Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1830-11-18

ces were peculiarly solemn and impressive,
and an increased interest was added to the
OCCASION. from the number Of young persons
VINO, in a iuil Conviction Of their obligations,
anu, as we have reason to believe, under the
most serious Impressions, presented them
selves TO confirm and ratlfy their baptismal
vows and engagements, and 10 receive fhe
blessings Of the highest officer IN the church.
militant. On Monday morning. Bisbon
Meade left this for Shepherdstown. we
omitted mentioning, that the Holy rite Of
COMBINATION was administered to six persons
at Mount zion Church on Saturday.
To The General assembly Of Trginia the me.
moriat 81 The ,nldcrsigacd, citizens Of
county, respectfully represents:
That your memorialists cherish the most
unieisned regard for the laws and institutions.
generally, OF our ancient commonwealth;
but whilst they yield to none in affcctionate
attachment for the political Institutions ofthe
state OF their birth and Of their adoption, they
are net insensible that defects, glazing de-
fects. exist in some of the statutes Of the
state-defects, which, the observation and
experience Of past years, in the view of your
menorialists. imperiously require the prompt
)nterposition OF your honorable bodies.
Your memoglalists disclaim entertaining
any desire sor wanton innovation on long es-
tab.ished usagas which experience has proved
TO be the salu.ary and wise; but they are
constrained ~ pronounce the existing laws
for holding the elections of this common
wealth, as act Of that class.
Your memorialists deprecate that provision
of the election laws which directs that the O.
~lections shall be held on the respective court
days in the month nfAprii. The evils which
that provision give rise to, are particularly
A. =.
sional and senatorial elections.
Your memoriaiists deem it an act of super
erogation to enter into an elaborate detail of
the various objections to which the present
system, generally. Is obnoxious. Let a few
sutfic e-others will doubtless occur 10 the
minds OF your honorable body:
Illuminating as is the fact, it nevertheless
cannot be denied, that the Intervening time
which occurs between the dlfiere Mt elections
Of the counties comprising either a congress
sional or senatorial district, when different
candidates present themselves, is generally
employed in pursuing a system Of election
ee1ng and intrigue, totally Incompatible, as
your memorialists believe, with the purity
and independence Of the elective franchise,
and disgraceful to .freemen. The political
strength Of a particular candidate dor exam.
ple), in an election which has passed, in one
or more counties, being ascertained, the po-
litical machinery Of others, yet to follow, is
set in motion to defeat him; combinations
are iormed-compremises made The pas
slons Of the people are aroused--coun,y is ar
rayed against county and, in fine, a state OF
things revolving to every honorable and pa
triotic mind, is cngriGcred.
This, your memoriaiists aver, is not mere
~ 5aacy sketch; such instances havs occur
red; and, under the present system, muslin e-
e~essariiy continue TO occur. What plan, then,
so rational, and SO well calculated to avert
the evils which have heen enumerated, as to
\ have all the elections ia the commonwealth
TO take place on the same day? A plurality
of votes governing our elections, the change
proposed would doubtless ensure the fairest
expression Of the will of the people; the voters
would thus exercise the elective franchise to-
tally uncontrolled by adventurous circuiastau-
Ces; a day or two would determine our cleo
tons; the strife would have but an %epherneral
existence; reason would promptly resume
her empire, and harmony be as promptly re
stored. What an enviable stale OF things,
when contrasted with the evils which tlc
present system gives birth to! VIII, or can
Il the representatives Of the people hesitate as
~,<aich they will prefer
= ihehie.i.iists farther pay, @aaf the e
iecuon laws Of the Commensurate h. alan 80
w TIC QtftstRgtb % tlt
electons, as to leave aoshing in the dlscre
uoh Oh either Candidates, sherifEs, or commits
siohers. The provisions of the law, upor
ms subject. your memotialiSts deem vague
ana underlined, and susceptible Of great a
Oase. Sheritfs are men---prone to the same
tssS'ons and infirmaties that other mea are
t.ey also have their prejudices and their pre-
objections. The sheriff is the arbiter to dc
termlne whether there exists any just cause
to continue open the polls: his ~iavorite per
haps. is hindmost (for he must be more thar
man if he have not a preference)-a confess
arises--he is called on 10 decide--he is il
doubt but at length determines, contrary
perhaps to the judgment of others, that The
polls shall he continued open, or he perhaps
closes them, as best suits the views OF his la
yorite candidate. A contested election is thu
consequences, and the time Of your honora
bic body is occupied in trying the issue. Com
missioners for holding elections are heir Il
the same l~railties; and instances have no
been wanting, in which the polls have beer
kept open in one district of county, and clio
sed on The first evening in the otheisi
1t is far from your mcmoriaiists to ascrib'
corrupt motives to any man, or set OF men
but they would deem it most wise and prope
TO every temptation to the abuse o
power. They therefore pray that a definite
period (say one or two days,) be fixed b,