Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-08-01


know CT any illegal votes giyer to MIR. Barton, to
communicates to Mr.. Lucas, ifbe is not already in
formed thereof, and he sincerely invites them 10 af-
ford every facility ia thsir power TO that gentleman, by
allowing him TO inspect their tax books, sr any re-
cord, or paper, or memorandum, or receipt, which
may enable him to detect illegal votes. This re-
quest Is suggested by the course assumed 10 the
bending contest, and Mr.. Barton is disposed 10 dis
Del any suspicion from every candid mind, Of i'm
proper pariality towards himself in any one OF me
counties. In bis own behalf, Mr. -. asks no iaVof
from any officer or Individual which may not be &C
corded with a good grace, and with aview to Obtain
= Just decision. He assures the people OF the as
trict that be will avail himself of no legal techni-
caIity, or of trivial exception, and will profit by no
informal notice, which does not operate a surprise
or materially affect the very right or justice OF the
case. Nor does he rely upon any skill or manage
ment, or special pleading OF counsel to ana MN 10
the prosecution Of bis rights. On the other hano,
be Is for a free, liberal, and thorough sitting oil tue
polls throughout the district, even should II CON
sumo most OF the tine intervening from TINS date
TO the meeting Of Congress. IL be Is met ~ u cor
responding spirit, as be doubtiessly VIII be, Inc
contest need not cost he country one cent ho"ev-
er expensive il may be TO the individuals concerned.
The veiy moment Mr.. Barton discovered he was ~
a majority, or that there was a reasonable doubt o.
bs right 10 the seat, he would abandon the contest
Bat his friends may be assured he has not the
smallest fear OF the result. Athorough scrutiny oil
the polls will Indicate a majority IN hs favor 70
large aud 40 decisive os toleaye no pretext for tfou-
bling the House Of Representatives with the matter
. Let il bs borne in mind tnai 4l44 votes were
polled at the last election, nearly one thousand more
than were given in this dis riot at the anlinateo
Presidential election of 1856, and that the Van Bu-
rem party 10 tho late canvass were excited to a
34a,.. xc av1nnr fn Il naGpNf3fp IDTPIXv
winch prompted them TO beat up Tor recruits IA
every quarter; while The Wings we're comparative
". in some Of tie counties al least, apatietic aad
Indifferent. This fact alone would furnish PT9Hso
focis evidence in Mr. Bsrton's favor; but he does
not RELY upon that merely. The polls, in all the
counties, have been scanned by himself, with tho
aid Of his friends, who have looked to both sides oil
the question and the scrutiny has furnished saiis-
factory proof to Mr.. Bartou's mind OF a majority tor
him, ranging from so to 70 at least, leaving such a
number Of doubtful votes on either side as not to va
ny the result, be The decision IN regard 10 those
doubtful votes what it may.
"On the face Of the polls Mr.. Lucas had 2O14,
Mr.. Barton 2070, but this disparity of four is equal
Ized and the parties start even in the race, by the
necessary Withdrawal OF the names - Bsnoat Sum
gle, who voted twice for Lucas--once at Winehes-
ter, aud again at Gerardstown; that OF Ro6eTt
Sherman, who voted al, Nswtown, and who had
been previously conyicted OF perjury; Michael aHz
Jr., OF Hampshire, ofgrand larceny and Fetix Nc
Namah OF the sans county, OF robbing the United
States mail-four votes illegal and infamous, and
of themselves, being stricken of, producing a he.
If a single convict from the Penilentiary voted for
Mr.. Barton, or ifany individual voted twice for him,
4 has, so far, eluded observation, and if such had
voted for him TO a number emitting him to the Ger
tifcate Of election, he would feel unwilling to claim
advantage of such a return, without scrutiny OF tho
polls, with the hope of finding a majority OF more
reputable voles. This is said without any offensive
insinuntion against the respectable mass OF Mr..
Lucrs' supporters, or towards that gentleman him
self, for whom Mr.. Barton entoitains sincere re-
spcct.
The contest need not be productive Of any ex-
element among the friends Of the gentlemen enga-
god. If Mr.. Barton be mistaken, and alter a fair
investigation il be shown TINT Mr.. Lucas is entitled
TO his seat, in the name of justice let him ENJOY 1t.
He will not only have triumphed over the Nhtg
party, but ever the sanguino and confident antlclPa-
tons of his opponent, and the district Will have
gained a highly respectable Representative. lfthe
representation of The district righ,fully belongs TO
Mr.. Barton, no friend of Justice and OF the law
ought to withhold i. from bun. In the event of his
Obtaining the seat, under the circumstances, the
elective franchise will have been freed of some i'm
purities, and the will Of the legal majority OF the
district will, as il ought To, prevail.
" In making Out lists Of Objectionable votes, both
parties may occasionlly have run into error by EN-
bracing individuals who are entitled to vote, and
respectable men may be objected to, who thought
themselves legal voters, but who are not. The in
quiry, then, should give no offence where probably
none was intended on either side, whilst a fair and
honest result is what every good and just man will
aid in promoting.