Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-01-22
HON. ALEX. e. BOTELEI:.


election of the Hon. A. Il. Boteler, OF
Jefferson comfy, to the United States
Senate; and If the Legislature Of West
Virginia shall, in its wisdom, see fit to
favor the suggestion, the State will have
the valuable services of one OF the most
devoted of her sons, whose character,
endowmenis, culture ard Legislative ex-
perience have eminen0y qualified him
tor place in the National councils,
where his energy, business tact, genial
manners, persuasive eloquence and cx-
tensive acquaintance with the public
men of both parties could not fail to
make him a prominent and useful mem
Der, and no less influential than popular
among his congressional associates.
The writer of this imperfect sketch
has known Mr. Boteler for many years
and, although of different politics, ney-
err omitted an opportunity TO vote tor
him in his famous nmG beiium con
tests with his distinguished antagonist
the Hon. c. J. Faulkner, whom he
finally defeated for Congress in the
spring of 1859.
On the day that he first took his seat
in the House of Representative he was
nominated for the speakership-a very
unusual compliment to new member
and during the eventual scenes of that
Congress (the Thirty-Sixth), he not on
ly justified by his course the Partially
of his friends, but likewise acquired a
National reputation for cloqnence and
conservatism.
His speech con the organization Of
the House" thrilled the hearts of all
who heard it and melted many Of the
members TO tears. Mr.. Corwin, OF
Ohio, being among The number of those
who were yisably affected by the pa
thos of its eloquent appeal for the
Union.
Upon the formation Of the Bell and
Everett Tor Unconstitutional Union }
party, Mr.. Cri,tenden of kentucky,
was selected as :he Chairman OF It's
National Executive Committee, but the
labor Of conducting The Presidential
campaign being oncrous for him, Mr..
Boteler was substituted in his place,
and managed lis multifarious affairs
with such signal ability and energy as
to deserve the success which could moi
be commanded.
Untring in his efforts to preserve
the Union, it was on MIR. Botelcr's mo-
ton at the opening of the second SEES
sion of the 36h Congress that the ccie-
brated committee of 33 was appointed
to take into consideration the "perilous
condition of the country" and when
the State of Virginia seeded he was
an "Independent Union candidate for
Congress" without any opposition in his
District. "Whan, however, Ito quote
from an address OF his in l874,) The
vexed questions which disturbed our
peace, ere rudely thrust from the TO
rum of debate to be decided on the
field by the bloody arbitrment OF the
sword-when the war had actually be-
gun, and Virginia, true to her tradition
al teachings, tearfully but with proud
determination, summoned her SONS To
defend her from what was honestly be
lievcd to be an unlawful invasion OF
her rights and territory, | could not
find it in my heart 10 diSobey her man
date, but deemed j! my duty to follow
her fortunes and to share her fate. In
her defense, during the saddest of al!
sad episodes in our countrys history, l
freely risked my life by the side OF
Stoncwall Jackson from the first and
with Lee to the last, paying tn ; penalty
of my devotion TO her in the sacrifice OF
my fortune and the destruction OF my
home.
"But when Ito continue the quota
tion,) | surrendered at AppomattoX,
where tie magnaulmity OF the victor
did more in an hour to conquer the
hearts of what was left of 'the army OF
Northern Virginia" than cannon had
accomplished III the whole campalgn-
! surrendered in good faith, fully con-
WINGED that the cause OF the South was
lost torever-that the decree rendered
on that eventual day was final, from
which there could be, and should be,
no appeal, and from that time TO this,
recognising no other raliying point for
my patriotism but the &merical flag,
| have done everything in my power
to obliterate the bitterness Q! our I'M
happy strife and to re establish OH tho
firm foundations of mutual respect, NH
tual confidence, mutual forbearance and
mutual torgivncss, that earnest, honest,
old fashioned fellowship which former
ly existed among ourselves, and which
characterized those halcyon days OF
returning peace, happiness and prospect
-ty known 10 -enr fathers as 'the era OF
good feeling;' when
"-none was tor party,
But all were for the State,
When the great man helped the poor,
And the poor man loved the great:
When the lands were fairly pOrt!oned
And the spoils were fairly sold,
And AMERICANS were brothers
In the brave days of Old"
The foregoing extract sufficiently in
dcates the position of Mr. Botcler in
regard to what he so justly dcsignates
as "the saddest of all sad episodes" in
our country's history, and since the war
he has faithfully devoted himself to the
patriotic obligations and pursuits OF
peace.
As an evidence of the appreciation Of
his people for him, it may be mentioned
that when the war began he was sue
cessively elected to the Legislature by
his county, to the Confederate Congress
by bis district, and to the Provisional
CONGRESS by the Convention of his