Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-07-18
LETTER OF HON. C. ]. FAULKNER.

go before this district as candidate for
Congress, and that appeal having been
sustained by letters addressed to me
from other portions of the district, do
not feel myself at liberty to withhold
my assent to their request. i do not
presume to say that the men who have
thus invited me into the canvass speak
the voice of this district Of that,
shall not undertake to express any opln-
ion. But this do know, that they
sneak their own manly and independent
sentiments; aud as freelnen and citizens
of this State, they have a right to give
EXPRESSION 10 what they think. 1t will
be for the people, in the fullnesS OF their
power. to act upon this subject accord
ing to their good will and pleasure, aud
to accept or reject any name presented
10 them. as the best interests OF this
district will demand.
NV political course is well khowh ~
the people of this district, but II ma! o1
very briefly referred 10. | commenced
liz. = Hearv Clny Arhig, | felt nm I'M
hornded admiration for the broad, COM
prehensiye, patriotic, and national poll
ry which placed that distinguished man
IN the trout rank OF living American
statesmen. | adhered with unfallering
fidelity to his policy and personal for
tunes, until | discharged my last duty
10 nv illustrious friend by pronouncing
o eulogy on his earthly remains in the
House of Representatives of the United
States Mr.. Clay did not die one day
too soon. If ceaseless labor in the
cause of his country had not shortened
his life, his noble heat would have
burst with sorrow at the action of that
party which owed to him its existence.
Just about the period Of his death. it
openly repudiated his national princl-
pies and policy; sought alliance with
his enemies, and degenerated into 4
mere sectional organization. AT the
same time, | announced my connection
with it, and united myself to the ma
nonaI democratic party of the union,
which then placed itself under the
compromises of 1850, upon the broadest
and most conservative constitutional
platform. Having seen nothing in the
principles Of the democratic party since
that day to condemn, | have adhered
rigidly to its fortunes and organization,
now near quarter of a century.
was absent from the United States
as one of the representatives of this ma
ton. in France, when the late civil war
broke ont. had therefore no immedl-
ate connection with the events which
precipitatcd that fearful crisis upon the
country. Upon my return from Europe
in August, 1861, without charge or
an imputation against my fidelity as the
nations representative abroad, aAd sole
" because | was native and cuizfn u
ne .Sa,nh, | was arrested Ivy ordc. OF
the Secretary Of War, consigned to
three successive government prisons,
where | remained until | was exchanS-
ed. and sent by the government OF the
United States within The limits Of the
Southern Confederacy The conflict OF
WIZ was then raging, and as that con,
fiict presented itself to my mind, had
40 alternative but to choose, between
the armed invaders of my native State,
and the dc.erse os her rights, property,
and sovereignty. chose tie latter;
and remained for four years al exile
from NV home, faithful to the fortunes
of the South, until they wee crushed
by military power upon the hsid& OF
Appomattox.
Immediately after the close of hostil
tiles, in August, 1869, / started, he
lieve. the first conservative journals
published in West Virginia, and styled
the Nae Era Its purpose as announc-
eel. was to soothe the auimosltles that
crew out of the late war; to MAINTAIN
ana defend the rights ofthe then crush
eel and hopeless minority; to disseminate
sentiments Of libcrality, magnanlmty
and igstice: 10 discourage aud dcnounce
proscriplion, and TO. bring again into
harmonious Brotherhood al ise discor,
dant and angry element Of this State. l
did not cease in those efforts Until those
results were accomplished, which now
unite us as one people
! am opposed to the centFalizlnS ara
absorbing tendency Of the present ma
tional government. am for the cons:-
tuition as it. came from the hands OF the
fathers of this republic, with the su bse-
onent amendments thereto, as they have
been construed and defined by the Sill
IRENE Court of the United States. |
recognize the supremacy of the national
government within the scope of all the
powers conferred upon ii by the constl-
tntion: and / recognize the local author
ity of the States over that great mass OF
the rcsiduary powers not surrendered
national compact. The preservation of
these rights of the States in all their
integrity and vigor, regard as essen
tial to the maintenance OF the liberties
of the people.
The necessary effect of the too great
Capitalization of power, is to- generate
corruption and national decentralization.
The exercise Of powers heretofore IN
known to our system, and drawn by
the exigencies of the late civil war from
the hidden womb of the constitution
with an annual revenue greater III
amount than that of the British empire
which has s.dotted over the whole sur
face of the globe with its possessions
and military posts, has caused TINS
country within the last few years to
exhibit an advance III corruption rs as
L l,nC Ay-asCn n