Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-05

election the sixth term, and it might be shewn
that there was reasonable ground to suppose he
would not again press his pretensions. Nor
vas it then known to many that Mr. Thompson,
of Fairfax, would be candidate The sugges-
ton was first considered at Prince William
Court and not adopted there, not from its i'm
policy. but from an opinion that there was not
time TO pursue ii with effect.
A gentleman writing TO his friend upon this
subject the 9th March, says-"In talking to ma
my of the most influential gentlemen of this
county, Up. W. understood from them most
distinctly, that they were anxious Mr.. Mercer
should b.. superseded, and they would heartily
concur in supporting republican that might
'be selected by either Loudoun or Fairfax II
{ is thought too late to appoint delegation 10
act efficiently, and Mr.. Thompson is now pro.
posed as candidate" So rested the cues
ton; but confess was surprised TO learn last
evening from gentleman Of great respectable
ty, whose opportunities OF Judging, and whose
Judgment can be con6ded in, that, had an oppo-
sition candidate to Mr. Mercer been previous
ly selected by delegates nominated as proposed,
Mr. Mercer would have gone into Loudoun
with majority greatly above one hundred a.
gdinst him.
AS il is, Mr.. Thompson, who, must say, al
though personal and political friend OF mine,
has not that prominency or force Of character
as politician to render him formidable COM
pe,itor in an election for representative to con-
gress, obtained majority of 40 Notes.-The e.
lection being thin one s. unusually pathetic
many influential men having been neutralised,
or rendered Indifferent 10 the result, by the
known or presumed opposition of both the can
ddates to the present Administration OF the
General Government
This IS 10 me an almost inurmounabe OBJ.
lection to Mr.. Thompson; but would vote for
him upon the principle that an open enc my is
even less 10 De dreaded than assembling one.
No one can doubt, who has any knowledge oil
the sentiments Of the people OF this district, tina;
ten 10 one Of them are in favor Of the Admins
tration.-Yet it is whimsical enough, that with
out any pledge from him to pursue the incina-
tons Of his constituents, one representative Will
be inimical TO it.
This political anomaly arises, 1 presume,
from one or both Of these causes, and would
have been obviated by delegatorial nomlna-
ton. In the first place general impression
had been made, the reason oil which may be
hereafter discussed, that Mr.. Mercer would
withdraw from public life, or al least decline a
reelection 10 Congress. It was strongly OPP
erative motive with many to sustain him IN
1928, tina, cit you'd be cruel to turn him out;" and
il was believed that his narrow escape then, un-
der the influence Of every appeal which could
excite sympathy,would be taken as an adm"ni-
lion. and be improved by him accordingly. The
grace. however, with which he glided into pub
lie view in 1925, is no doubt Iccollected,
but it was surmised, that as it had taken two
wears TO cicatrice his wounds, 1t would be rea-
sopable TO accord him TWO more Tor them 10
fill in and become firm.
Indeed i, wac common opinion with many
Of US q do not say il in derision) that the sue
cession had been then settled in the Loudoun
"dynasty," and that gentleman OF great ener-
CIV and public uscfulness-one equally distin-
guished for legal knowledge and Bellies. Lettres
attachments was now 10 be the successor
With these pre-impressions and agreeable
homes it was with natural surprise hat we
saw in your Gazette, two or three weeks since,
that one experienced representative would still
favor us with the benefits Of his experience,
and we should have felt flattered by the lateness
of this annunciation, 10 US, as seeming 10 i'm
ply that he had reservedly waited to ascertain
whether we were inclined TO select another, but,
unfortunately for the qualification OF our self
love, we learned that the good people oil Lou
doun had been favored several weeks earlier
with this mark Of condescension, and disclosure
of will to sacrifice the tranquility of private
life to a sense of public duty.
We have fallen on happy times: We have
daily instances Of such patriotic sacrifices
And, surely, it is worthy Of all gratitude that
men who think their services essential to the
public veal should determine not to withhold
:hem
! But to the other cause of this existing ano-
maly.
An opinion has been propagated with almost,
as much cunning as zeal, that the people of
I.ou6oun will not tolerate a resident of any
other of Its sister counties Of the district as its
representative. This notion is very favor able
to tho aspirations of any Loudoun successor;
but it is untrue, and injurious to the character
Of the high-mnded and ingenious yeomanrv
of that noble county Yet its prevalence has
no, been without its effect, for it has contribut-
ed to paralyze the feeling Of the other two
cou6ties, and to induce them to submit to any
existing evil till some political movement 10
| redress it shall first be made by their all pow
erful sister. Hence, if no distinguished Lou
douner would consent to undergo the fatigue Of
canvass and expose himself to the painful