Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-10-14
from the Free Press
DISCUSSION ar ENTHUSIASTICALLY.

last at liarpers-Ferry, DelWccn Tue Two
candidates for Congress, Messrs. Faulkner
and Bedinger, considerable expectation was
excited. The people were particularly de-
sirous Of learning what Mr.. Bedingcr could
say in explanation Of bis views on the doc
trine Of Secession, and in Justification of his
previous neglect Of the wishes Of the citizens
Of this place in reference to the Military
SUPPLEMENTARY established here BY Con-
gress. On the day before the evening fixed
for the discussion, information reached here
that Mr.. Faulkner was confined to his room
BY bilious attack, and would be unable to
participate in the discussion. On Saturday
morning, telcgraphic dispatch was forward
cd to him by lis friends requesting him to
come down in the cars, if the state OF his
health possibly permitted it. whether he was
well enough to join in the discussion or not
that his presence alone here would be suf-
ficient, whether be spoke or not. With that
self sacrificing feeling SO characteristic OF
Mr.. Faulkner he accordingly came down,
although strenously urged not to do SO by
bis physician, but his appearance was suffi
cicnt at once to convince all who saw him,
that it would he highly imprudent in him to
expose himself by discussion in the open
air a. night Every effort was made to pro-
cure room Of sufficient size, but in vain
Propositions to postpone the discussion to
future evening were made but declined, as
Mr. Bedinger said be could not well be in this
place again before the election At 7 clock,
Mr.. Bcdinger opened the discussion from
Mr.. j c. Wilson's porch, the people occu-
pying the street between that and the armory
yard He commenced by explaining his
views on the subject of Secession, and. al
though listened NEST attentivcly to him,
was wholly unable at the close Of bis remarks
on the subject to know what precise ground
be occupied He knew to be sure, that We
were all Union men here, mp to the hub, and
he drew in his horns On that question as far
as he could; but there was enough thrown
out to show the mark of the beast He
certainly left no one here, with whom
have conversed, satisfied that lie is such
Union man as We can support. He next
proceeded to excuse himself for having neg
lected, during the four years nc was in Con-
grcss, and during all which time Mr.. Polk
was President. to take one solitary step to
relieve the citizens of this place from the dcs-
potism Of the Military System which oppres-
sed them. He said he had acquired greater
experience and would endeavor to do better
hereafter. He said lse would not promise,
as he understood his competitor, Mr.. Faulk-
ner, had done to abolish the system in ten
days, but he would use his best cxcrtions to
do so. lie next adverted to his vote against
tho Irish relief bill and defended the vote on
the ground that Congress had no power to
make the appropriation. lie admitted that
he had voted against the amendment to
increase the monthly pay Of the Mexican
volunteers from seven to eight dollars per
month--but excused himself by saying he
had done so to give them hereafter larger
money pay and land bounty.
Mr.. Faulkner then rose and said, that he
was there for the purpose Of explaining to his
fellow citizens why it was not in his power
that evening to go into any extended discus
of the questions involved in the congression-
al election. He came to Harpers- Ferry an
invalid. he was SO still When he received
the telcgraphic dispatch this morning request.
ing him TO come down, whether he was well
enough to speaker not, he determined to o.
hey the summons. although his physician was
about prescribing medicine to him. and re-
monstrated strongly against his going. If
under these circumstances, it was still the
desire Of the people that he should go fully
into the discussion. he would do so at all
hazards not, he would confne himself to
a solitary point upon which his competitor
had, no doubt INDEPENDENTLY, misrcprcsented
him.
Here the crowd loudly called to Mr.. Faulk-
ncr to postpone his remarks to some future
evening.
Mr.. Faulkner then said he would waive the
discussion Of the general topic Of the canvass
for The present, aud notice one remark of his
competitor. Mr. Bedinger had from rumor
aseribed to him the remark that if elected
he would abolish the military system in ten
days He, Mr.. T. had never uttered such
an idea. He was not capable Of giving ut
terance'to such an absardity. What he had
said was this, that if he was elected the rep
rcsentative in Congress from this district, he
would not suffer ten days Of the session to
pass by, if the rules Of the body permitted it,
without introducing resolution asking for
the adjustment of the military system at this
place. This he had promised to do and this
he would do and be had promised further
that he would exert all the energy, labor in
huence and ability with which God had en-
dowed him, to have this od;ous and tyranni-
cal system abolished He looked upon such
a system in civil community as an outrage
1t was inconsistent with the character, dgni-
ty and independence of the American me-
chaeic. Let military rules be confined to
the army and to military posts There was
no more propriety in subjecting the worthy
and Industrious mechanics residing ina civil
community to military regulations, than there
was to make him dress himself in the livery
of Uncle Sam He would labor necessarily
to have the present system abolished and ex-
changed for the civil superintendancy under
which so much contentment prevailed in this
community.
The few remarks uttered by Mr.. Faulkner
made deep impression upon the people
Il he had spoken for five hours, they could
not have been better satisfied with him.
They knew his laborious habits, bis untiring
industry and his general success in accom-
plishing whatever he undertakes, and they
have full coafidencethat he will do whatever