. During this term of legislative service he married Julia E. Murrell, of Lynchburg, who has borne him two sons and three daughters.
In 1874 he returned to the Virginia legislature, as a member of the senate, and was reelected, having served in that body for two terms — covering six years. During this period he served as an elector-at-large on the Tilden ticket in the presidential campaign of 1876. In 1881, he received the party nomination for governor of Virginia, and resigned his seat in the senate, but was defeated by W. E. Cameron, the "readjuster" candidate. The defeated aspirant took up again the practice of the law, continuing at Lynchburg for the following five years. But his political activity did not cease; his eloquent voice was often heard on the issues of the day; and in 1885 he became a member of the national house of representatives, and in the following year he was elected to the United States senate, as successor to General Mahone. He has been for eighteen years (1905) a member of this distinguished body.
During his career as a national legislator. Senator Daniel has shown great activity in the interests of his constituents and in support of the principles of his party. While in the house, he urged the abolition of the internal revenue system, advocated the free coinage of silver, and, as member of the committee on Foreign Affairs supported the retaliatory measures proposed as an offset to Canadian invasion of the right of harbor for United States fishermen. In the senate he continued to demand free silver coinage; he opposed the force bill, demanded tariff reform, and was urgent for all leading measures of his party. He was the author of the resolution indorsing the intervention of President Cleveland in defending the mail routes against the Chicago rioters, and ranks among the conservative members of the senate. His popularity among his constituents was such that in 1892 he was reelected without a party nomination and by every vote in both branches of the legislature. He was a third
