Barboursville. By 1798, Barbour owned several enslaved people and would expand that plantation over the years, as would his somewhat neighbor on the other side, President James Madison at Montpelier plantation. House of Delegates Orange County voters elected Barbour to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1796, and he became that body's youngest member. Reelected several times to that part-time position, he served until 1804 and again from 1807 to 1812. Barbour became known for eloquence, and served on various committees, rising to chairman of several, including the Committee of Privileges and Elections and the Finance Committee. Peers elected him as Speaker of the House of Delegates for many terms. Barbour held strong Republican beliefs, similar to his neighbors Jefferson and Madison. He vigorously opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 and used his rhetorical eloquence to support the Virginia Resolutions. Barbour believed the Acts and their supporters threatened the United States, stating, "to make an expected attack from abroad a pretext for attacking the principles of liberty at home has drawn aside the curtain and clearly illuminated for all who are willing to see." Barbour refused to support legislation increasing Executive powers, especially unchecked powers. In the House of Delegates, Barbour took pride in writing the bill establishing the Literary Fund of Virginia, passed on February 2, 1810. This provided some funding for public education in each county in the Commonwealth. Barbour later requested that the only inscription on his tombstone be a reference to this Act, affirming his firm belief that society would progress only through education. However, he also believed intellectual abilities were connected with gender, race, and land ownership. Governor of Virginia In 1811, Barbour declared his candidacy for the governorship but lost to the incumbent, George William Smith. However, Smith died in office on December 26, 1811, during a fire at Richmond's Monument Theatre. On January 3, the Legislature convened and elected Barbour governor. At the time, British raiders were impressing American sailors (including Virginians, especially near Hampton Roads and Norfolk). Barbour favored war with Britain, which he viewed as the only way to end British interference with U.S. sovereignty. Barbour's father had trained the Orange militia, so the new Governor knew their inadequacies. Governor Barbour sought funding for Virginia's militia on February 11, 1812, and personally toured the tidewater region most at risk. On June 18, 1812, Congress declared war, so the War