Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-07-27
For he E,nlnirtl,.

THE NEXT GUBERNATORiAL
The Democracy of ,hs State look forward with much
anxiety, 10 the assembling Of the Democratic Con
veniiou TO nominate a candidate 10 succeed Gov
Wise in the Gubernstorisl office, and TO the probable
seton OF that body. When Democratic Conventions
consult the Dlimen of the grea; mass OF the party
in the SELECTION OF candidates, they invariably receive
the united support OF the party. whist u contrary
course, as invariably. produces discord and DIVISION
IN The rauks. and defeat 1T the polls. The duty I'm
posed upon the Convention ~ ascertain, and 10 set
in conformity with tbs sentiments OF the party, IL
therefore obvious. Ii lie thought doubtful! by many,
whether public Journals. As a general rule, are TAR
opponents Of public opinion upon 'his iiJ-ci. Ed
tors are frequently governed by their own private
views and preferences. and, indeed, soins'i'nrs .vow
their independent portion. However proper ihi|
may be IN the management .! a pnolc journal u
would be bad fsi'h, H. WILL as bad policy. IN n Con
ventiOn, appointed 10 Reject the known sehiiin-nts OF
the constituent body
The names of several prominent men in the Slate
hsve been slrrady presented as candidate o' the
nomination. Faulkner. Leicher, Barbour Edmunns,
and others, have bern mentioned. a decided p 'pular
selling ia maIisesrIng iiself IN favor OF ths selection
of SIR. Faulkner, especially in The West. whe zee it
seems 10 be conceded the next Governor rnrsf come
Mr.. Fau!kn-rs position, psst and present, is We'll
known 10 his Immediate coGs'iu-ni,, AMI others,
whose attention has oern cios-ly directed 10 III" puo
lie lite; but it is not go generally known DO IT ought TO
be.
In 1891, when Northern aggression upon the rights
Of the slav-holdIng States OF the cOnt-deracy trst
manifested itself in a distinct form, Mr.. Eau kner, rue
TO his Southern instlnc's and education, immediately
took q decided sfsnd in favor ut the constitutions!
rights OF The South; and from that day 10 The present,
no man has exhibited more loyalty in the nalnte'
nance of her rights and honor than he has done.
In 1913, Northern Abolirionism had assumed an M
pecf which seriously threatened the dismenoermen
of the Union-a result desired by som-, but drp!orrd
by the great mass of the people, as the greatest curse
which an angry God could infict upon the country.
save national tishonor and degradation. AIR FAUX
M. was theu a member Of the House. OF Delegates,
aud 10 a speech which be made in that body, prellmi
nary to the appointment Of u epscial committee TO IN
quire into the existing legislation OF CoHgresa III re-
lstion to fueitivs slaves. &c brought the whole PUB
ject to the attention Of The country Tor the hrst Time.
Mr.. Faulkner, al chairman OF the committee, submit
ted their report to the House, In which the aggres
sions OF the North upon the rights OF citizens OF the
South were ubly reviewed, aud an elective remedy
suggested. A resolution also accompanied the re-
port, THAT the Senators and representatives OF This
State in the Congress of the United Staies be request
ed TO use their earneet end persev.ring tftDr.s IN have
the act passed on the 10Th of February. 1913, go
amended as more .ffectua!ly 10 recure n. slave
owners in the South The rights guaranteed 10 them By
the third clause. second section and fourth article o!
the Constitution OF the United States
The report Of the committee was unanimously
adopted by both branches Of the & :nersl Assembly.
Mr.. Mason, therefore. in pursuance OF the request oil
his State, early in the next sesslon q. Congress cub
mltted a bill to the Senate, into which sl the recon
mendstionso Of the fugitive slave report OF virginia were
incorporated, and which now form the main features
of that law. Cotemporaneous authority points TO Mr..
Faulkner as the author of the report which led 10
the fugitive slave law. His unsided intellect con
ceived and mstured the measure, and hs exert!ons
and energy Of character, consolidated the WHO'S pow
er of the State in its support. This cannot BIZ con.
strued into any disparagement of Mr.. Mason, whose
name is aiso associated with the measure. He cup
ported it in the Senate With signal ability and success.
The sole object Of this Communication ia 10 %vindicste
the truth Of history, and TO present The true position OIL
another before the country.
Besides the fugitive slave report ADD resolutions,
the General Assembly, during the same session, adopt.
cd a set OF resolutions in relation TO federal politice
of which the following ia one
Resolved, That We regard the passage OF a law,
by the Congress of the United States, aboishing
slavery, or tks slare trdde, in the District OF Colum
bis, IS a direct attack upon the institutions OF the
Southern States, TO be rsssted at every hazard"
The following extract from q letter from Mr. Faux
ner. TO a gentleman in his own district, dated Boyd
Vile. October l4,h, 49,, upon the relations between
the Federal Government and The States, and the
Federal Government and the Territories, shows bs
position upon these questions al that time. Abiding
10 the Virginia resolutions Of 1888. upon Federal To
lations, and TO the resolutions Of lS47 and lS49. rela
tive to tbs prohibition, by Congress, of slavery in an
territory of the United States, and Of slavery, or the
slave trade, in the District Of Columbia, he ssye:
II have no recollection Of having at any period Of
my public life dissented from my native State, upon
auy of these fundamental questions OF constitutional
construction. 1 caa safely cay that no exposition oil
the views of Virginia upon these questions has ever
been made through her General Assembly, that has roi
commanded the approval of my Judgment and my sup
port when a member Of that bcdy.' Ic a!ao states
that be hss seen DO ~suthcieDt reason 20 discard the
opinions which be then entertained and supported. 1t
will be observed, that the foregoing Letter was written
at least TWO years subseq uent to the passage ". thu scts
Of Congress called the compromise OF 1889
MI. Faulkners congressional career il before Inc
country, aud oommends itself TO the hearty appfoyai
of every truly conservative aud us;iousl man III the
Union. Distinguished for intense application 10 Wha''
ever business demands bis attention, possessing so-