Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-11-04

Tn his letter Of acceptance the nominee OF
the Democratic party for the office Of Coy
error made tie truthful admissicn that his
public career has been more extended than
brilliant Z soslightIy indeed has be Imprint
Cd bis mark upon tho history If the country,
TINT lis opponents have been at some loss to
find ID bis conduct anything Of prominence,
that might become subject Of commentary.
Still, II must not be forgotten that be has
served for considerable period both in Con-
! gress and the State Legislature. and il Is
proper that The journals should Be serntinized
for the purpose Of ascertaining for what be
has roted, albeit bis rnediocrity may have sa-
we'd him from the prejudleial consequences Of
making great speeches
1t has been stated. for example, that Col.
Johnson, during the two sessions covering The
period from 1928 10 1897, vas an advocate
Of the high tariff policy. In lis Legisla-
tive service, we believe, ho had occasion to
record bis vote aguinst the appropriation to
the Virginia and Tennessee Rail Road and
other important public enterprises; which
were sanctioned By the favor of the Common
wealth, and arc now justly cherished By the
people who are peculiarly interested ii them
Into all these things Il viii b. necessary to
make Investigation ii order that the claigls
of Col johnson apon the favor Of the people
Of Virginia may Be duly appreciated.
For the present we shall conine ourselves
to bis course III the House Of Representatives
during the second session Ct tie 29th Con-
gress, the short session os Is4G-s47. We
have before US the "Congressionable Globe
containing the Official report Of al the pro-
ccedings of that session Let as fret direct
the readers attention to the amount and val
ue Of the ColoneIs services:
Looking to the index for Col Johnson's
name, with the usual references to the pages
on which In figures, we find il entered as fol-
lows "Johnson, Jossph,of Virgiaia, |, 2l8,
433"- meaning that whatever he did or said
during the session may be found on pages
l, 21s and e33.
On the 1st page, bis name is merely record
ed amongst those Of the Virginia delegation
who reported themselves ON the first day of
the session.
On page 2lS in appears only that
sson motion of Mr. Joseph johnson, the Commit
tee on Revolutionary Claims was discharged from
the consideration Of tho petition Of citizens Liy
ingston County New York for interest on commu-
tation pay 10 Major Moses Van Campen, and the
petitios was laid on the table,
On page 1873, it is recorded that
'alr Joseph johnson, from the Committee on
Revolutionary Claims, to which was referred the
bill from the Senate for the relief Of the heirs of
Croker Sampson, deceased, reported The same
without amendment. The bill was committei.p
Snch were the only services Ito which the
compilers Of the Congressional, Globe thought
nessary to refer in their ample index Of the
Hon. Joseph johnson Of Virginia. during the
important short session Of ls46-'7. We
supposethat his name does not occur in any
other part of the proceedings except in the
lists Of the yeas and nays. Truly brilliant
career for a gentlemen who is now the nomi-
nee Of great party Tor the highest Office in
the gift Of the people Of Virginia!
But although the proceedings of1846-H
exhibit nothing from Col johnson, that give
warrant Of his talent or influence, they yet
serve to show something Of his political posi-
tions, by their record of bis votes. 1t hap
pons that Congress and President Polk then
determined one of the most important issues
involved in the whole slavery controversy, and
We SuAi4 JIG ubN Iui- oOHIcuti stOUu WIN re-
gard to it. We refer to the famous bill for
the establishment Of a territorial government
in Oregon, in which was Incorporated pro-
vision for the prohibition Of slavery and by
sanetioning which Mr.. Polk gave up the po-
sitiou Of the South and allowed the North to
gain the vantage ground in the outset of the
contest. We quote from the record:
ftn~ IN I'll bo,a % d;ca,os.o.. e - .~..
ious amendments to the bill on the 10th of
January, 1s47,
Mr.. Hamlin, now senator from Maine,
made set speech, in which be openly pro-
claimed the policy Of the North. A brief ex-
tract from his remarks will suffice:
'Wbatis it then that we propose to do7 We pro-
pose to say, and to say with frankness, that there
shall be disagreement hereafter in this matter;
that We will stand by the clearly-deGned rights of
each individual State in reference 70 the institu-
tion OF slavery; bvf 70 territory Free ruth oar
p0ies aad tgih or consent shslt be extended,
nor nal rs ii1s, in any cay, or ~ any manner, be
enlarged"
Mr. James Thompson, of Pennsylvania,
generally moderate man. also declared, at
the very close Of the debate. .'that be would
itl CJHrtnt 10 tuJ cAtShoioh VI SAa'SiSi anu
he would never 60 for the acquisition of a
foot of territory where slavery would be plan
ted"
Aud now we come to the final action of the
House upon the bill.
Mr.. NieDanielmoyedthc previous question which
was seconded,
Aud the main question was ordered to be put
viz Shall this bill passl
The vote was taken by yeas and nays as follows:
Yeas 1913 nays %.
We omit the long list of names, but the Virginia
members voted thus
YEAs-Messrs VIM. c. Brown and JOSEPH
JoHNSoN-2
N,Ys-Aiessrs Bsyly Bedinger. Hubbard, Leeke
Mcdowell Pepdleton, Sc ddon and Tredway-s
Aud slessrs Atkinson, Chapman Drom.
goole, Hopkins and Hunter for what rea-
son we know not, failed to vote.
So the bill was passed, and sent to the Senate
for conenrrenee.--Coag,G Globe, p. los.
by tais 'histOry from the record it APP
pears, that Col Joseph Johnson, the Demo-
cratic aomiaee for Governor, VOTED
FOR THE OREGON BILL WITH THE
WILM0T PR0yIS0 ENGRAFTED up
on IT; NOTWITHSTANDING THE DISTINCT A.