Martinsburgh Gazette

SOMETHING NOVEL:

But pause gentle reader before you go on—this is no novelty of foreign manufacture—it is a phenomenon of pure domestic origin—not to keep you longer in suspense, the noted major Robert Bailey, formerly of gambling and of duelling memory, has addressed a letter to the freeholders of Monroe, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Kanawha, Cabell, Mason, Randolph and Lewis counties, Virginia, imploring them to elect him, the aforesaid major, as their representative in congress. His qualifications are various—first, he states that his father died at the battle of Cowpens, defending the liberties of America—secondly, he imbibed from his parents his republican principles—thirdly, he promises, should he be elected, to bring in a bill retrenching the salaries of public officers—fourthly, he promises to vote just as his constituents shall dictate—fifthly, to accept of no office in the gift of the executive—sixthly, he engages to send to his constituents, the journals of the house:—seventhly, that where his constituent
do not express their opinion, he will be governed by his own. On this subject, the redoubted major shall speak in his own language.

"I am a child of my own raising; I know what it is to work hard for a small compensation; I know what it is to live rich and independent; I am well acquainted with foreign affairs; and it must be given up that I am with domestic affairs. I know what would be good wholesome laws; and depend on my best endeavours to make them. I am well acquainted with every situation in life. I have been a ploughboy, and farmed largely. I have been a tavern keeper. keeper of the Sweet Springs; the keeper of Berkeley Springs, the keeper in Washington City, of one of the best hotels that ever was kept in America.

Amidst such a meridian blaze of perfection, we are sorry that the Major has compelled us to examine the other side of the question; he justly observes, however, that the human character is imperfect, and after avowing his faults, he goes on:

I believe, if any man would look back and find that his conscience don't charge him with something at least as bad as the worst accusations brought against me; I will agree for that man to be my executioner and destroyer. But I don't pretend to excuse myself on these grounds; there are none of us free from faults; for mine have been many; but they are uncloaked, and I have pleaded forgiveness, as before described. And should I meet with your forgiveness, and be your choice, I will repay you all with works and gratitude.

Now, we have given the Major's own words, and we do not aspire to the honor of being what he calls his executioners.

"I have been a great gambler, won and lost thousands and tens of thousands of dollars; and called it pleasure when I offered you my services in this district before, and told you I would not quit it, even if you elected me. But now I see my folly. I hope no man will ever gamble, who has any regard for his business; for as he takes to gambling so sure his business will go to ruin, and he be lost to society, and be in the broad way to hell, without repentance, which it has pleased God to grant me. I only wish that every man, particularly every young man, that ever heard of me, would read my book, to receive benefit; as it was my intention when it was written that it should be of use to the human family, as well as profitable to me; that they may now see the inconsistency of doing as I have done, and do the things that I recommend to be done."

Far be it from us to say, that the penitence here expressed is not real; we hope sincerely that if elected, he will give legislative evidence of his reformation.

The following constitutes the Major's confession and apology, for having separated himself from the society of his own wife.

I make these notes by way of apology for leaving my wife as I have explained in "Bailey's Memoirs." I have left her sixteen years past; but in affluent circumstances, with a good plantation, elegant furniture and plate, slaves to wait on her; paid every debt, so that not one cent could come against her, and loaded two waggons with groceries home to her; and took my two children away by force, and gave them the first education. My son, Edward B. Bailey, who is as well educated as any man in America, is now a practising lawyer in the town of Union, Monroe county. My daughter Caroline Matilda Bailey, was educated in the best style in Lexington and Winchester, and sent home to her mother. Mrs. Bailey's two children, which she had by John Rosang, I educated well, and treated them better than their poor father did. I was told they never lived happy together, and it was my unfortunate lot to be unhappy. We both wish each other well, and think that the public have nothing to do with our private affairs. Look at David, who put Uriah, the chief captain of the host in front of the battle, and had him killed for the sake of his wife Bathsheba. I don't put myself in competition with these great and good men. King David repented sorely: Robert Bailey has repented sorely, and his misfortunes have been many, prodigality, gaming, &c."

We are inclined to believe in one part of the Major's declaration at all events, and that is, that he is not descended in a direct line from Solomon: we have what diplomatists would say efficient evidence of the fact.-[ibid.