Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-19
and adorned. IN which our national iesisla-
tors now enact our laws
HONEST CANDIDATES.

and adorned. IN which our national iesisia-
tors now enact our laws
HONEST CANDIDATES
Can any one be astonished. when their
splendid surroundings. and the luxurles OF
a sojourn In Washington In these days
with a salary Of 1900 per annum,
are taken into consideration, that tnere
are 10 many self-constitutcd statesmen IN
every congressional district In the states
who are ever bescecbing the dear people
to send them 10 Congress: but wouihnt
II be q great wonder II now there could
be found a man who would say to the
people II will serve you to the best OF
my ability, II you will elect me to Office
without any solicitation on my part Tor
your votes" have never known but one
such case In modern politics. and that
was some years ago, when the late Frank
lin Stearns on being asked by the people
Of Henrico TO be candidate Tor the
Legislature, replied TO them Il VIII &c
cept the position II you will elect me.
but I will not authorize any OF you to
suppose that / will lend you money or
endorse notes for you because l am
candidate, nor will solicit your votes
IL vas In this Capitol. although then IN
an unfinished state that John Clopfon and
John Marshall performed their legislative
duties
PURE POLITICS.
How different were political conditions
then from what they are now. Clopton
and Marshall were personal friends, as
well as political opponents. They re-
spected and esteemed each other. and the
people had confidence In both OF them
Neither would make q disparaging per-
ttA t,,f l...fh
would only discuss before the people their
respective views OF distinct measures Of
legislation. Neither would solicit votes.
and both would have considered II a de-
graduation to himself and an insult to the
voter TO offer him money. Politics were
honest In Virginia in those days, and
modern political schemes and practices
were unknown and unthought OF. A sim
ple. old-fashioned sense of honor ruled In
elections. There was no thought Of cheat
ing at the polls. man who would COM
nit a fraud at an election would be as
much condemned as a man who would
steal sheep. Everything was done
openly, and above board. Voting was
done viva voce. No man was afraid for
all others to know for whom he voted,
and no man was condemned. abused. and
villfied for voting as he pleased.
AN ELECTION IN RICHMOND.
Let me describe an election in Rich
mond at that time. The city had about
1900 people. and all OF them voted at Hen
rico county courthouse Clopton and
Marshall were the opposing candidates
for Congress. The Judge of the election
sat upon the bench, with the candidates
on either side of him. The voter would
approach. and the Judge would say: "Who
do you vote for Mr.. Smith, Il vote
for John Marshall" Mr.. Marshall would
then shake him by the hand, and says
II am obliged to you. Mr.. Smith ana
then Mr.. Brown would come up, ana
vote for John Clopton. and Mr.. Clopton
would shake hands with him, and thank
him. and so 1t would proceed until the
polls were closed.
THE PARSONS JOKE.
There were then in Richmond two dis
tinsuished preachers, pleasant memories
of whom have reached down TO the present
time--Parson Blair, Presbyterian, and
Parson Buchanan. an Episcopalian. They
were good friends and pious men, and
both of them were fond OF an innocent joke.
Parson Blair was thought to favor Mr..
Clopton and Parson buchanan was
thought to be In favor OF John Marshall
The contest was a close one, and every
vote counted. The two parsons had de-
termined not to vote. thinking perhaps
that their duties lay more In the direction
of taking care of souls IMAM III pro
noting the welfare OF candidates. IL
was a three-days' election, owing to the
weather The friends of the candidates
were active In bringing voters to the polls
They importuned and begged the TWO
parsons to vote. In this state or tninss,
the two parsons held a conference. ana
determined TO vote. so as to make their
votes offset each other. They went TO
the polls together-everybodys attention
was alert The Judge said: PEARSON Blair
for whom do you vote?" The Par
SON replied: II vote for John Mar
shall" The friends of Marshall were
jubiant, supposing they would get
Parson Buchanan's vote. too; and thus
probably elect Marshall. Marshall was
astonished too. but with much courtesy
he arose from his seat. shook Parson Blair
by the hand, and cordially thanked MN.
The Judge then turned TO Parson Buch-
anan, and asked him. For whom 90 you
yote?" All was hushed expectation-al!
expected him TO vote for Marshall. he
replied: 81 vote for John Clopton.' My
readers may fancy the situation-but Mr..
Clopton. although surprised, took the Par
son by the hand, and cordially thanked
him for his vote. The two parsons quietly
retired, and were soon doubtless Laughing
with each other at the gentie ruse tiey
had played upon the politicians. Johh
cIopton served in Congress as our repre-
sentative with honor to himself and with
satisfaction TO his constituents. lie lelt
behind him a son, Judge John Ii. Cloptoh.
who adorned the Circuit-Court bench OF
the State for many years lie was one
CANT gentlemen l ever knew, and as
Judge he ranked as high among all the
bar who practiced before him. and among
the people, as any judge who wore the
ermine in Virginia; and his son, Judge
William J. Clopton, of Manchester Is
large-sized chip off OF the old block, and
the popular Judge Of Chesterfield county.
JOHN MARSHALL.
What can / say of him that Will de-
lineate his exalted character? l once heard
the Rev. Dr. Hoge in a public address re-
mark that If a man would write the MS
tory OF Richmond he must write the MS
tory of virginia and II he would write
the history OF Virginia he must write the
history Of the United States; and so say.
that IL a man would write the history OF
orr National Government. he must write
the history of John Marshall In 1890
President John Adams appointed MN
Chief Justice of the United States, and
for thirty-five years he sat upon the
bench of that august tribunal, and by the
powers of his clear. logical mind made
plain and ineligible to all the theory
and character Of the National Govern
mept and declared what were the cor
relative powers OF the State govern
ments and the rights and duties or the
States and nation towards each other
He was, indeed. the great expounder OF
the Constitution. Judge Robert Hughes
In an address delivered by him
at Lancaster. Pa. In June, 1884,
said: "rhe fame OF John Marshall rests
upon the part he had in establishing
and solidify.ng our National Government.
His best memorial is that Constitution TO
which he gave power and authority
wherever the territory of the United
States extends and the Stars and Stripes
of America float. From the convention
of 1883 he received n parchment; and ne
made 1t the supreme law of States, the
crucial law OF laws and standard OF
American legislation. The architects or
1883 made the draft of an ideal structure
he erected the building which they de-
signed, OF staunchly-fitted timbers. and
of strength TO withstand the shocks or
rayolutinn and the vicjssifuQes of time