Allen Caperton Braxton
Encyclopedia
Allen Caperton Braxton was a Virginia lawyer, whose career included service as a member of the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1901-1902, for which he is considered the founder of the Virginia State Corporation Commission
, and as a president of The Virginia Bar Association
.
Braxton was born in Monroe County, West Virginia
. He was born into a prominent family, with ancestors including Carter Braxton
who signed the Declaration of Independence
, and on his mother's side, U.S. Senator Allen T. Caperton
. Braxton began his law practice in Staunton, Virginia
, where he was elected Commonwealth's Attorney and city attorney for the period 1885-1889. In time his firm established a second office in Richmond, Virginia
. Braxton represented Staunton and Augusta County
in the state constitutional convention of 1902, where he supported the convention's mostly successful efforts to erase the gains in civil rights
for African-Americans made during Reconstruction. His work on the corporation committee led to the creation of the State Corporation Commission
as part of the Virginia Constitution of 1902. Braxton's idea of the Commission was as an independent agency, that would balance the interests of consumers and common carriers, subject to review only by the Virginia Supreme Court.
Besides his expertise in corporate law, Braxton wrote on constitutional issues, including the Eleventh and Fifteenth Amendments, the respective subjects of his best-known addresses to the Virginia State Bar Association. In his public statements, Braxton viewed the Fifteenth Amendment was an abomination aimed at the South, to which Southerners properly responded by devising the poll tax and other methods to deny the vote to black citizens - as was done in the Virginia Constitution of 1902. In preparation for the constitutional convention, Braxton wrote to Booker T. Washington
, on the subject of how much education should the Commonwealth provide to black children, suggesting that not much
"book-learning" was required. Welcoming the American Bar Association
to Virginia for its twenty-sixth annual meeting in 1903, Braxton declared, "No state is more peculiarly American than Virginia." Braxton was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1904.
In 1913, Braxton married in Atlantic City the nurse who helped him recovery from a serious illness. He was buried in the Hollywood Cemetery, in Richmond.
State Corporation Commission
The State Corporation Commission, or SCC, is a Virginia regulatory agency whose authority encompasses utilities, insurance, state-chartered financial institutions, securities, retail franchising, and railroads...
, and as a president of The Virginia Bar Association
Virginia Bar Association
The Virginia Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers in Virginia, with offices in Richmond, Virginia.- VBA Mission : is the independent voice of the Virginia lawyer, advancing the highest ideals of the profession through advocacy and volunteer service.- History :The VBA, , was...
.
Braxton was born in Monroe County, West Virginia
Monroe County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
. He was born into a prominent family, with ancestors including Carter Braxton
Carter Braxton
Carter Braxton was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, a planter, and a representative of Virginia....
who signed the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
, and on his mother's side, U.S. Senator Allen T. Caperton
Allen T. Caperton
Allen Taylor Caperton was an American politician who was a United States Senator serving as a Democrat, as well as previous positions.-Early life:...
. Braxton began his law practice in Staunton, Virginia
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
, where he was elected Commonwealth's Attorney and city attorney for the period 1885-1889. In time his firm established a second office in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Braxton represented Staunton and Augusta County
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
in the state constitutional convention of 1902, where he supported the convention's mostly successful efforts to erase the gains in civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
for African-Americans made during Reconstruction. His work on the corporation committee led to the creation of the State Corporation Commission
State Corporation Commission
The State Corporation Commission, or SCC, is a Virginia regulatory agency whose authority encompasses utilities, insurance, state-chartered financial institutions, securities, retail franchising, and railroads...
as part of the Virginia Constitution of 1902. Braxton's idea of the Commission was as an independent agency, that would balance the interests of consumers and common carriers, subject to review only by the Virginia Supreme Court.
Besides his expertise in corporate law, Braxton wrote on constitutional issues, including the Eleventh and Fifteenth Amendments, the respective subjects of his best-known addresses to the Virginia State Bar Association. In his public statements, Braxton viewed the Fifteenth Amendment was an abomination aimed at the South, to which Southerners properly responded by devising the poll tax and other methods to deny the vote to black citizens - as was done in the Virginia Constitution of 1902. In preparation for the constitutional convention, Braxton wrote to Booker T. Washington
Booker T. Washington
Booker Taliaferro Washington was an American educator, author, orator, and political leader. He was the dominant figure in the African-American community in the United States from 1890 to 1915...
, on the subject of how much education should the Commonwealth provide to black children, suggesting that not much
"book-learning" was required. Welcoming the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
to Virginia for its twenty-sixth annual meeting in 1903, Braxton declared, "No state is more peculiarly American than Virginia." Braxton was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1904.
In 1913, Braxton married in Atlantic City the nurse who helped him recovery from a serious illness. He was buried in the Hollywood Cemetery, in Richmond.