Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-08-26
CONGRESSIONAL DISCUSSION.


expectation Of much excitement drew large
assemblage of the people.
Mr.. Byrd took the lead in the discussion.
The FIRST part Of his speech was mainly oc-
cupied in showing that Mr.. Bedinger should
not be regarded as the regular nominee Of
the Democratic party, and that being Of the
Democratic faith himself, and having been
recommended by large asscmblage of his
party in the District, their claims upon their
party friends were at least equal.
He then entered largely into a review Of
the Compromise misunderstanding his ad
hesion to those measures as the only panacea
which could and would have restored harmo-
ny to the country. As measures Of peace to
the country, had he been in Congress be
would have voted for all of them--whilst as
insulated questions. some Of them he would
not have supported lie denied the right of
State to secede, she being the sole Judge
Of the cause for so dOing--a position assum-
ed by Mr.. Bedinger at the Berkeley discus
sion Upon the blessings Of the Union he
was truly eloquent.
After Mr. Byrd had finished Mr.. Bedinger
took the stand. He defended the Conycn-
ton of the Sd Of April-of which be is the
nominee-from the charge Of being packed
by his friends, and of bis not having been
fairly minated by the Democracy of the
District. He referred with some severity to
the asSemblage of 18th July which recon
mended Mr.. Byrd and dealt out full mod
icum OF sarcasm upon the Smithfeld delega-
tion, which he denominated as coming from
the county of Wizard Clip"
Mr. Bedinger then took up the subject ofthe
Compromise measures, and reviewed Mr..
Byrd's position upon the subject, declaring
that be never could swallow its provisions, as
a acholc He ridculcd the idea Of Mr.. Byrd
consenting to have those measures rolled up
into "bolus" and then swallowing them
without a grimace. For bis part whilst he
might swallow some Of the ingredients, as a.
rhole he would die first Mr.. Bedinger was
quite eloquent, as be can be, in part of his
speech For his fine curl" in reference to
Washington, We refer to the Spirit, who has
been furnished with that part of his remarks.
Upon the subject of Recession, Mr. b.
was not as clear as at Berkeley He argued
the abstract question and in doing SO cited
contingencies which neucr can arise. For
instance, be said if Congress were to abolish
slavery in Virginia, would not Virginia have
a right to not only resist but to secedc.-
What would become of his sovereignty doc
trine to admit even the possibility OF such AMI
act? Have the other States no rights that
an act so palpably in riolation of the Gen.
stitution would even for moment be toler
ated This eatreme position Of Mr.. b.
shows to what extent men are sometimes
Ir.vap A. IsorI ola bn oapfo,laI fbot
State had right to secede, and she was to
be the Judge of the cause for doing So
When pressed by Mr.. Byrd to know is these
were not bis sentiments upon secession, or if
be had not assumed that position at Bcrke-
ley, his memory did not serve him, although
only one lneck had elapsed
Mr.. Bedingcr was about to read extracts
from articles which was attributed to Mr.
Byrd, written and printed in 1888, squint-
ing at notification and secession. To this
Mr. Byrd objected, stating that it was not
fair to read garfield extracts by which erro-
neous impressions might be made. If Mr.
Bedinger would read the entire articles be
would have no objections. Mr. Bcdinger
ger sustained himself well in the eyes of his
friends showed that though game
cock, he fights best upon bis own dung-hill.
When tho Democratic contestants had con-
GUIDED Mr.. CHARLES j. FAULKNER, Of Berke-
ley, was loudly called for. He mounted the
stand to respond to the call After advert
ing to some of the features in the new Con-
stitutiou, be declared himsclfa candidate for
Congress from this District. At this june
ture Mr.. JOHN A. THOMPSON propounded the
following interrogatories which he had previ-
ously propounded to Messrs. Byrd and Bed
niger, but from some cause they did not an
swer:
eff South Carolina should attempt to ex-
pei the troops of the United States from
fort Moultrie-(and ler leaders have
threatened IT'D will you, if member of Con-
gress, vote men and money to hold it?
'If South Carolina should resist, by force,
the revenue laws of the United States, will
you vote men and money to sustain and en-
force those laws?
"Will you, if all other measures fail-and
in the last resort-vote to use the whole
force of tho Union 10 prevent South Carolina
from seeding, and, becoming an Independent
power p
To these interrogatorics Mr.. +. said
No statesman should commit himself in adj
vance to any particular course of measures
in great National emergency Circumstan-
ces surrounding the case at the time, must
be allowed to influence the judgment, and
might tender an appeal to persuasion more
available thar an appeal to force, an appeal
to the reason and patriotism of that State
more judicous than an appeal to her fears.
| would not pledge myself as to any partic-
ular course Of measures towards South Car
DINA. would trust to the occasion, to en-
tighten me as to the course of action best cal |
cuiated to preserve the Union and to pro-
mote the true interests of the country, ]
hope never to witness the day when it shall
become necessary to shed one drop of Amer
lean blood to maintain this Constitution
But this would say. that should | become
the representative in Congress from this Dis
trict, will give my support to all such |
measures as in my judgment my be best cal |
culatcd to uphold the supremacy of the laws
and to maintain the integrity of the Union,
Mr.. Thcmpson.--The gentleman does not
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