Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1853-04-19

has announcer himself as 4 candidate for Co6,,.-
from the 7thso Congressional District The so,Io
is his address ~. s7ss-s
TO the Voters OF the Seventh Con
~ z25B tlsl al DISTRICT: 49, -
FELLow-CI TIzENs-Haying been r,sy,ea..,t
ed by many of you to become candidate ~
gress and being fully satisfied that am
hereby announce my willingness to seIT,s
should 1t be your pleasure to elect me. In
nouncing myself gentlemen unquaIifeifv 4 ss,IF
date for your sutfrages am fnsensibie to tf -
that there are some of you in favor of seIeciin :
candidate through the agency of a Convention &C.
believing as do, that few of you require any sneS
means of ascertaining your preference put fnys1r
at once before youth accordance with the usages ~
our Fathers y
Fellow Citizens: The Constitution ccntempla.ss
your meeting at the polls and in the face of God md
your country recording your sufffages 1t reonirss
that you should come your sovereign might ma
speak out your win SrH N0ce.S ANY mode bv who's
portion Of you undertake to prescribe who SHAH be
supported by all is in derogaon of the true theor
of the Constitution, and should not beresOrted In az
cept from plain and palpable necessity resort IN
the system as amatter Of course and on every ocea
sion, viii inevitably place in the hands of nanarno
cques the substantial power of popular soyereiSnt
and gradually introduce allperTading eorru1tinn
In New York this system universally prevails; ana
hence that numerous class of trading politicians "a,
which the Empire State is distinguished and which
has given to her politics in the general opinion ofthe
country, the character of universal corruption Nor
has the system even had the advantage of securing
had occasion deeply to lament the loss Ofthat State
to the Democratic party, on several important oel
sions. Who would wish 10 see such System ofpar-
ty tactics introduced here2 Who would desire TO re-
sort to admitted evil without necessity to justify
it, evil too which may impair, if not DESTROY tie
vital spirit of cur institutiOns2 -.
But fellOw-citizens, while deprecate conventions
called without necessity, am for them when such ne
ceSsty exists Does that necessity exist now2 think
not You have strong Democratic majority No
Wing will be in the feld-in any event you must
-
ton you illbe able by going to the polls without
convention undoubtedly to have your choice for your
representative. "A convention can do no more-it
may do less by selecting for your Candidate
preference ON your part for another.
1t may be said that convention may prevent hearts
burning, llwil and strife think there can be no.
thing in this view of the subject experience proves
that convention unnecessarily called is apt to
produce than prevent them. Even the convention
proposed for you is patronized by some with hope
that it may be unable to agree in selection from
those placed in nomination and that some gentleman
not known as candidate may be selected your
representative But it may be said convention is
necessary to compare to claims and pretensions Of
those aspiring to represent YOU Fellowcitizens at
no place can this be so safely done as at the POLLS
Without the fear of convention, however formed
confess experience teaches to prefer the grand
convention of the people There all can be heard
justice will be done and no murInur of discomfort
will disturb the general satisfaction which must be
felt at the wisdom of your selection. These are my
views, but If yours different you you the people
prefer TO sit IN convention previous to the election
yours is the right and mine the duty of submission
Fellow-citizcns In looking the field Ofmy past
life see anunbroken consistency of political opinion
and public conduct In the dark hours of the Demo-
cratic party faithful amongst the faithless
When leader after leader abandoned the Democratic
standard, and Gen. jackson was unable TO preserve
our ranks, unbroken, sympathscd with the distress
that aSiated your bOsamS and unShrinkngly battled
for your cause. In subsequent periods of gloom and
disaster, you called to the field of strife and
with all the deep energy of my nalre regardless of
the great sacrifices itinvOvc struggled and tOiled
Mt your bidding 1t is pleasant for to look buck
upon those fields but it is said they dwell not in your
memory; that time has already swept them away,
and that you disposed to take up new men, net
yet proven in the stricken field. do not believe it,
and yet desire TO know how the memories of the past
appreciated ut present. ] wish to see You vndi-
cate yourselves oddly but arcntlv against what
regard an npuiaiiOn. But, above all, expect you
to give unmstnkcablc evidence Of your sense of JUS
tice and Your determination properly To appreciate
hose who in generous and devoted spirit yield TO
y,ur calls AID dedicate themselves to your service,
Gent emen, shall you at your respective
courts and in the meantime will merely remark that
feel full confidence That the will lOI may express
on the fourth Thursday of May next, viii not only
comm md general appreciation, but will give new
evidence of the scnsil ity and justice of frre and
enlightened people. WM. SMITH.
A YriJ