Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-03-13
FOR THE GAZETTE.

AAi' LFANs,-1 cannot withhold an
expression OF my surprise at the con.
struction which your Correspondent
Arlstldes" has given my observations
upon his REMARKS" Interference to the
electloneerlng system. l had not ina.
slned that any one capable of reading
and understanding the English Ian,
guage, could be stupid enough TO mis-.
apprehend SO far the true import and
extent of the observations in question.
as to consider them offered with view
to defend ''the electioneering system %
1t Is readily admitted that your readers
will be as ''wofully DISAPPOINTMENT in
their search for my argument in sup.
port of that practice, as they will be
IN their search fox "the clear exposition
OF base intrigue on the part of Candi.
dates for seats of trust and honor -
which "Aristides" PROCESSES to have
exhibited IN his remarks" Leaving
them to the Judgment of common sense
the true import of my observations
and the view with which thew werf
obviously offered, / must be permitted
to regard the construction which has
been given then, as exhibiting mnch
stronger evidence of stupidifg than
Discrimination. If my application to
"Aristldes" of the terms Ignorance.
presumption, lilIberaIity and falsehood''
be not fairly justified by the character
OF his REMARKS" then l am ready to
acknowledge that my supposed "de,
fence" is "iu'l of contemplate abuse.
Where are we to look for ''the clear
exposition of base intrigue on the part
OF Candidates for seats oftrust and no
nor" which Aristides" boasts having
exhibited, or the evidence Or reasoning
IN support OF the charge of "base hy,
pocrisy" which he has made? If they
be in his REMARKS" I must acknow
ledge that l do not possess "scruti-
'.ialng ingenuity" enough to discover
them. can discover nothing but the
"bold" assertion that Candidates for
popular favour who visit the dwellings
of Freeholders, witha view to solicit
support, are influenced by ga base
spirit of hypocrisy" I have given TO
this assertion, unaccompanied by ann
evidence or reasoning 10 support of ii.
all the credit and respect to which /
considered it entitled. And upon the
general character, and my personal
knowledge of many of the persons to
whom the charge is applied, and the
whole tenor Of the remarks" of Arts
tides has been predicated my applica
ton TO him of the terms ignorance,
presumption, illiberality & falsehood."
Ignorance of the character and princi-
piles of many Of those to whom the
charge of"base hypocrisy" is applied;
presumption and illiberality, in making
such charge under these circumstances,
and falsehood as it regards the spirit"
constituting the charge. Aristidcs it is
true has attempted TO exonerate him.
self from these charges, by claiming
right OF eTception to the charge which
he has made in general terms against
all Candidates, who solicit the suf-
frages of FreehOlders. He may pos
sibly find some few individuals who
may be disposed, upon the principle of
the golden rule, to grant him this right,
but cannot SO regard the language
employed by him, as to justify any
such claiEl-I disclaim the obility of
prying very deeply into the clark a
byss OF phrascology, and indeed from
some of the samples furnished by Aris
tides from that region, l am not dis
posed to GOVT him the credit arising
from bis employment of them.
I'D