Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-08-19

did near al he late election IA fairisS, what -
untrue that he either proposed 10 abolish any OF
the present publications. for sufrGge, or adv o.
Gated is univ erssl extension he adds. &c. letin
the Alexandra Gazette OF the 18th ul, i observe
these editorial remarks &c Mason oil '76 charges
Mr.. Mercer with having, in public speech to the
people OF Fairfax, declared himself in favour OF the
abolition of the freehold qualification, and says,
he gathered the doctrine the speech maintained
on that subject from accoun, oft which he saw
| in the Enqairer puiporting 10 be an extract from
an Alexandria paper; and which had never ESQ Tar
| as he knew been controdicted. We refer that
writer again the extract and assure him that i,
| never has been con,radicted-Mr. hlercer has read
it in our presence and acknowledged it 10 be cor
| rect" How it can be correct and yet untrue, Is
discrepancy the reconciliation ofwhch leaveto
| Mir. Mercer, himself
MIR. Mercer dwelt with peculiar force upon the
/! hardship that operated to individuals, who were
compelled to contribute the poor rates, and work
on the public roads, without having voice iii the
councils oil their country-he laid down, a sort
of axiom, that taxation and Representation should
20 together; from all which, il appears, the infer
ence would be irresistible, that the doctrine main-
tanned by Mr.. NJ. was, ..iat every ma, who
taxed should vote.
Ii Is needless bower er TO dispute a.out terms,
when 1t is very well ksown that on other occasions
MIR. Mercer has gone much farther than this; for he
has been heard repeatedly declare that he would
extend the right oil suffrage TO &c every father OF
family, and 10 every man who in the militia
oil his country, owning his musket and two spare
tlnts.' The truth OF this statement, am well
informed, Can be supported by several gentlemen of
the first character and responsibility, should it be
denied: aud although have understood that MIR.
Mercer did at one time deny it, much doubt
whether he will venture to do So again.
know not what grounds Mr.. Mercer may have
for the cry, he has minated OF persecution. |
" know il is not my desire to unite III the persecu
tion of him any other man. did, presump-
tuously' perhaps, but yet in conformity with
right, not only, felt hid TO do so, freeman
tou, but in discharge also, OF what considered
duty from any Individual to the community Of which
he Is a member, (hoy. ever, humble,) communicate
10 the publ facts exposing the system oil Unfair
ness which saw practised in taking the vote
Tie convention in my county. In this communica-
ton, observed entire delicacy TOW ards Mr.. Mer
Ger; but if the sta oil facts turned ou' TO Ice
cap TO fit him. and rather closely for his comfort
surely am not TO blame; ii is only because OF It's
exact aptitude. And in the violent effort he made
TO throw it off, do not how he justify him
self in passing the ran dom blow al me, that has in
posed on he the painful task OF ,indcatin;, my
| veracity. SEi ENGl-slX.
have Just read with attention, the piece signed
&c Seventy Six published in the Alexandria He
raid on the 18th May last, In relation to the man
ner OF proceeding Oh the convention question at our
last election and do without hesitation declare
full concurrence with the writer in all the facts
therein stated, with the exception OF that which
relates to the improvement OF the land by green
clover, SC. which do not recollect TO have heard,
having witnessed the whole transaction. feel nc
difficulty in adding that the practice of unfarness
such to satisfy at the time that the vote
| then taken could not, ought not. 10 be taken as
properly expressive OF the will of the people of
| Fairfax. q. MILAN.
18th OF July, 1925.
| Having this day. for the first time, in the
| Enquirer, piece copied from the Alexandria He
raid Of the lIth May, under the signature OF Sc
venty-Six' and having perused the same attentive
| ~, am free to say that do consider the write
| fully warranted in his statement, having been al
| eyewitness to most of the facts stated. In
deed may say to ali of them ofany importance.
| JOHN w. ASHTON.
18th July, 1925.
18th July, 1925.
DEAR SIR In compliance 18th your request
have perused a second time the publication over
the signature of A" Sew euty-Six that appeared in
the Alexandria Herald on the lth May last, touch
ing the in which the vote in favor of con-
| fax county. Upon my first, well rs subsequent
perusl of that piece, fully concurred with its au
thor, in all the facts therein stated. b1any causes
combined TO render me upon that occasion an at
tentive observer of all that passed near about thu
hastings; among which, the unfairness with which
the vote in favor OF invention wassobtalned. wa
not the least. In addition 10 the full expression oil M
opinion that the most unfair means were resortet
TO, to obtain that vote, I will mention one or two
Of he ell eerln mo- ricks Qf
occasion Not content with argument and solicit
alton, IL not unireQuent that Mr.. Mercer haC
recourse to equvocaiioDs and miss aem ents as sur
prising o those 10 heard them as they were i'm
proper in him. To one, the argument III favor oil
the restriction of the right OF suffrage 10 those who
gave evidence OF permanen interest IN and al
! tachment 10 the community, urged; whilst &C
second, as il might seem to suit the views OF the
the other, that of universal extension was
made use of. If the objection was made by vo-
ter, that III had heard the question started be-
fore, and would therefore require time to consider
before he would record his vote in favor OF or
against the convention, he was told by Mr.. Mercer
that he did not require him to vote for convention
he only wished him to vote in favor of some emp
ty resolutions to send members to Stanton. In
conclusion, it will be as well to state the mode in
which the election for delegates to Staunton wa;
conducted AT very late hour of the day, after
the polls were either actually closed or the
third proclamation made by the sheriff, Mr.. Waugh
proposed to fill the BLANKS in the resolutions thai
had been penned by Mr.. Mr.. Mercer, and which
he, MIR. Waugh Cat the solicitation of Mr.. Mercer
either directly indirectly made) had read in the
early part of the day, before the pollswere opened
| by the insertion the names of those gentleman
who were ultimately duly elected by Mr.. Mercer
| to attend at Stanton as Members elect from Fair
| fax county. Upon taking the vote, there was not
CJyg Out of he ten yylO hn1 rpm n
the Courthouse, in favor of their nomination
W hen Mr.. Mercer took the resnutnns out Of The