Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-10-06
FAULKNER AND BOliELRR.
An Able Discussion.


o. s. Long, Esq gives the Wheeling Reg
tster the leading points taken by the respective
speakers in the late discussion az PruntytoWn,
Taylor couaty, from which (uot having the
space. for the whole) we extract the following:
On motion of Mr Mason, of Grafton. Hon.
Benjamin f. Martin was called to preside over
the meeting. After some brief and appro-
pirate remarks, he introduced to the assem>
blage Hon. 9, j. Faulkner, of Berkeley
county.
NIB FAULKNER's OPENING SPEECH.
length. He had never been in the county,
and had never addressed the voters of that
county before, and he seemed to feel that he
was not only among strangers but among those
who might be strongly prejudiced against his
support But think may say that before
Ee had finished his preliminary remarks, what
ever unkiud feeling may have existed. grow
ing out of his triumph over their distinguished
fellow citizen Mr.. Martin, had totally disap
peared, and the people were prepared to give
him favorable hearing. Icannot 90 through
the points of his exordium, but will note its
conclusion. In adyerting to the general ap.
plause awarded to Mr.. Martin for the grace
full and magnauimious manner in which he
had acted when he failed to get the nomina-
tion, and to the calumnies, falsehoods and
SANDERS which had been heaped upon him,
(Mr. F.) since he had received It's honors, he
thought the position of Mr. Martin more to
be envied than his own; and he thought that
his friends might well be permitted to exclaim.
more true joy, Marcellus exiled feels.
Than Caesar with a Senate at his heels"
he then adverted to his position as the
Democratic nominee, the duties that devolved
upon him if elected as the representative Of a
hundred and fifty thousand people, under
government so vast in its territory and SO d.
versifed'in its interests. He said no one who
was close observer Of the public mind. could
fail to observe the extent to which it was now
awakened into an inquiry into the affairs of
the government. There was a manifest un-
easiness among the Republican masses-a
growing conviction that there was something
rotten in the state of Denmark that power,
which always begets corruption, had been too
long in the same hands, and that change of
administration was now required for the pub
lie good. He asked, was it unnatural that
there should be this earnest spirit of inquiry
among the Republican masses in view of the
facts and developments all around US? The
low price Of agricultural products. the gen
country, the enormous expenditures of the
Federal Government, the alarming growth of
executive patronage, the astounding frauds
and corruptions recently exposed the troubled
condition of the Southern States the habitual
use Of the Federal army, the luxurious iudul-
geuces and imperial aspirations of President
Grant, were all calculated to awakened pro-
found spirit of inquiry in the nation
The Republican party had fulfilled its mis-
sion; it had rode the negro hobby until the
country had become disguised it was ripe,
and now it had become rotten the country
demanded new policy towards the South
policy of Cancellation and non>interference
with the home rule of the States. The Eng
fish government was kept pure by frequent
mutations of party asceudancy Power too
long retained in the same hands had there, aud
everywhere else, begotten corruption. The
|. mutations of party, were like the angels wing
that moved the waters of Bethesda; they
gave life and health to the stAgnant pool
Mr. Faulkner then proceeded tn examine
the condition into which Republican policy
had brought the present interests of the
country. He presented in striking colors the
depressed and crushed condition of our for
eign commerce. our tonnage reduced to fourth
rate power, every great steamship leaving our
ports. bull. in foreign lands by foreign mer-
chants. and bearing foreign flag. He for
titled his position by extracts from official re-
ports. and the messages of President Grant
He dwelt upon the large increase of the Of
fcers of the government, from tWonty thou
sand in number. (when he was formerly in
Gongress,) to upwards of eighty thousand
now. He dwels upon the growing ex-
penditure of the government, the sectional
character of Congressional Legislation, the
inequality in the burden of taxation, the sur
render Of the public lands to corporations,
the Credit MobiIier scandal, Sahborn con-
tracts. District of Columbia and New York
Custom House frauds, Washington safe rob-
berry, &C.. 60. He touched upon the Civil
Rights Bill-Sumner's legacy of hsse to the
South argued it to be subversive of the
rights of the States; destructive to the
free school system in the South, and call
culated to stimulates the worst passions and
propensities of the colorsd race, which
was illustrated by the prevalence of fendish
crimes of particular character. He then
gave way to Mr. Boteler