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

ltlcS, upon WHICH iAttiS i'Siiis So5ucs tEdue -
Their cunning is amply sufficient to discover
the time and place to offer them. If the
knowing ones are not taken in, they may at
least hoi to gull some less able to measure
the extent of any audacous imposture which
is sought to be praeticed upon them. Let us
give an illustration
A gentleman is before the people of this
district, who, as he himself phrases it, "aeted
at previons period Of bis life with the OPP
positc political organisation' BY every
mode in which the opinions and sympathies
of public man could be manifested, he had
been Vhig for twenty-five years. If he
only acted with the party, he yet professed
absolute identity with it, in all its cardinal
principles.
Suddenly he abandons that organisation
= an organization too, by which he had been
time and again lonored from an early politi-
cal manhood. singular feature marks h is
metamorphasis, while he announces all the
old issues obsolete, and would fain rely upon
some unthinking Wing press or politician to
endorse that announcement, he yet has not
undertaken, in any form, to exhibit the rea-
sons which have induced his change of opin-
ion upon any of the main issues between the
parties for the lest twenty years. He pro-
claims the change--assumes to give his "cor-
dial appreciation" to all the principles of the
Democratic party, obsolete Or not--and i'm
ploring his new allies to trust and sustain
him, promises them, if they will do SO, "be-
fore the termination Of the neat ttro gears
20 qualify himself to rank amongst the old
est Democrats in the District
He has never yet, however, paid the pub
lie intelligence the poor respect of giving any
exposition. t6 disclose the views of public
policy which have led to this change of opin-
ion. True, he asserts that the Constitution
and the Union were both in danger--anu
that his o'en, then party, were the foes to
destroy them. It viii be remembered, how
ever, that he declared that cit ,soula haze
giren him pleasure 10 hare roted for MIL
LARD FILLMORE"
The pretcnce at first in the notable card
signed by him and other members of Con-
gress, was, that Gen. Scott was not to be
trusted upon the slavery question.
The facts developed in the canvass were
so conclusive that he would not have had the
hardihood, subsequently, to question the zeal
with which Gen. Scott sustained the Com
promise or his umimpeached loyalty to the
union. Iruer than Gen. Scott,-was not
Willard Fillmore. If Mr.. Faulkner could
have been Wing with Fillmore-he could
hare been a Wig rith Scott. The party,
with one or the other, would have been the
same - Conservative or obstructive to the
Union
1t is most strangely stated by him too, that
CHS sympathies hasefor years been with the
Democratic party--his principles upon many
uital and fundamental questions had been
fully In accordance with theirs" Thus while
protesting Wing principles, or acting with,
and permitting himself to be regarded as a
Wing, he acknowledges the suppression Of
the fact that during portion of that period
he was Democrat.
Under these circumstances it is that his
public conduct has attracted an unusual share
of comment and censure, public and private.
1t may we'll be doubted, if any politician Of
his grade and sphere, has in this respect been
more written about, and talked of. He calls
it misrepresentation and Islander" Of hi.
public character, and designates those who
express their opinions of him, by the courte-
GUS and polished epithets of harlequin ora.
tors, and newspaper scrib5iers." His advo-
Gates on the editorial stool, and off it, term
it ''personal abuse and vituperation." 1t is
to the latter assumption that We intended in
this article, to advert. 1t is great mistake
! Ill nv hicAO-to Civ arodultS art
made in this canvass, upon Mr.. Faulkner
personal, as distinct from his political char.
acter. He should vindicate himself from
such assaults, if made, in the mode which VIZ
need not suggest to him.
Now, as to the condemnation and censurc
of his political course--avery short question
may be asked, which will answer itself
indeed, the people of this intelligent district
require any suggestion from us to enable then
to determine this matter. This gentleman
is professed politician, his conduct as sucl
is fair subject for scrutiny, rebuke and sa.
tire, if need be. That he has boxed the DO
litical compass in most extraordinary an,
unaccountable style, is sentiment which you
meet with on the highways, and by-ways
and every where, among the leaders, and thu
led manifpqfal IN avery enneava hla form, "a