Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1853-05-03
CoNar B. II.
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ceediiles Of the Z ton hell t Wins
chester on Vednesta last 10 na:ninatea
for Cohgress from tie SIN ongttssionaI District
The nanber Of delegates in atfcldance was perhapa
larger shan at any former Convention and gTsat IN
terest md no ordinary exsitenSnt was manifest
throughout its deliberations Tile adoptfoH Of The
majority or the two-third ruIei in the preliminary
Organization Of the meeting, regarded = tbs
test question between the friends and oppoaents of
Mr. faulkner The former triRnzphed, and ;ramedi-
acly scene of great confusion epgued. Seyetai anti
Faulkner men withdrew from the Convention, and
its proceedings were postponed until after supper
when time and reflection it Yves Hoped might give
harmony to its tounsels and saiceess to its choice
The name of J. R4xnobPH TuCKI:R, Esq, Of FeoderiCk
having been prominently urged:'s the competitor Of
Mr. Faulkner for the nomination. Immediately upon
the re-assembling ofthe Convention appeared end in
most happy and flicftous addrts, marked through
ont BY good taste and sound discretion asked ard
demanded at the hands Of his friends in the present
condition of THINGS existing ia the Convention
ever course others think proper to Pnrsue-that
they should not propose his name fer nomination.
as under no circumstances would he now receive It
He returned his most grateful Acknowledgements to
those who had so kindly favored his promotion, ard
declared that veal come woe, he had thus 70
lived and expected to DE devoted to the principles
and afteny attached, to the great Democratic party
of the Country.
The Convention again proceeded to business, and
theycte upon Tire majority ru!e vas reconsidered
and the two-thiFd rule adopted in its stead Mr
FAUIdSErs therefore received the nomination on the
third ballot end s it was asscrajned that heWas in
Winchester coa5 ttee va l,9eiHted 1lpe4
eFson III N q fie tact asyell as
a.
this request Of the Cdaycntion sir n appeared, and
accepted the nomination wIicls had been teFdercd
him, substantially as follows. Ne. FAULKNER snid
Mr. President and GeaiTemen sF Tie Convention -
have Just learned through your committee Wsthtbe
deepest emotion the result of your protracted SESSION
have been informed that have been selected ny this
large and imposing representation 81 the DenpcTacy
of tins District IS their candidate for sent IN the
next Congress of the United Sta5es From my heart,
l thank yOu for this most striking and conclusive
proof of your confidence save fell, most painfully
felt the extent to which my public character Wasl'-
volved in the action ofthis body. Twas indeed, pre-
pared to have submitted wishOut nuIrmur 70 any
decision to which your patriotic eounscIs NIGH have
led YOU; and vet could not bet feel that your decI-
sion fraught with cOnSeG ueRCcS OF the hg."Stn
Portlnce to myself personally NO one, but one stu
atcd precisely as now am and who has been TOR
nearly twelve months, object Of the grosscst misre
presentation and SANDER cal eyer sufficiently aPPrc-
ciate that act of magnGnimItT AND justice, which has
this day signaliZcd the Democratic party this Die
trict But, gentlemen, this act is but in accordance
with The high moral tone ard that lofty, Clivarous
bearing, whiCh.has so long distinguished tile Demo-
cratic party of this country tlen in all its history,
has that party been known 20 desert friend, when
honor and Justice demanded its fidelity to him2 This
Quaity-vthe nOblest which animate any party
ganiz8tion-and the just and DatIIral consequence Of
the truth and sincerity of you: political principles,
has made, and will forever make you, invincible
throughout this Land.
Gentlemen, / am free to declare III all frankness
T 4 \ i f.-.a L ~
confidence Vita equal solemDity, do also declare
before this body, where may &c corrected, if state
what is not true that have rcsoFted to to
attain it but the most honorable effort to deserve it.
Some iult has been found with the fact of my being in
Winchester this day. But came here with no Wow
tointlence the result ofyour chHcc. was the inmate
ola private house. kept Gocf from all cOsrversa-
ton intercourse with the members large proper
ton Of whom were personally unknown to me,
by sight. My purpose III being: here was to correct
if necessary, any misapprchensGn or ms-satellent of
my public course, which might:he sprung upen my
fricndStO act wAciever any action became necesss-
nv upon my part 10 tie harmony of the party
and in the event Ofny by this Conventional
exert all the influence Which possessed, to reconcile
my friends promptly and coFdlH'ly to the decision 81
this body. With gentleman since his selection as
delegate to this body, have ever exchanged syi-
liable here elsewhere upon the subject of this mo-
mination except when he came, of his own fr2c mo
five To consult me and advise with me.
Some persons look upon seat in Congress as a
rewardfo for political service. do not regard it my
self in that light Ii did, should be as tisr from
desiring IL under the Circumstances in which.
placed as should most certainly and promptly re-
icct under like circumstances any tender OF EXccl-
tive favor, if such offered to me- My experience
of in Congress, has presented it TO my mind as
situation Oflabor-ofUnreaxing toil-Of PriHation
of painful responsibility, and of pcCunary loss 1t
cannot therefore be seat III congress that | have
desired But it is that the sincerity and integrity Of
my public course shall be approved, sustained and
vndicatcd by my own political frients-that 0auri-
nv may be rebukcd-thi,t malice may be Invested of
its power to injure and detamc. The last supreme
appellate tribunal in this country as we all know Is
the PEOPLE To their judgment does every n'n who
is conscious of the rectude of his course, desire to
submit: himself; ny their Judgment must every pub
lie man stand or fall. EOu have, gentlemen by your
generous endorsement of me this day. referred my
public course to the favorable Judgment of that
gust tribunal And when cast my eyes around this
hail. and see who it is that compose this Convention.
the high moral worth and Sound Democratic princi-
Piles of its members it is endorsement of which any
man may be prO.Id. 1t is not your fault gentlemen,
and it shall not lie mine, If my position is not fully
and triumphantly sustained by he verdict OF the
people.
the result of your action is without pain to cand
it is that yonr kind and generous to may
give displeasure to the friends of other PrOni-
ncnt and distinguished Democrats of this District
know full well that there are many older ana better
soldiers than myself in the Dcriocac ranks of this
District; men whose sterling abd shining abilities,
and whose uniform support ct Democratic policy,
have earned Tor them INC respect ana Inc
admiration of theirparty know and you knowthat
it was want OF due appreciation of those abilities
and services that causedny selection upon the present
occasion. My friends claim fer ME superiority Oft
lcnt-no higher capacity for public business than
what belongs to many others Bhp might be named
amongst us. They believe INC 10 be true faithful
and conscientious Democratic be thoroughly den-
tilted aor veal forNv0e" with the fortune and dcs
TIMES of the Democratic party but these merits
which are common to many others and did not colt
stitute the sole or paramount ground of their pre
renee. 1t is to be found in ether facts There are in
the History of all parties, extraordinary occasions,
which justify, ifthey do not demand departure
from the ordinary rules of party selection, 1t was
my fortune to hold seat in Congress when that dark
and dangerous sectional combination was maturing,
and which sought with the aid Of the supposed popu
larity of military leader to brek down. you and
believe the most sacred and Cherished limitations
and guarantees Of the federal compact 1t was the
first time that had ever stood upon the theatre of
national politics The first tinee!ir my life that Ihad
ever occupied a position which enabled me to give
any force or direction TO PARTY organization. Ny
sympathies had for years been with the Democratic
party--my principles upon merry vital and fnnda-
mental questions had been accordali'e with
theirs, and was not difficult ie perceive at the re
Rod 10 which refer thist of the tonst-