Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-10-06

he was elected, was the fnality of the com.
promise measure of 1850. The pledges upon
which he was elected would have been vio>s
lated if.he had not acted precisely as he did.
The Wing party, to conciliate the North.
threw those compromise measures overheard;
the Democratic party planted itself upon
them, and he had no alternative but to do as
Mr.. Clay had announced that he intended to
do-take his position with the constitutional
party of the country.
He did not see where Mr.. Botaler derived
the right to be the champion of departed
Whiggsry He deserted the Wing party in
1855, and allied himself with the Know
Nothing organization. The platform of that
party declared that it expected to rise upon
the ruins of the Wing and Democratic parties.
1t did indeed rise, upon the ruins of the Wing
party, for that was the last that history re-
cords of the Wing party. Mr.. Bo,eler was
his Know Nothing competitor for Congress
in 1855, and his, (Mr. Faulkner's) exposure
OF its obnoxious aud unconstitutional princi-
Piles allowed it but short shrift in his dis
'trict
1t is difficult to determine the precise posi-
ton which Mr.. Boteler occupies before this
district He disAvows being Republican.
Is he Democrat What are his principles ?.
What his national policy2 Has he also de-
serted his Know Nothing principles, as be
ouce. deserted and abandoned the Wing
party ii? An unearthly mist hangs over his
position. He might we'll be addressed:
cart thou spirit of health. goblin damnedf
Bring,st with thee airs from heaven, or blasts
Be thy interests wicked or charitable.
Thou CONTEST in so questionable shape
That Will speak to thee.
Mr 10 IS n.
to save the Union in the momentous session
of '60-'61. 1t is true that gentleman did. in
the early part of the session, introduce
resolution for the appointment of select
committee to consider the perilous condition
of the Union. The resolution vas adopted,
and when the Speaker came to announce the
committee of one from each State, he said he
omitted from the committee the mover of the
resolution, because he asked to, be excused
from service on the committee. Why ask to
BIO excused from service at such critical
period in this country's history? That his
modesty should have excused him from ser
vice as chairman OF that committee, was
natural enough; but why shrink from
place on the committee itself? He claimed TO
offer the resolution, which would have been
offered by others. as distinction due to the
Harper's Ferry district. Was that distinc>
ton satisfied by simply Offering the resolution
and refusing to act under it ? There are times
that try mems souls, and in this great emer>
eency of his country, Mr. Boteler fails to
perform duty Whioh his constituents had
right to expect from him.
MIR. BoteIer could not comprehend how, if
MIR. F's opinions upon the general evils of
slavery were. during his eigh, years service
in fnn~-TaSS fbop IN 1920 h.
could fairly represent Virginia constituency
in that body He (Mr, FL saw no difficulty
in it. The duties of representative in Con-
gress under the Constitution can not in any
wise be affected by his abstract opinions upon
the subject of slavery. II this were not so,
Northern or Western Democrat could have
discharged his duty under the Constitution
to the South for while every Northern and
Western Democrat undoubtedly looked upon
slavery in the abstract as an evil, yet it did
not prevent their being as true to the South
upon all questions affecting their legal and
constitutional rights as any representative
from Georgia or Alabama could have BEEN
But he (aIr. F.) hoped that the day had gone
by when his snti-slavery record was to be
brought up against him that is indeed among
the dead issues Of the past
that he. (Mr. FL had voted against the Con-
gressional compensation BILL but he thinks
that it's defeat might then have been accom-
plished by calling for the reading OF that rule
which forbids any member to vote for bill in
extraordinary construction given TO q rnle
which can only apply to private bills, aud not
to general laws. Who is to enforce such
IL a.
Mr.. Boteler voted every session he was in
Congress for the general appropriation bill,
providing for the payment to him Of his own
salary, did it ever occur to him that he and
all the. other members Of the body were ex,
had personal. interest in it? If 80, how
could any general appropriation bill for their
pay ever pass Congress? He. CHR F J had
opposed that compensation bill honestly and
sincerely, upon his general opposition to all
increasing Of salaries In spite Of his vote.
it became law 1t was acquiesced 10 aud
approved by the country as a fair and reason
able compensation to the members of Congress
1t was just one half Of what has since been
allowed Mr.. Boteler has accepted and re-
ceived the same compensation. never moved
to repeal it, never voted to repeal it. ANY
one who confounds such an aot as that of 1858
with the bill which, passed Congress on the
Sd of March, 1872, and which so greatly ex
cited the indignation of the country, manifests
total ignorance Of the distinctive features
involved in the two bills.
Mr. Boteler says that he relies for his sup
port upon the Republicans of this district.
Now, the idea that the Republicans should
be looked to to support MIR. Boteler is among
the richest jokes of the season. and if Mast. the
caricaturist, is not dead. the idea should fiud
place among the humorous illustrations of
Rdrper's Weekly He might possibly be
swallowed in this part of the district, but a
Radical in Jefferson who could digest MIN
would be Thought to have the stomach of an