Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-12-04
Letter From Washington.

MIR. FAULKNER AND HIS INDIAN
MISSION-OUR CORRESPONDENT
LET'S HIM RISE AND EXPLAIN
HIS POINT PLEASANT ADDRESS
WEST VIRGINIA ON THE PLANS,
&C.
Special Correspondence of Independent
WASHINGTON, Nov. 80.
Since / wrote the letter printed
last week, there has been put in
my hands pamphlet for the pur-
pose, seemingly of limiting that l
mistOok somewhat the source to
which the Hon. Charles James
Faulkner was Indebted for his APP
pointment as a member of the
special commission to investigate
the charges of fraud upon the In
dams. It contains an address de-
!ivered by that gentleman before
the Agricultural and Mechanical
Association and people of Mason
County. West Virginia, at the
Poilt Pleasant Fair Grounds, on
the 30th OF September last, and
published ut the request of the
Association, according to the title
page-which was well, for while
its publication enabled the speaker
to explain to a wider circle than
that of visitors at the Point Pleas
ant Fair, the position of Mr..
F., and thus served a personal and
special purpose, it has given those
fortunate to read it treat in the
shape of a fresh and graphic view
of what is being done on what
is still known as "the Great
American Desert" whose broad
pastorel plains so TEEN with wild
and romantic life, But not only
this, Mr.. Falkner's account of the
creditable agency, which many
sons of West Virginia are having
in the varied businesses of that
wonderous region, is we'll calcu-
lated to excite in the bosoms of
persons elsewhere a feeling of
state pride. For example he tells
us that he does not remember
stopping at any place of the least
consequence west of the Missis-
sippi-that is, where a white man
is permitted to live-that he did
not meet West Virginians. He
continues that he never heard of
a West Virginian "disgracing
himself by marrying an Indian
Squaw," and thus emitting HIM
self olive alazy and vicious life in
the Indian reservation. But he
found them in the gold and silver
mines of Colorado,a las hardy herds
men upon the plains as employees
of the railroad as traders and
rancheros and in some of the
highest civil employments of the
Government. In Denver the num-
Der of those who called to see
him, we are assured by Mr.. F.
was so large that he had to fix an
hour to give them a formal re-
ception. The fact of his meeting
a w. Virginian almost everyplace
he stepped, caused one of his Re-
publican colleagues to remark,
somewhat facetiOusly, that "West
Virginia must be very good
State to emigrate from" Mr..
Faulkner told him "that large
emigration had taken place when
the State was under Republican
rule, and when the rights of civil
and political liberty were denied
to one-half ofits citizens" but that
he had "heard of no emigration
from the State since the Democrats
had been in power" Mr.. Faulk-
ner did not claim that he was re-
plying "facetiously" - therefore
we are at liberty to suppose that
he was seriously earnest in this re-
tort. But it is due to him to say
that he disclaimed talking poll
tics" and claimed to be ''simply
true to history"
Then follows this: 81 have no
objection to the enterprising and
adventurous young men of our
State going to other lands in the
pursuit of fame and fortune. /
find, wherever they 60 they make
their mark"
But / have room for no more of
this, however acceptable to the
ear of State pride, and pleasant for
us West Virginians to read. L say
Gus West Virglnians," because
though absent in body, / am still
present among the people of my
nativity in spirit, and / always ex-
pect to be, sojourn wherever /
may.
But must not forget to give Mr..
Faulkner an opportunity to define
his own position in relation to his
Indian Mission. He told the peO-
pie of Mason, land / give him
chance to say it to the people of
Berkeley and elsewhere within
the Overwhelming circulation of
the INDEPENDENT that he was
"nOt nominated to perform the