The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-01-19

senatortaI-Attseks Upon Davis
His Aid In Enfranchising the Con
federates-Mr. Faulkner's Back
Pay"
Editors of the Register:
A communication signed observer
appeared in the Erenins Standard on the
18th instant, which was intended to
cripple one OF the candidates for seat
in the Senate of the United States, and
to inure to the benefit of his chief COM
petitor. Senator Davis record in the
Legislature of West Virginia, has been
again given to the public. If the writer
had intended to be fair and Just, be
would have said that this whole
matter had been discussed and passed
upon, when Mr.. Davis was elected to his
present position by the Legislature, six
years ago. Notwithstanding the news
paper publications upon the subject at
that time, and the tact that q circular
containing full! statement of his votes
in the Legislature wss laid upon The
desks OF the members at Q time when
the facts were fresher in the minds of
the people than they are now, the Demo
cratic members of both houses of
that Legislature nominated him
in caucus upon the first ballot
for the position he now holds. Ordi.
narily when the act of q public official
has been passed upon by the people, That
is the end Of 1t. observer" sympathizes
with the Confederate element of Hsmp-
shire, Hardy and other counties in that
section OF the State, who, he says,
suffered by Mr.. Davis votes IN the Legis.
lnture. Has observer" forgotten, or is
he ignorant Of the fact, that at the very
first election alter these Objectionable
votes were given, that the Demo-
crscy of the Senatorial dis
trict of which Hampshire and
Hardy counties form & part, nominated
Mr.. Davis unanimously for the Senate
and elected him, and that he Was the
only Democratic Senator elected in that
year, in the whole State outside Of the
the Wheeling district, and that they
kept him in that position by reelection,
until he was called 10 his present posi-.
ton The very people among whom be
lived. Confederates rs they were, and
whose fate "Observer" 80 deplores, had
the fullest confidence in him. And
further, has observer forgotten,
or is he ignorant OF the
fact that the registration acts,
Tor which Mr.. Dsvi, voted in the
first Legislature after the war, did not
contain all the Objectionable feaiures Of
which the people go justly complained.
The most Objectionable features were
added by subsequent amendments and
that Mr.. DAVIS voted against each Of
those amendments, and SO far from
his voting for the Constitutional amend.
ment, a. insinusted by "Obser-
ver," he voted against it! 1t
was this amendment that prevent
ed professional gentlemen from pur
suing their professions, and creditors
from seeking rehef in our courts, and TO
this measure Mr.. Davis was as much op-
pesed as any of u. We all know that
be contributed as much of his means and
time TO give the Democracy the control
OF our State a. any man 10 It. and that
he has always, q, every election since,
been sc.Ive and efficient in contributing
10 the strength Of the party.
His course in the Senate of the United
States has been most successful
and commendable one Up TO the time
he entered that body not 8
dollar OF money bad ever been appro-
pris,ed TO the internal improvement Of
ihe State. Messrs. Csrlile, Wiley,
Vanwinkle and Boreman had preceded
him. and the latter served Sith him for
two years, but none Of them did any
thing to develop the splendid resource.
Of our State until Mr.. Davis entered The
Ser.,e. Since be hss been there and
largely b, his influence, the govern ment
has appropriated, to be spent in West
Virgins, over one million OF dollars.
He has deect,ed and brought 10 light
crepsnciss in the Treasury department,
amounting 70 hundreds of millions of
dollar. of money, and the disclosures
thus made through his investigation was
adopted BY the Democratic nAtion il
convention and inserted IN its platform
las, wear. He has been ss vigilant and
attentive, and successful a any man
We, Virginia has ever houored with >
seat in that body.
We do no,vindicate Senator Davis for
supporting the decreased ssiary bill srd
receiving the money, nor do ve vitd :
cate or excuse other gentlem"n tor
prod,ing BY increase Of salary. For in
stance, the Hon. Charles j. Faulkner. IN
1856, if ve do not forget the time, re-
ceiyed an increase Of his congrsssi nal
paw, which related bark for seveotsen
months, and amounted 70 between four
ard ave thoussnd dollars. We have no
desire 70 follow the example Of 'Ob-
,erysr.p 10 criticise the actioas Of other
g.ntlemen now aspirAst for senatorial
Ronor,, upon this suhjec. Of increassd
talary pay. or sCts tosching the var or
other mattsrs II vs had such deuire,
ve vouhnt bs without something 70