Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-05-14
TO THE EDITOR OF TIE ENG


STAFFORD ELECTION.
read with mingled surprise and amusement IN the
Richmond Wing of the 9th, letter from stafford
correspondent, announcing the success OF the Wing
candidate The correspondent, after INDUCING IN
mock exultetion at the "redemption" OF our county,
proceeds state, that every inch OF ground was DIS
pu,ed, and the day is ours-She (Stahord) met the
enemy with her sons and conquered them, as
well as their foreign allies, Judge d. and son and
others"
must be permitted, through your columns, to cor
rect the misrepresentation of that communication,
which were certainly made with intent to deceive, or
in cupable ignorance. The writer says, "every inch
Of ground was disputed" This is very immateral
statement, and which do not care to deny, al
though notorious in the county that their success
is entirely owing to the lethargy of our party-a le-
hsrgy induced by the confidence which all felt in the
success of our candidate and which would have been
fully realized had those Of party who are su
perior to Wing influence ofany kind turned out to the
polls But the to which wish TO call your at
ienon is this: "She met the enemy with her o'cn sons
the enemy too composed of Of Stafford and $50
reign allies Would you not, MIR. Editor, have con-
cuded from this statement, that the "great ard glorious
victory over which they are exulting had been
achieved By resident roters, and that the Democrats
alone had "oreign allies: This is certainly the con-
sructIon which placed upon it, and the only one
Well, what is the fact? From an examination OF the
polls it will be seen that the Democratic candidate,
Mr. Hedgman at all the precincts, received 10 votes;
whereas Mr.. Ford the Federal candidate, received at
the places SO votes that Mr. Ford received SO
more Of the sforeign allies than Mr.. Hedgnan, and
Mr. Hedgman received SO votes in the county
proper than Mr. Ford. Now, MIR. Editor, who are the
"sons Of Stafford, who have right TO complain OF
foreign influence, who are fighting almost alone, and
unsupported against enemies at home and abroad, and
who suffering from the oppressive system OF double
voting We who have majority in the county proper
Of thirty three and who compelled TO bow to The
monied arstocracy of an adjoining Town. or they, who
with three from a distance, complain OF "ior-
eign allies" Mr.. Editor, by way of digresslon-lhe
propriety Of change in the Constitution, prohibiting
double voting is becoming every day apparent.
Its effects are alarming and cannot see whefe the
evil i, to stop, short Of constitutional prohibition IL
oRy real and bona fde interest in land acquired Tor
purposes of cultivation of speculation, confer
red the right voe las is clearly the intention OF the
law still it would be Objectionable, but less dangerous
but when single tract of land cut up to suit purcha
sers, S25 each sufficient to control the election IN
almost every county in the State; when (as was the
case in Staford1 single old house. is purchased by
some half dozen or dozen young men of an adjoining
Town, is sufficient land dd) 10 defeat the wishes OF a
majority Of the resident voters Of the county, say,
when such state of things is not only possible but
frequent it addresses itself to the serious consideration
of every advocate Of Republican Government, whe-
Their remedy should not be had. am aware of the
difficulties apprehended from tamperng with the Con-
stitution but think they counterbalanced by the
evils which exist The right Of suffrage secured
10 men, protect them from the tyranny and oppres.
sion which wealth could exert, among other things.
What mockery it is. If you place it in the power Of
wealthy to control the State by their wealth
alone-that would be a Republican Government.
indeed-But to stop with this, and to return to
the subject of my commandments Stafford
Election. Having exposed the statement of the
Wing Correspondent, | will briefly explain, MIR.
Editor, what surprised all-the defeat of MIR. Hedgman
in county. 1t is not, you suppose that he was
a're,'red man. for, although 8. retired man. he was
sufficiently known to have defeated any Wing in the
county, had not our party been seduced into fatal
confidence by the fegned despair of the Wing leaders
They varied their plan Of operation Instead Of boast
ing, they admitted they were to be defeated and in.
stead Of persuading our men to 60 TO the polls and
vote for their candidate they induced them to remain
at the fishing shores and the farms, where they were
busly engaged, by assuring them there neces-
sty for them to turn out. Under all these circum-
stances united, with admitted bribery in several instan-
ces, they beat US 5. will conclude by assurance,
based on the undated confidence which feel in the
Democracy of my county, that Stafford will never be
found sleeping, while her enemies awake and seek
ing her destruction, again.