Year: 1874

from Sl1 to $22 per month. The
fact is, have ever been, and ever
will be a friend to the poor. and
particularly to the soldier. and if the
poor and soldiers will stand by aud
sustain me as [ have them. l will
not fear any opposition that may come
against me.


| voted against the proposition TO
increase the pay of members o: COh,
gress fron' eight dollars per day to
three thousand dollars per annum.
The fact is, we have had better men
in Congress at eight dollars per day
and three thousand dollars per annum
than we have had at five thousand
and seven thousand five hundred


If | am elected, | will DO all l can
to reduce the pay of the members of
Congress to three thousand dollars
and if | fail iE this, will draw the
FIVE thousand. three of which | will
keep, and the two thousand l will
distribute in this district 10 such
patriotic and christian institutions |
in my judgment think just. 4 por-
ton of it | will donate to the Agri-
cultural and Mechanical School at
Blacksburg. | will also introduce
resolution to reduce tie
the Presidents alary back to twenty
five thousand dollars. and | will do
all | can to bring the government to
what it was before the war. | will
also strive for, and secure if | can.
Virginian's share in the public lands I;
for she has a stronger claim upon
the government than any State in
the Union. She gave away mighty
empire, embracing the States of
Kentucky. Ohio. Indianna, Illinois
and Michigan, If ever there was a
time in our history when we needed
what is our share of the public lands,
this is the time; for Virginia was a
slaughter, house during the war, and
is mighty graveyard tO>day. Our
losses were necessarily very heavy
during the war, aud if we are now
allowed our just share of the public
lands. we can apply their proceeds to
the education of the children, white
and black; to the erection Of works
of internal improvement the payment
of our State debt-Or such Of it as
we ought to pay. The question Of The
State debt is a very delicate one, aud
one that is exceedingly difficult Of
solution. | am one of those who
think that the general government
ought to pay our debt; or at least to
see that West Virginia shall pay her
just portion of it, [ have not time
nor space in this communication to
present my views at length upon this
important subject, but | will present
them 70 the people face to face. /
am opposed 10 reputation; and if
West Virginia will pay her share of
the debt, am willing for us to pay
our share of what we justly Owe-nOt
as it is claimed of US.


When | represented this district in
Congress. obtained more situations
for poor young men and iatherless
boys, than all the representatives
from the district together for the last
fifty years. | had established more
postOffiCe es and POSTAL rontes than any
other member from this district ever
did, and | think | distributed among
the people of the district more docu-
ments, grass and garden seeds than
any representative the district ever
had.


If it is the pleasure of the people
to send me to Congress, | intend to
labor strenuously to have the rich
bOndhOlders Of the North taxed on
their bonds. according to their value
and not have them exempt as they
are. | now am, as | have ever been,
for taxing every man according to
what he is worth, upon the ud CuiOrem
principle, and | am opposed to col
lecting any more money from the
people than will support their gov
ernment. Aud am for having the
government administered for the least
possible amount of money. The
times demand a more economical ad-
ninistra lion than We have had for
severeral years; and here | will take
occasion to say that there is an i'm
perative necessity for a more equitable
distribution of the currency of the
country than at present exists. We
need, and must have more money in
the West and South The North has
plenty and to spare. but they are OPP
posed to increasing the amount, or to
fair distribution between the North,
the West as the South. We must
unite with the West and the best and
surest means to accomplish our de-
slres in this direction. We are justly
entitled to fair share of the national
currency, aud we must have it,


[ will next define my political and
personal position am a Democrat
upon principle, The first vote | ever
cast for a President was for Andrew
Jackson. and [ have given my support
to all the Democratic administrations
from his down TO that of Mr.. Buc>
hanan; and | have seen no reason to
change my op nion-upon the con-
trary. much to confirm them. My
doctrine is that ours is government
of the people: that all power belongs
to them, that they are capable Of
self-gOvernment, and that majority
has a right to rule. Here the question
arises. who constitute a majority OF
the people? / answer, the farmers,
the mechanics and the producing
class. As to myself, | will say tnat
| was raised between the handles of
a plow, and with a wagon-whip in my
hand, and [ am still farmer.


The objection has been urged
against me that / have been too long
in public office. [ was three ears in
the House of Delegates, eleven H.