Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-04-16
LOCAL.
One il 4 Ha!|-CeatA'y.
TERESTIN INTER We "
WITH HON. A. H. FL. STUART.

INTERESTING INTER VIE "
WITH HON. A. FL. Fl. STUART.
HIGHLY INTERESTING POLITICAL RE-
MINIsCENCEs-A CONGRESSIONAL CAM
vAss FORTY-FIvE YEARS AGO-AN UN-
EXPECTED CALL TO PRESIDENTIAL
CABINET-LETTER OF DANIEL WEB
sTER-WEBsTER'S RECOLLECTIONs OF
SHEFFEY-A CALL BY PRESIDENT
DAVIS FOR MR.. sTUART's SERVICES
DELUsION OF SECRETARY BENJAMIN
ABOUT A PEACE FEELING AT THE
NORTH.
&C., &C., &C
The fact published last week that Au-
gusta has had only one representative In
congress in the last half century, though
she is one of the largest IS we'll
as most powerful counties IN Virginia,
aroused some inquiry as to under what
circumstances, and on what public issues.
her only representative in the fifty years
was sent there. That representative was
the venerable Ex-Secretary of the Interior.
Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, and representative
of this paper called on him. Mr.. Stuart
kindly gave brief history of the long ago
congressional campaign, which resulted IN
his election, and in answer to several
questions of our representative. gave
some most interesting "reminiscences, not
only about the National, but about
the Confederate government. He said:
This congressional district, in that year.
1S41, was composed of the counties of
Augusta. Rockbridge, Botetourt, Roa-
noke, Montgomery, Allegheny. Floyd and
a part of Pulaski 1 was nominated
as the Wing candidate by the convention
which met at Pattonsburg, In Botetourt
county. Among the Augusta delegates
to that convention that I can recall were,
James Bell, John G. Sewers, Col. Alexan-
der R. Giveps and William Moffett. 1t
was presided over by Gen. Watts Of Roa-
noke. My competitor, nominated by the
Democrats, was Gov. Mcdowell of Rock
bridge. He was man of high tone, of
great ability. and our families had been
intimate for generations. His grandfatb-
er was the Colonel and my Grandfather
was the Major of the Guilford regiment
that went from this part of the country
in the revolutionary war. The canvass
was conducted on plane of high courtesy
and at Its close we were even better friends
than at its beginning.
THE PUBLIC QUESTIONS OF 1S41.
which divided the people into parties, may
be stated by saying that the Democrats in
sisted on State banks. a tariff for revenue
only, and opposed internal improve nents
by the general government, and the dis
tributiop of the public lands under Mr.
Clay's DILL; while the Wings favored q
United States Bank. protective tariff, a
liberal system Of internal improvements
By the government, and the distribution
of the public land for educational purpo-
ses. The canvass between Gov. Mellow.
ell and myself lasted six weeks, and we
Travelled in company on horseback over
the district, which was an hundred and six
ty miles long. The canvass would have been
longer, but at its opening Gov. M. was alb.
sent in Mississippi. waited month fol
his return, and he not coming, started
out and opened at Fincastle, where Gov
Letcher represented my competitor.
then went to Roanoke and from there to
Montgomery, where Gov M, who had
returned, Joined me and we had a joint
discussion of seven hours duration. We
agreed there upon our programme, two
hours each, an hours rejolnder and
to close alternately. The congressional
election in that day took place on the 4th
day of April.
THE DEATH OF HARRISON.
That congressional election was the first
under President Harrison's administra.
ton, and remember that it was at Pu'
laski we received the news of his death in
" ashingtoa. I was on the speaker &
stand when the stage came in bringing
the news.
THE BREAKING OF THE BANKS.
In my opening at Fincastle had said
in my speech, that in six weeks every bank
IN the country would be suspended. The
statement excited considerable condemn.
alton among some who heard it, and a
staunch Wing came to me after it and said
he had intended to support me but was
not certain that he would now support a
candidate who would make such wild and
wholly improbable statements in order to
alarm the public mind. On our return to
Botetourt, some weeks after, we received
the first news by stage that the banks of
the country had suspended. I did not.
however, have an opportunity to see my
friend and ascertain if he had experienced a
change of opinion. The news made a great
change in Botetourt and instead of its
usual Democratic majority of 500, 1t only
gave Mcdowell 100.
THE FORMER PAY OF CONGRESSMAN.
At the close of the congressional session
in 1913, came to the conclusion that
could not afford to remain in public life.
The pay of congressman in that day was
So per day for the actual number of days
the session lasted. 1t paid about 5000 for
the short session and about 81, 400 for the
long-giving an average of little more
than eleven hundred dollars year. ]
had broken up my law practice to large
extent by my service in congress, and had
a growing family, so the pecuniary state
of the case did not admit of my serving
longer. I therefore retired from public
life and took no part in politics. except
to write political articles for the press in
moments snatched from my professional
duties, and to speak in the Presidential
canvass tf IA and '48.
l should have said that 1 took no fur.
sher part in politics with this exception
In the snrinp of 1S43 there was a str OnQ