Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-07-12

jority ofthose assembled upon due notice, thai
this question ras to be taken? To both ofthese
interogatories we unhe &tatingly answer in
the affirmative. The ia did ON that day con-
stitute majority Of the votets Of Fairfax
for none are voters save present freeholders'
and there is no other way Of ascertainirg the
number of freeholders present, than by count.
ing the voters who present themselves to the
polls, & who. are recorded on the books ofthe
clerks. We have said before that 224 were
on that day so recorded; and we presume, 1t
will not be denied that ia make majority
of that number. But here we cede great
deal, for in fact those who declined vote on
the convention, were no more voters in re-
spect to that question, than those who ne
elected to 60 to the Courthouse, were, in re-
spect to Assemblymen. The true majority,
therefore, was the difference between ia
and Is.
In answering the first interogatory, we
have also answered the second, except as to
the question of due notice. On that subject,
little need be said-it is not m:tterrequiring
specified notice regulated by law. 1t IS
voluntary movement by the people, and a
sufficient notice is all that is desirable From
the time the first proceedings took place in
Loudoun, it was understood by every voter
in Fairfax, who troubled himself with public
matters, that the question would be taken in
his county on the election day. The proceed
ings in Prince William, and afterwards at Lou
doun again, were additional notices-and the
seven candidates for the Congress and the
General Assembly, riding in every direction
through the county, may fairly be supposed
to have given sufficient notice, even had the
people never heard of the subject before
We have avoided saying any thing in relation
to the proselytizing exertions of the contend
ing parties. With that, We have nothing to
do, not having touched the subject in our re-
port.
"AIason of '76" charges Mr.. Mercer with
having, in public speech to the people of
Fairfax, declared himself in favor of the aboli-
ton of the freehold qualification of suffrage,
and says he gathered the doctrine the speech
maintained on that subject from an account
of it which he saw in the Enquirer, purport-
ing to be an extract from an Alexandria paper;
and whi;h had never $50 far as he knew been
contradicted. We refer that writer again to
the extract, and assure him that it nerer has
been contradictcd Mr.. Mercer has read
it in our presence, and acknowledged it to be
correct We heard, we believe, every word
of his speech-nothing was freer from ambi-
guilty: that it contained any such declaration,
"that erery man ,cho pays tar ought TO aote, ;"
we declare to be utterly unfoundedi and so tar
from wishing to give the right of suffrage to
free negroes, he explicitly stated that sit could
be safely extended to all free uhife citizens
who had permanent interest in the state."-
So we reported him in the first instance.
We cpoy the following article from the
New York American, concuring with the
Editors in their sentiments, both as regards
the speech and the booksellers. We, there
fore hope, they will qualify their expression
San Alexandria paper" so as to exone'
rate as from the charge Of Misrepresentation.
The fairest way is always to name the paper
upon which comments are made.
Mr.. Webster's Grafton at Bunker
Hill, is to be had at all our bookstores.
1t should be read by every body, both
for the matter and the occasion. 1t
would be unjust TO the enterprizing
booksellers who gave the unusually
high price of $500 for the copy right,
to interfere with its sale by any ex-
tracts in the papers: we therefore
abstain, though with reluctance. This
may be a proper occasion to no.
tice miserable attempt that has been
made, in an Alexandria paper, to dis
parage Mr.. Webster's character, by
representing him as selling this Grafton
for his own benefit. MIR. Webster has
no interest whatever in the sale. He
presented the manuscript to the Bun
ker-hill Monument Association, who
sold it for the sum of $500; to be devo-
ted to the funds for erecting the monu-
ment.
Erata.-In the first line of the Sd para
graph, ofthe last No. of a Freeman of 1926,
for preserving, read reversing.
In the middle of the Sd column, for country
of Illinois, read county of Illinois.
In the first note, $40 for 846.
NATIONAL ROAD.
81. CldirsviRe, June 25.-The first di-
vision of this road, extending from
Canton Bridgeport to the west end
of St. Clairsville, is expected to be un-
der contract the first week in July. A
great number of persons are now on
,Lo lee oc tL, raaE accommodated ~,