Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-04-22

" 4
IN sELF-DEFENSE-HIS ALTERED
BEARING--ITs PROBABLE EFFECT
ON HIS CHANCES FOR THE SENA-
TORsHIP. -
WASHINGTON, d. c., (
April II, 1875.
Mr.. Faulkner has given his rea-
sons for declining TO unite with the
West Virginia Senators in their
letter to the United States Attor-
ney General, in favor of establish
ing Government paper mills at
Harper's Ferry, as you will find
by reference to the Charlestown
Free Press.
Mr.. Faulkner Is severe upon the
getters up of the letter to Mr..
Pierrepont, not hesitating to speak
contemporary of their motives.
He claims to have taken the mi
tiative, in the paper mill project,
in the only direction promising
Il g accomplishment of that plan
of relief for Harper's Ferry-that
is, by presenting and having prop
erly referred the petition Of sever
al hundred Jefferson people in
that behalf. He contends that the
Attorney General has no more
power in the premises than the
man in the moon-that it rests
with Congressman that Senators
Davis and Caperton would show
there sincerity by bringing bill
before the Senate in favor of the
paper mills and give him a chance
to support it in the House.
In relation to this he is mani
testing a good deal eff feeling for
man usually calm, collected and
cautious. But there is a cause for
his losing
HIS ACCUSTOMED EQUANINITY. :.
This has been supplied by some
very severe reflections upon his
conduct in connection with the
accounts Of DR.. Murphy, while he
was Paymaster Murphy, made by
The National Republican. The
telegraph has already made you
aware of the fact of the newspaper
attack alluded to and his explana-
tory statement to the House.
Twas no. surprised at his severe
~ denunciatory language reflect
ing his newspaper assailants. But
| confess, as | told him to-day,
that I was not prepared for such
disrespectful language towards
President Grant. In saying
which had in memory the COM
pliment implied in his appoint
ment on the late Indian Investi-
eating Committee. l say the inn
piled compliment, because, as /
said on a former occasion, although
that appointment was considered
as the privilege of the Indian
Commissioners, it would doubtless
not have been made had it not
been known to harmonic
with the kindly and respectful dis
position of the President toward
Mr.. Faulkner, a disposition of
which his language in Congress.
the other day, codld hardly be con-
strued as a reciprOcatiOn. Take
for illustration this paragraph of
Ills EAfLAN AIlON
| "Sir, if l do not characterize the
editors of this journal in the terms
which they merit, and this Ad-
ministration, which feeds and
nourishes these vipers that bask in
| the sunshine of the Executive pa.
tronage, it is not from any respect
to either, but because L feel re-
strained by the sense of prOpriety
which is due to a unanimous vote
of the House, according me the
privilege Of a personal explain
ation."
In view of such an av0wal of
want Of respect as that, / risk moth
ing in predicting that Mr.. Faux
ner has received his last compli-
ment from that direction. But
not only so. He must have made
up his mind that he will not need
| in his coming convass for the u.
s.. Senatorship such help from
President Grants friends as was
so acceptable to him during his
late canvass for the seat he now
holds. Having thus cut loose en-
tirely from the friends of the Ad-
ministration and forfeited and Sc
cured their sympathy, his road to
the Senate, il he gets there, will be
q rather harder road to travel than
that to the House. To this, | pre-
sumo he has made up his mind.
And yet, L think ON the straightout
Democratic issue his competitor
will prove too much for him seeing
that he, Mr. Davis's record has not
been tainted as his own has been,
las an old line Democrat would
say) with Whiggery, or even with
Liberal Republicanism.
That Mr.. Davis would be the
strongest man on the straight out
Democratic issue, / do not think