Winchester gazette. [volume] (Winchester, Va.) 18??-1826, 1824-12-10

I'D sritk ana Shen andoo.i :

\ IL
eFInjt one nho takes no common ,ntercs, il,
your welfare and future prosperity, TO call your
serious attention to The subject OF our hex, Con
gressiouSl Election. Unaccustomed TO newspa,
per essays, Iconfessit with some degree of dii-
fdence appear in the mary field osroiitcs, and
would willingly reluquish my in,cr,on, were |
not impeied BY that error patrir, which i, is the,
boast Of every American TO cherish with fond
and filiaI affection. The hints which I shall
throw together will be offered with that candor
| aud freedom which ought always TO characterize
discussions having fer their aim the public veal;
confidently relying they will he received in the
same spirit of lberai,y by an intelligent and I'M
BIASED community.
II is with no small concern that have witness
ed the local feeling and prejudice which has, Of
late, prevailed at our elections FOR members Of
Congress. Instead of our passions being soften
ed and mellowed by the absence of party spirit
il seems that II is only necessary for one county
TO declare her prediction for particular can
didate, TO ensure vigorous and deter mined OPP
position from the other. What can be the cause
of this singular and childish stubborness, | am
unable to determine; but one thing is certain,
that so long as such feelings are prevalent, we
can never expectto make selection worthy tue
wealthiest district in Virginia.
That we should always select men Of unques-
toned talents TO represent us in Congress, is
postu!ate, which. suppose, no one will have the
hardihood to deny ;-how much more necessary
then is it, that the people of this district should
be ably and respectfully represented, when the
nineteenth congress will, in all probability, de-
termine the route of the contemplated turnpike
road from Washington to New Orleans. II must
be obvious to the meanest understanding thai
talents and weight of character will be OF prna.
ry Importance in advocating the passage of II
road through this Valley and it must be equal E
BILE injury or the most beneficial consequently
o the people OF this Valley. f:guments need
aardly be adduced TO prove the advantages O
turnpike roads. Ask the Pennsylvanians the
cause OF their present prosperity, and they viii =
point TO their excellent roads. Witness the nu
merous beautiful and hourishing villagesthat hav
Turnpike, and we have a striking proof OF the
advantages. But need not multiply argument
TO prove their utility the question which mos
interests us is, how are we to obtain the PASSAGE
the road from Washington TO New Orleans,
through this Valley' To which answer, that,
possessing, as we Dc, advantages over every other
route that has been proposed, either as it regards
cheapness aud convenience OF materials and dem
sity of population, we may reasonably expect the
National Legislature will give due consideration
TO these important advantages. But here the
question will very naturally arise with many,
ought not the people of this district, disregarding
all personal, local, and political feelings, unite
and give their suHrages to that man, who, upon
a candid and dispassionate consideration, they
may think most capable, by his talents and
weight of character, TO advance so important an
object? Surely reason and interest would an
~"S' III '"e am n'o''e' lhe people NOuIo DtE
blind to their own welfare and to the welfare oil
their posterity, who do not thus act. Every conf
sideration, then, ought to prompt you to adop
this rational and laudable course.
To the people OF Shenandoah would now
particularly address myseIf:-Your population
is composed, principally, of Germans. have
always admired that PLAIN, straightforward, no i
nest course which is your peculiar Characters ]
tic; but must honestly tell you, that your cha
racter for independence has, of late, been very
much questioned. The impression has obtained
very general belief, that it is only necessary to as
certain the sentiments of a few leading indlvidu4
the result can thus, without the intervention Of
an election, be very readily predicted.--To speaa
more plainly that the votes of the county are
regulated aud determined by the few and not the
many. i do not say this rs the case I sincerely
hope it is not but again tell you it is the gen.
eral impression abroad. would invite you to
examine into the matter. Suffer not so disrepu
| table charge to prevail any longer. Let your
| independent votes at the ensuing election show
your fellow-ci citizens that you are not thus tram
melted. II such has hitherto been the case, it j.
time their power was at an end. Resist every
attempt, howevercovert, to influence you in YOU
| choice the People, when LEFT To Themselves will