Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-09-22
An Interesting Fact Of Past History.
[From tbe Martinsburp statesman.l

man, which give better Insight INTO his
real character, than all the speeches he might
make IN a prosraeted public career. Having
ourselves sume recollection of the fact TO
which We now refer, we determined to ex>
snioe the files of old papers, and see ii we
conld NOT accurately recall its details We
remember at the time that It produced
impression on the public mind SO favorable
to Mr. Faulkner, that in justice to him, 1t
ought not To be forgotten a reference to
the files has furnished US with all the infor-
nation we desire
Early in August, 1859, when Mr. Faux
ner, had ceased to be member of Congress;
and was simply private citizen pursuing
his business at home. Col. ~ Stewart. then
and aud now an extensive claim agent in the
city OF Washington. forwarded to Mr. Fauk-
ner, copies of two bills then pending before
Congress, with favorable reports from COM
mittees embracing all the evidence in support
of said claims Knowing that MIR Faulkner,
| possessed large amount of influence with
the members of Congress, he sought to secure
his services in aid of the passage of those
| bills and as an inducement to suoh service,
he offered him fee $4,000 90 in one case,
and $40 100000 IN the other case Mr.. Faux
ner examined the reports of the committee
with great care, and although satisfied OF the
duty of Congress to pass them, he declined
| to accept the service or the fees, upon the
high and noble ground that an ex member of
Congress ought not to exercise the influence
which he had acquired as a member of that
body, in aid of the passage of any private
| bills, and especially for monied considera-
ton. He thought its tendency was to corrup.
tion and decentralization.
Col. Stewart, was so struck with the lofty
and elevated position which Mr.. Faulkner
had taken in this correspondence, that he
showed the letter to the editor of paper
then called The States, published in the city
OF Washington, who insisted upon upon tax
ing an extract from his letter, which he pub
lished with comments, aud thus the public
became possessed of fact, which otherwise
would have been buried in private cores
poudence
We have only SO much of the letter as was
published in The S'ntes,. The States of the
18th of Aug, 1859 says:
t'We have been permitted 20 look NJ "a pr-
vate letter from member of che last House
of Representatives, from the State of Virginia.
to gentleman in this city which is so decid-
eddy different on account of. it's exhibition
of an appropriate sensih!ity from the General
course of ex-members in such cases TIA, we
have concluded to refresh the public witt a
few extracts from it
The letter is in reply to parties here who
offer him an aggregate of ahaut fifteen thon
sand dollars to engage in the prosecution f
some claims before the next Congress lie
says of one claim in which he is offered e Sc
thousand dollars fee:
81 have examined the report with grpa,
care and have reached the conclusion the
claim is not only debt Justly due bv our
Government, but one of sn sacred character
that it ought TO be promptly and gratefully
paid"
The claim had been scrutinized BIZ the
officers of the Treasury, and received their
recommendation also many favorable re,
ports from the respective committees before
which it had been in both branches in Con
gress. he goes on to say;
GAS to the fee of FIVE thousand dollars
which you offer me TO aid you in the passage
of this bill, the money certainly would be
very acceptable to enc like myself, whose
available resources have been so materially
impaired By long service in Congress. and
IT the case was before the Supreme Court or
even before the Court of Claims. should he
very prompt to accept it; but without mean
ing to give any offence, 1 must say that
have most insuperable objection to receiv-
ing compensation for such service as YOU
propose to me. This, you may say is mere
prejudice; yet it is one of those prejudices
that [ thiuk [ shall never overcome. |, is
true. L am no longer member of Congress. or
any way connected with the Federal Governs
ment, and consequently at liberty TO pursue
any avOcation to which my taste NAV incline
me- Still having for the last eight years been
member Of the House of Representatives [
hova Tod
member of Congress- for m0neyed consider
alton, exercising his influence to procure .he
passage of a private bill, no matter how lust
that bill may be, that | could never feel erect
in my own selt>esteem if accepted any com,
pensation for such service"
How appropriate criticism upon the course
pursued by many exmembers, who for con-
sideration use the influence which many of
them only acquired by previous tenure in
Congress, and how prominent an ezempIifica
ton of that characteristic, which has always
given the Representatives from Virginia in
Congress such commanding influence
The Romney argus of the % of August.
| 1859, at that time one of the most unfrieudlv
papers to Mr.. Faulkner, thus speaks of his
letter:
His (Mr. Faulkner's) answer certainly
commeuds itself to all, and must even extort
the need of praise from his euemies.-
Few, very few indeed, could withstand the
temptation of a ten thousand dollars fee, in
the prosecution of a suit acknowledged by
common practice to be honorable, and having
for a precedent, the example and endorsement
of some of the most eminent members of Con
gress. The man who, prompted by patriotic
motives. and an innate love of justice that
could reject fee so fattering, we'll deserves
the admiration and esteem of ever true lover
of his country.
Let our readers compare the above exhibit
with the standard of morality which has