Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-06-13


electing Mr.. Bond the collector Of it's
bonds there. fie may be looked upon
as the representative Of reprieved debt
orS."
After the vile ISLANDERS which the
Government press has wantonly hea-
ped upon many Of tbs most eminent
and Justly distinguished public men of
the country, Mr.. b. said an humble
individual ike himself should not COM
plain, but rather feel honorcd that he
was thus noticed. For himself person
ally, he would say nothing; but for
his district-his constituents--for the
People who had honored him with
their confidence, and made him their
representative here he had much to
say. He could not, perhaps, express
oil the just Indignation that he felt. My
constituents, sir, (said Mr.. Bond) in
every trait Of character that can just
! ~ enoble man, are not second to those
Of any member in this House. With
Gods mercy, and their own right arm,
they have been the builders OF their
fortunes. In every sense, they are
virtuous, intelligent, and Independent
lrecmen--" who know their rights,
and, knowing, dare maintain them. "
| They love their country, ana revere
its constitution but they have never
yet bowed the knee to Baal;" and
because they will not, the editor of
this vile press, bloated and swollen
with Government patronage, stigmafi-
yes them as reprIeved debtors" Mr..
Speaker, should this hired scribbler,"
Francis +. Blair, ever venture into
that district, | do not believe that the
People whom he has thus basely Sian.
| dered, would consent 10 defile their
hands by touching him; but they
would cast upon HIM scornful and
whitening look of honest and just indig.
nation, which would give to his visage
a more cadaverous aspect than it even
now has. But who is this man who
thus mpuiently arrays himselfagainst
the People? Why, sir, he is himself a
"reprieved debtor" Of the very bank
he is every day reviIing. Do gentle.
men require proof? The files Of this
House furnish it. A paper reported or
filed by one of the committees Of this
House shows that this same Francis
Z. Blair who was brought here from
Frankfort, in the State of Kentucky,
owed the Bank Of the United States
the sum of S20,744 36. 1t is true that
only part Of this sum was his own
debt nevertheless, on his own ac.
count, and as security for others, he
was debtor to that bank, on the both
day Of November, 1880, for the whole
amount of the sum which have men,
toned. Did he pay it? No, sir.
Does he yet owe itl No, sir. How
was he discharged! He compromised,
If the terms on which he was released
are justly entitled to be called a COM
promise. What were those terms
Why he held clerks fee bill, amour.
ting to $37 AZ, and note on a gem
tleman by the name Of Gratz for $500,
say together $237 AZ, which he gave
up to the bank, and was released from
$20,744 SO! Now, sir, think Fran
els P. Blair may justly be called a
" reprieved debtor"
Such settlement proves that Blair
was utterly insolvent at the close of
the year 1890. If his insolvency was
accustomed by misfortune, he should
be- pitied rather than condemned on
that account. OF the circumstances
of his failure | am ignorant. refer
to his insolvency for what esteem a
perfectly just purpose in this debate.
We find him brought to Washington
in 1881, and employed as the publish
er or editor of the Globe, which is
made the Government press. We soon
see streams of patronage flowing in
upon him from all the Executive De-
partments. The extent and character
of this patronage have before alluded
to. la brief space of time VIC see
him living and entertaining expensive
ly, and going all the rounds of the
court society at Washington. If Mr..
Blair had no connexion with this Gov
ernment patronage, he might do all
this, and no man would be justified in
abiding to or commenting on it. Ii
is the high prerogative OF every free
man to do with his own as he pleases.
But, Mr.. Speaker, the sudden change
in the fortunes of Mr.. Blair, connected
as he is with the Executive patronage,
his single leap from insolvency to
wealth, imPel me to enquire if ";here
is not something rotten in Denmark !''
Upon the whole, sir, think his case
most strongly illustrates the necessity
of passing the resolution under consid-
GRAFTON, and, ifpossble, making a total
separation ofthe newspaper press from
the Government.
At all events, if this shall be found
lmpracticable, we can at least destroy
the pet system Of exclusive favoritism.