Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-09-02

~kA-A 1851 1s1AD1 Wv 1AO3DAI-
An interesting discussion took place at the
Court house. on Monday last, between the
ceveral candidates for Congress in this Dis
trict. Richard Il Byrd. Esq, first took the
stand, and in few remarks withdrew from
the canvass.
Mr.. Faulkner next addressed the voters in
speech Of upwards Of an hour in length. -
he Showed that the scheme of Secession was
row question Of vital practical Importance.
That South Carolina had her Convention
elected to carry her purpose Of separating
from the Union into effect. That a large
majority Of that Convention we're pledged TO
immediate secession The end that she pro-
posed to herself was DIsuNIoS--tbe means BY
which she sought to accomplish her purpose
was SECESSION He denied that South Car
DINA had right to seperate herself from her
sister States and thus dismember the Union
He reviewed the opinions Of Jefferson, Madi-
son, Roane, jackson. Dallas King, of Ala
bama, and others, aud Showed most conclu-
sively that the doctrine of secession had been
uniformly denounced and discountenanced BY
all the fathers Of the Republican church and
by the leaders Of the modern Democratic par
ty. He Showed that even Mr.. Calhoun in
1888 shrunk from the avowal Of the princi-
pie. He avowed himself Southern man in
all Of his feelings and firm advocate Of the
rights Of the States within the limits of the
Constitution. But he denounced all those
factions and dlsorganizing doctrines and opin-
ions that were rapidly leading to the over
throw Of the government and the dissolution
Of the Union
Mr.. Bednger followed He made an eff
fort to revive some of the old party issues,
but be soon abandoned them, fnding nothing
in fact upon which he could make any appeals
to Party, and in subsequent part Of his re
marks, he declared that he would not again
advert to them during the canvass. He en-
deavored to convict Mr. Faulkner of some in
consistency in his present position, by adver-
ting to meeting held in Berkeley County in
November, 1850. at which Mr.. Faulkner de-
Tended Col. Mason, and also by reference to
the votes of Mr.. Faulkner on the resolutions
adopted by Virginia in ls49. Mr. Faulkner
triumphanhy repealed these assaults He
showed that bis support of Col. Mason in the
Berkeley meeting was confined exclusively to
his agency in accomplishing the passage of
the fugitive slave law and that the course oe
Virginia in le49, or at any other period, had
never countenanced the doctrine OF secession.
Mr. Bedinger commenced reading and COM
monting upon some replies published in the
Free Press and made by Mr.. Faulkner at the
last Jefferson meeting to certain interroga-
tories rropouuded to him. Mr.. Faulkner
asked as an act of justice that his answer
should be first read, and the comments made
afterwards Mr.. Bcdinger read the replies,
aeheaa loud burst Of applause a: the sound
ness and patriotism there expressed, came
from the meeting. Mr. Bedinger then pro
ceeded to define his own position. He said
that be was opposed to the action of South
Carolina = thought it unwise and unpolitic,
but did not see that much danger would be
occasoned by it and therefore saw but little
practical utility IN agitating in Virginia the
question of secession.
Mr.. Kerchcval followed in speech of near
two hours y X
After Mr.. Kc-cbeval closed, running de-
bate was kept up between Messrs. Faulkner
and Bedinger until near dark, involving their
opinions upon the principles of Secession, the
rights Of the States, the character of the Ma
tional Government, the consequences of re-
sistance TO the authorities of the Union.-
Mr.. Faulkner said his opinions were publish
ed and before every voter in the DISTRICT
They knew precisely what opinions they were
sustaining in supporting him. Why bad not
Mr.. Bedingcr favored the people with his
opinions in writing and in print on these great
Constitutional questionsl lnterrogatorics
had been propounded to him through the
district papers, but they we're yet unanswer-
ed The people had right to know the
opinions Of candidates upon all questions and
especially upon questions of such momentous
issue as we're now involved in this election.
At the close of the discussion Mr.. Bedn
ger said, then the issue between Mr.. Faulk-
nor and myselfis is. "shall South Carolina be
whipped back into the Union, in case she Sc
cedes."
Mr. Faulkner denied such to be the issue.
The issue between them was as to the Con-
stitutional power of the Government to pre-
serve itself from destruction. He had never
SAID what particular course he would pursue
towards South Carolina His great object
was the preservation of the Union and the
maintenance of the just authority oft Gov
eminent, and he would carefully adapt his
policy to accomplish these great ends
Romney Int.
--------,<S><~>>--~-------