Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-05-18

Below viii be found Mr. FauIkner's speech

S'ow WIZ ~ Jouha afr Fauikner's speeel
accepting the nomination Of the Democrats
eosventiop, delivered before the convention n
Winchester. April y, 1853, prepared fou
publication subsequent 10 lie delivery.
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Con
pention - have just learned through your
sonmIstee. with the deepest emotion. the re-
salt " your protracted session. have been
iaf raed that have been selected by this large
~ imposing representation Of the Democracy
eiFhis District. as their candidate for seat il
slleFext Congress oftho United States. From,
my heart, | thank you for this most striking
and conclusive proof Of your confidence, |
have fell, most painfully felt, tie extent TO
which my public character was involved In the
action Of this body. was, Indeed. prepared
to have submitted without murmer, to any
decision to which your patriotic councils might
have lod you and Jet could not but f. al
that your decision was frought With couse.
queness Of the highest importance "a ,nvsel,
personally No one. but hne s;tuated ure
fisely as now am. Fad g.,o has boon FOR
yearly twelve months. al object Of the gross
cst Misrepresentation and SANDER. can ever
suiiicently app. oeiate that act Of magnaBin,
ity and justice. which has this day signalized
the Democratic party Of this District Bat.
gentlemen. this act is but in accordance With
the high-moral tone, and that lofty. chyarous
bearing which has SO long distinguished the
Democratic party Of this country. when, il
It's history. has that party been known to de.
sert friend, wecn honor and instice deman-
ded its justice demanded its fidelity to him
Tbs quality the noblest which can animate
any party organization the just and nat
ural consequence Of the truth aud sincerity
of your political principles has made, and viii
forever make you, iuyiacible throughout this
land
Gentlemen am free to declare in all frak-
nsss aud candor. that | did desire this testi
Uoai.l of your confidence. With equal sIcm-
nifty, do also declare before this body, where
I may be corrected. ii | state what Is not
true. that have resorted to no means to at
tain it. but the most honorable effort to de.
serve it, Some fault has bern found with
tha fact Of my being in Winchester on this
day. Bat came here with no view to in.
aleuce the result Of your choice. was the
inmate Of private house. ] kept aloof from
oil conversation or intercourse with the mem.
bcrs. q large portion Of whom were personally
unknown to me, even by sight. My purpose
jD being hero was to correct. if necessary, any
misapprehcnsion or misstatement Of my pub
lie course. which might be sprung upon my
friends-to act whenever any action became
necessary upon my part TO secure the harmo-
ny Of the party and in the event Of my re-
Joction by this Convention, to exert all the
influence which possessed, to reconcile my
friends promptly and cordially to The decision
of this body. With no gentleman, since'his
selection as delegate to this body. have !
ever exchanged syllable here or~elsewhere
upon the subject of this nomination, except
when be came. Of his own free motive, TO con-
suit me and advise with me.
Some persons look upon seat 10 Congress
ns reward s5f paiitical service. do not
regard it myself in that light II a. ]
should be as far from desiring it under the
circumstances in which am placed, as !
should most certainly and promptly reject |
Under like circumstances any tender Of Ex- !
ecutive favor. If such we're offered to me Ny |
experience Of seat in Congress has pre-
acnted it to my mind as situation Of labor |
of uurelaxing toii---of privatiou of paio-
ful responsibility, and Of peeuniary loss. 1t
cannot therefore, be seat in Congress that
have desired, But it is that the sincerity
and integrity of my public course shall be APP
proved. sustained and indicated by my own
political friends Shat caumny may be re-
buked-that malice may be Invested of lis
power TO injme aud defamc The last, SUI
preme appellate tribunal in this country, as
we all know, is the PEoPLE. To their iudg-
ment docs every man who is conscious of the
rec.tude OF his course, desire to submit him
self; by their judgment must every public
man stand or fall You have. gentlemen by
your generous endorsement of me this day,
referred my public course to the favorable
Judgment of THAT august tribunal, And when
l east my eyes around this hall, and see who
Il is that compose this Convention. the high
moral worth aud sound Democratic princi
pies of its members it is an endorsements Of
which any man might be proud. 1t is not
your fault. gentlemen. and it shall not be mine
II my position is not fully and triumpbantly
sustained BY the verdict o. the people.
Gentlemen. there is one aspect Of the sub
ject in which the result Of your action is not
without Pain to me; and it is, that your kind
and generous course to me may give some
dspleasure to the friends Of other prominent
and distinguished Democrats of this District.
know full we'll that there are many older
and better soldiers than myself in the Demo
cratic ranks OF this District: men whose
sterling and shining abilities, aud whose uni
form support Of Democratic policy, have earn
cd for them tho love, tie respect, and the ad
miratioa of their party. | know, and you
know that il was no want of a due appreeia.
ton Of those abilities and services that caused
my selection upon the present occasion. My
friends claim TO me no superiority OF talent
mo higher capacity Tor public business than
what belongs to many others who might be
named amongst u.s. They believe rue to be
q true, faithful aud conscientious Democrat
to be thoroughly identified for veal or for
woe with the for,une and destiaics of the
Democratic party; but these arc merits which
sye conn,on 10 many others and did not con