Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-03-06
FOR THE GAZETTE.

Mr.. Editor,-ln your paper of the 9th hit
perceive That writer under the signature of
"a Freebooter" has noticed my remarks in
reference TO the electioneering system. Were
the subject. which undertook TO discuss, ca
pabie OF exciting a division of sen,iml Mt a.
mongst men of sound reflection, how wofully
disappointed would not a portion of them be,
upon reading a defence full of conempl ibe a.
buse and devoid OF any thing like argument -
IT compositions like that OF the writer under
consideration, are calculated to impart credit
to their author, surely our ideas on matters of
nature, must have either undergone a mighty
change, or the word credit must have obtain.
ed an import quite the reverse of what it for
merly bore. For the present at least. | will
touch but lightly upon the charges of ''gno-
rance, presumption, and illiberality;" charges
which he processes to draw, not from any ex.
trinsic source, but from the language Of my
address contained in your paper. The first
can have no possible foundation. Is it not a mat
ter OF the greatest notoriety that the exeora BILE
practice of obtaining suiirages, by private so.
licitation, at the mansions of freebolders, pre-
walls TO a considerable extent in this county /?
! trust, am not calling forth the Indignation of
the people against an imaginary abuse, the mere
fiction of an alarmed imagination, but against
an abuse which wears too formidable a crest to
be nistakened. II clear exposition of base
intrigue, on the part Of Candidates for seats of
trust and honour, be the distinctive mark of a
presuming mind, then do l stand guilty of pre-.
sumption, without caring to shield myself from
the charge by any defensive armour whatever
| come now to the charge Of 'illiberality,' the
least serious OF all, for call il the least serious,
not because undervalue it's contrary virtue.
but because the expression illiberality, is mere
hackneyed term with those who are fond Of
indulging in blind abuse and inliscriminatinp
invective. Where is the argument in support
of this charger From what source is it to be
derived 10 tainlv my observations have fur
nished no foundation for its support. Let the
gentleman who SO earnestly presses this charge,
prove that private and unexpected solicitations
for the honours OF our government bear upon
the stamp OF hberality, then will Aristdes tamey
silently, submit to the imputaton of illiberality
What does he mean by the term fa.sehood sails.
ing out OF his own shewing" Taking the real
import of the word for our interpreter, this is
the most serious charge Of any other, and
what IS more, my own observations have given
rise to it. In what manner is falsehood dedu
chile from my address, Have boldly address
ed IN one part oft as matter OF fact what have
denied through shame or inadvertance in ano-
ther part? Has the scrutnsing ingenuity of
this gentle man enabled him to pry sofar into
the nceties ofverbal criticism as to behold the
abyss OF phrassology the dark spectre of false
hoodnvisibIe to all but himself Truth will not
suffer confinement but she will annihilate with
severe purifying light, the musly letters
which either rasl,ness has dared or perverted
artihce has continued to cast around her, for
the purpose Of checking the appalling influence
attendant about her progress. Arlstrides has
never wished to express himself ina language
capable of generating doubt or miscons.ruction.
He exhibits the charge of base hypocrisy, as a
proposition correct in its general application, md
fairly ietkicibIe from the marked promises Of a
detestable'c ontluct manifested by candidates in
their solicitation for popular favour.
ARiSTRIDES.