Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-06
HON. CHARLES J. FAULKNER.


every other aspirant for the Gubarnatorlal nomina
tion, Immediately prepared well digested compendis
of his later political record for the purpose of de-
monstrating Mr.. Letchers present loyalty to the in
stitutions of the South This is as it should be. Bu
We regret 10 perceive evidences that this COURSE va
dictated more by desire to promote the prospects o
favorite candidate than to do justice 10 prominent
Democrat respectively Of the question of Guberna
torial succession.
Sincs this time, several Of he opposition press have
ben busy to rake up the records of the Legislature
of l32, with the especial object of throwing ar
obstacle in the way OF the political career of the
Hon. Charles j. Faulkner
We have hitherto waited TO offer opportunity for
The same papers which have been 80 jealous in Mr.
Lechers behalf to mete cut qual justice to another
distinguished Democrat and one whose extraordinary
services to the constitutional rights of the South GER
tsinly entitle him to much more triumphant yindi
cation than that TO which Mr.. Lstcher oan at all lay
claim. We have waited in vain. Mr.. Faukn ners claims
10 defence Of any sort have been entirely neglected
Notwithstanding the fact that for the last twenty.
four years he has sbored with extraordinary zeal
and eminent success for the protection of slave pro.
perty.
|
task, which sesms to 0e ef; to as if by general
consent. of presenting tho public with concise re-
| view Of Mr.. Faulkners record on the slavery ques
| tion.
| The substance of the charge urged against Mr.
Faulkner, is simply that in tho Legislature of 1882 he
advocated the adoption of prospective plan for the
gradual emancipation OF slaves in Virginia. on th+
| post matt principle.
| This is a matter OF history, aud must be Isken in
| connection with a series of circumstance which
concided to render thorough discussion of the aues
ton alter of irresistible necessity aud which have
never sncs occurred in such form rs at all to excuse
subsequent advocacy Of the same doctrine in Viz
ginia.
| At this time there waa ncendisry party in the
country TO render the utmost latitude in the discus
| sion Of slavery iirsbrand in ONT midst The social
institution had never been philosophcsy vindcsted
IFS moral and political bearing almost universally
| misunderstood The wisest aud best of our earliest
statesmen had concurred in regarding it as an evil and
especially disastous to the material progress of tho
State. This authority, rendered eminent by the av
gust names with which it was associated, had been
counteracted by published vndicaton of slavery,
| at all commensurate with the material for favorabs
| investigation which remained undeveloped and un-
known. II was also strengthened ty some e1.raordi
| nary considerations. Agricultural products wei very
much reduced in price insomuch that the opinion pre-
vailed TO great extent, that the slave an expense
instead of profit to the master in Virginia. More
Southern markets closed against the expectation
! of our slaves; and, most fearful Of ALL the Soubamp
ton had just occurred and excited feelings
| rc1a hnId
ces against the institution Of ssvery being regarded
as the necessary CAUSE of such nhuman outrage.
| 1t was under all these circumstances, that Mr.
Faulkner at II very early ageindeed. then for the
first time eligible 10 seat in the Legsa:ure-was in
| duced 10 lend counenance TO a scheme for gradual
emancipation. Surely this cannot he regarded IN
the same light il ii had been performed by mid.
/ L'e 500 '."", whom slave pi"por,,. was kuonu IL
| command high proi both on The plantation and III
| the msrket-when such dscussion would offer
instrument to fanatics and ncendisries- when beI e
was no danger whstever CT servile neurrect;on-snd
after the institution CT slavery had been thoroughly
| discussed aud amply rlndicaed by the greatest
| philosophers and statesmen OF he Union.
| But MIR. Faulkners defence does not stop here
Not only he induced tho opinion by the array
of facts above cited not only the expression Of
| this opinion elected by the solemn appeals Uf the
people, the press and the Statesmen of Virginia, who
simultaneously demanded thorough and frank die
cussion, but his whole corlnct shows that he snerod
into the discussion with the most patriotic motives
that he was sincere sesrcher Tor the truh-and
among the very fret TO espouse the OF Southern
institutions, soon his reflections, aided by
| the developments Of the legislative discussion, the
subsequent food Of light which was Immediately dis
| pensed by other great minds in the State, and the
first indications Of the e1eDce of fanatical party,
| had combined 10 reveal tie true moral aud political
features Of the question at bsue,
| As early as 1854, MIR. Faulkner was a Jealous de
fender of the rights Of s,svehoders, and from that
time forward, none of his ootemporaries can show
clearer record, very few equal degree Of effective
eGor, for the defence and ecurty of the institution
Of slavery.
So conspicuous, indeed, bave been the services Of
this gentleman to the csus, of the South, that
his brightest professional .urel5 have been won in
lite defence, he being The nsn selected out Of all the
ranks OF the profession of the law, in Virginia. TO
defend the rights of pavehoders when inperlled by
arbitrary legal proceedings i, the Northern States
And zealous,y has he entered into the work, both
10 his professional and political capacity that he has
rendered himsef the special target Of the malignant
and mischievous revenge Of Northern fanatics. Pro-
badly no man in the State Las suffered the same ex
tent OF private oss by OF his fidelity to her
institutions We are credbly informed that $l5 900
will no, cover the value of the slaves which have,
| from time to time been enticed or forced from his
possession
In 1872 MIR. Faulkner entered. with conspicuous
seal into the scheme for the enlargement Of Southern
territory by the annexation Of Texas. From frat to
last he wao prominent in urging this measures and
when achieved, accepted it Immediately, with all its
consequences. 10 1916 he was foremost among the
array of statesmen who vindioaed its necessity, and
did more than any other politician in Virginia, IN
aid in the vigorous prosecution of the waged for
the enrs m maintenance of the peaceful conquest Of
new slave State.
The greatest triumph Of Mr. Faukner's political
career that which raises him above the "vuIgar level
of great" and entities him to reputation for po
lticai forecast beyond that even of most of the prop
nent statesmen who have associated their lsbors with
his own, Identifies his name 40 unmistakaby with
the pro slavery cause that page Of history must be
torn from the record before hs claim to he gratitude
of Southern men can be forgotten. CHARLES j
| FAULKSER 10 THE ORIGINATOR OF THE FUGITIVE
SLAVE Law. As early as 1876 Mr.. Faulkner had
matured plan for the efficient protection OF the
right Of property in fugitive slaves In 1877 he COM
menced a correspondence with eminent ss,eamen
throughout the Union, for The purpose of securing
their cooperation So impracticable did his sugges
ton appear at this time, thst he was treated as
visionary schemer. whose only excuse was a zeal for
the constitutional rights of bis State, too ardent TO
appreciate insurmountsbls obstacles to their entire
maintenance. Even Mr.. Calhoun replied that "any
attempt to procure favorable legislation from Con-
gress would be idle"
Sneered at by foes and dsnaded by friends, Mr
Faulkner determined to carr7 through The measure
by his individual efforts. lie fret appealed TO the