Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1847-04-15
TO THE VOTERS OF JEFFERSON

iEtiE n . = z
dress FL deem ii my duty d Id.
as candidate for your auaositon before yo,s
ny election II appears that the election ms
Spring for tie House os Delegates, is TO be con
ducted without involving any principle, State or
National. The good old Commonwealth Mas dis
pensed her f4vors with so liberal haAd, tl,at We
lave nothing to desire, unless il may be TIE i'm
Pfoycnent Of the navigation of the Shenandoah
% our Southeastern border. But it is my
fate to meet in thisEcanvass, an obstacle of no
mean order in nomination by a County Conyenss
lion This would be an obstacle too gigantic in its
dimensions for me to1meet ifthere were not an alb
sence Of a party contest. Bat in the absence.
Of such party contest,l Halter myself that
can say sos9efhing which wall reach the minds
Of my fellow-citizens. / will then in the
fast place, ask what is The obiect of caucus
nomination Il is plainly nothing more than
Ia.comprerlise between men of the same political
principles, TO ensure their success in opposi-
tiqn TO thosegaf an opposite way Of thinking.-
ltis sortof necessary eril to be tolerated only
| under the circumstances mentioned forit surely
il pot tie desigulo deprlye 4 citizen Of The ina
licaable rightWhich is claimed BY every freeman.
! oGS boosing his own ruler. The force Of circum
stances has, however, so often brought this mode
determination into practice in This county, as 10
khaye formed but the idea Of compromise, and IS
fnow claimed as right But tits Yet to be proved,
whether, in the absepce Of any necessity for this
ee.ransous measure, the people will toleras this
claim. Although admit the necessity in proper
cases, of q resort TO the caucus system in some
way, sfll / do think Il should be used-with great
icifcumspection, and should be guarded as far as
/ possible from all abuses This cannot, I'M my
humble opinion. be Effected in the mode adopted
ainour county ior some years past do not think
Il necessarFy 10 look into the reasons which have
influenced this opinion, in this address, as they
wtud be Of profit now to no one.s But am sure
that anyone how'll look dispassionately on the
SYSTEM inits practical details, wilisee the evils d
4 without any denuneiations from me-
4 lgBut II is argued against me in particular, thai
m accepting the nomination which was tenderec
line BY my neighbors, il has tendency 10 dirid
ny rdrtg. Tothis Twill respond, that there nevel
Was party which united with perfect harmony
ueoa any one but If so, it is exceedingly
Se' Why thru deprive our citizens Of the oppor
tsFhi!y Of choice, when no principle is to Be the
4 stcrifee? viii put the question whether there
ae not those who object to me on the score o
anldtng The party, who did not hesitateto give
tileir support 70 ]. s. Gallaher, Esq when he rar
10 the contest bstween Messrs. Quieiey. Daugh
Il ertg, 6allaher and Wager7 l. % not mt this in
terTogaiors with any nFidioas design, but merely
/ 70 bring the question home to gentlemen. For i
Am sure THAT the public have never had 4 more
abe, jealous and efficient public man IN nv memo
than the gentleman referred 10. II merely e;te
TIE csse as precedent But win bring this ones.
uon down 70 narrow point Is i possible thai
ny srssHal fienas will desert me in this nv hou,
q great aeed, upon the mere abslract question
whether Al Nomination ought to be supported, When
! ~ taxing contrary course no principle was L
% sacfiheedi Can the companions Of my youth
can the iendsofmy bosom Join with nv enemies
sahd who 50 Insignificant as to be without them
j N Rianging dagger into INV bosom which & Il
wraDkle and tester the residue Of INV davs9 i.
thai the kind Of friendship which i have meteI
out 70 7heml Have ever Withdrawn nv han5
lnom them ii The hour Of necessity q friend
y need Is trieFd Indeed" appeal to them Ia
Gems ap % my help N trls emergency. It'll The
80 ume my iellow-citlzens, that shall desire an
q your hands, but if II shall Be your good
pleasure 70 elect me. viii 1ischaroe he 1,iiies
y n nc ptllce 7,,,,h the ,t,,, e,.is, nrf:ss-
est4 are your fnfere,. s5 - ii 49,
best Of al guannfies tksf - -. os a-ts ss
Nuhuost of my ability. 1T 5s ~, ~ q rs
e 42es UT Vii bear t with the r.
eiizens. enlisted for he rar1 nese, Sin
g on the principls that z
-l1s that fights nd runs &.sv
g. sIe n IN r>e<o GsAi anothsr q & s IL =
3 Apn> lsless q de h66rs. rhi.i, !, $500.
uill pa, i spiiIcIyout - - 5 ss,o Il i