Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-08-12


Suppose the Directors Of these Banks were at
their next election Of Bank officers to dismiss their
Cashiers, for no other reason than that they had
been there long enough, and that it was time some
other person was elected to these places--would
you not charge them with want of common sense,
especially if they should appoint persons not on
ly uniformed but really inexperienced in the du-
ties and business Of Bank. ] consider the re-
fusing to re-eect Mr.. Mercer because he has been
l2 or IA years your representative In Congress,
would be as nnwise as the discontlnuance of the
Cashiers of the Banks for no other reason than
that they had filled their offices for upwards Of
twenty years.
The writer of these remarks rccollects that
Col. George Mason, of Gunston, patriot of the
Revolution, was the Delegate of Fairfax County
in the Assembly for more than thirty years in
succession. The voters ofthat day did not think
he had served too long; they were anxious to
avail themselves of his long experience in the
Councils Of the State, and preferred his wisdom
and experience to that Of new Delegate.
These same Alexandria citiZcss have been
urging as another objection to Mr.. MERGERS cleo.
ton, that he is resident of the City of Wash
ington, and therefore not eligible. This objec-
ton does not exist in law or in fact. The Con-
sttutiOn Of the United States does not require a
residence in the District for which the Represen.
tative is elected. But the custom has been to
elect resident The fact is, MIR. Mercer Is as
much resident Of this District as Mr.. Gibson.
have taken the trouble to ascertain from un-
doubted sources, that Mr.. Mercer rents by the
in which is occupied by him, except the front
room on the front floor, which is used for store
That he has his own furniture and library in this
house, and that he takes his meals at public
house near his dwelling, for which he pays annu,
ally. That he is always in Leesburg except when
public or private business calls him elsewhere -
when he has been attending congress, he has paid
his board at public boarding house, as other
the recess Of Congress, when in Washington, on
the business of the canal, he pays his board BY
the day, that is, for the time he is actually there
such is also the manner, the Directors from Ma
ryland, Pennsylvania, and the town of Alex
andria pay their board.
There is then no foundation for this second OBJ
lection: his sojourning in Washington during the
session Of Congress, cannot make him resident
of that city, any more than it makes every other
member Of congress resident of the City, and
deprives them of their residence in the state they
represent As to his attendance in Washington,
on the canal business, it cannot create a resi-
dence there, any more than the attendance of the
Directors of the Canal, who also attend the meet.
ings of the Board there, constitutes them resi-
dents Of Washington. Mr.. MERGERS attendance
In Washington, is not as frequent, or longer at
time, than the attendance Of the lawyers of Alex
andria, upon the County and Superior Courts in
the counties of Prince William, Fauquier, Fair
fax and Loudoun, some of whom attend three of
these courts, once every month in the year, and
suppose them on an average to be absent three
days in each month, at each of the three County
Courts, and twenty days in the year at the Supe-
rior Courts, they would be in Virginia at least one
hundred and sixty eight days in the year, which
is more days by at least one half, than Mr.. Mer-
Ger is in Washington. on any business, other
than when Congress is in session. If Mr.. Mer-
,er's attendance in Washington on the business
IF the Canal, is to constitute him a resident of
hat city, and to make him on.resident of Lou
loun County, then the Alexandra Lawyers. who
.rel6S days at least in Va attending on their
',on business, and not on public business as Mr..
Mercer is. must be residents of Va and non re-
idents of Alexandria, notwithstanding they have
ouses for their residence in Alexandria.
Mr.. Gibson I am told practises law IN Eau
luier County, he attends that Court every month,
nd the Superior Court twice year. IT is pre-
unable that he is detained at least three DAYS
very month at Warrenton attending the Coun-
Court, and at least twenty in each year at the
superior Court of that County. which added to
ne County Court detention, will keep him every
ear fifty six days in Fauquier County and a non
pciIont IS he nictr,cf