Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-09-23

"Mr. Barton, OF Virginia. left the
House upon a plea Of sickness, but before
the question decentralization on the pas.
sage Of the bill was over, we saw him be-
hind our desk in the House looking very
we'll"
"This statement and the inference me-
cessariy deducible do me great injustice.
/ | left the House early in the morning With
a violent fever, and not upon mere
I" plea OF Sickness" and was confined the
I greater part Of the day, as Gil my mess
well know. It's true arose from sick
bed and returned to the House, bat the
Clerk had descended 10 the alphabetical
call Of the members to the letter Nj, Of
course, could not then vote. 1t was at
this moment. presume, tthough not re-
collected,) had the pleasure of seeing
ons whom regarded as my friend
Whether | looked well or i'll cannot say.
How | feh, know very well, for ! was
obliged again to return TO my bed. These
facts are known to many gentlemen Of
the House, but my assertion Of them is
sufficient with any gentleman who is ac-
quainied with me. | never was in the
he bit Of lodging any responsibility, polti-
cal or personal. As an act Of sheer JUS
tice, and 10 repair the wrong you have
done me, as far as practicable, request
you TO publish this note.
Your obt. servt. &C."
To this letter received from Mr..
Johnson a very polite and genllemanly
reply, stating that my letter should appear
in the next "lndex," and, in effect, that
liberal justice should BE- done me. He
also dsclaimed being the writer Of the
paragraph, and indicated the person al
ready referred to. What must be his
modification to find the Use made Of this
article in the columns of the Virginian.
How much easier is it for US all TO infict
injury than TO fepail-.t.
But design 20 go more into detail. ]
voted on the 18th of August to lay the
Bankrupt Bill on the table. This was a
test vote. | was very unwell on that
day, but still remained in the House. The
next day had fever, and was reused
from a sick couch for the purpose of vot-
ing for call of the House. This vote
was given a few minutes after 10 O'Clock
in the morning. Imm' diately after an
swcrng to my name, which is high on tie
list Of members, retired from the Hall
and went to bed. Now, call of the
House usually occurs for the purpose Of
forming a quorum, and the vote upon a
call is never indicative Of the sense Of the
members upon any particular measure /;
50 that the inference of your corro spon-
dent, that voted for the call that the
Bankrupt Bill might pass, shows his utter
ignorance Of congressional proceedings,
however smart he may be about other
matters. More than three hours after
he vote upon the call Of the House, |
again arose from my sick bed and walk
ed to the Capitol, some 900 yords from
my lodgings. | met valued friend in
the Roundo whom had not seen for
moa.hs, and 20 him complained Of my
severe inGlspositon. What haste, or
what delay, or what anxiety | indicated,
neither know nor do care, for have
too high Il regard for the common charity
Of men, to think that they require their
Representative, with u burning lever upon
him, to rush into the halls of legislation
with the speed of a race-horse. Had |
been ten minutes sooner, my name would
have been gwen against the bill. My
name was passed by the Clerk, and it vas
against positive and inil,.Xible ruiz then
to vote. Had voted, the bill would new.
erlheless have passed by majority of
four instead Of five. passed through
the Hall the last time on that day ap-
pearcd in the House, aud did not skull
behind a Reporters desk" but went
leisurely to the rear of the Speakers
chair, the usual resort for invalids or gen
tlemen engaged in conversation. But
whilst | utterly disclaim any design or de.
sire TO vote on,the Bankrupt Bill, can
we'll imagine cas in which the most
faithful Representative might withdraw
/ from vote upon particular bill. En-.
tertainlng scrupes about some principle
or f ature Of bill, but believing the ben
ef,s Of the measure likely, upon the whole,
to outweigts its ills, he might, with mani
fest propriety, waive his objections, so far
at least as 10 avoid a negative vote.
could point you to memorable cxampl S
of this in the public lives Of men whom
you with your party supported for some
0; the highest offices in your gift and if
| had entertained doubts about this bill,
ana fit disposed to avoid "A direct vote
upon it, might and probably should have
taken this bold position-that, being in
doubt, | did not choose TO vote. Such,
however, was not the fact, as have be.
stated.
You say with apparent sncer that my
friend Mr.. Botts," moved the House to
excuse me. What if he did Z did no,
ask him TO do so, though not insensible to
the fivor. There was not more deter.
mined opponent Of the Bankrupt Bill in
Congress than Mr.. Bots, sand no knew
very well my opposition to it. Does it
not strike the honest inquirer that it must
have been his natural wish to have me
in the House to assist him in voting down
the bill ? Is it probable he would coun,e-
nance sham sickness Mr.. Sianly, Of
North Carolina, one Of the most chival.
rous and honorable spirits in all Congress,
rose in his place and stated that "to his
knowledge, Mr.. Barton was quite indis
posed, and had been SO all the morning."
Mr. Powen Mr. Hahersham and Mr.