Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-09-13


To the naepsnaen, vc;rrs Of Berkeley County.
The long aud arduogs contest foF The Sher-
iFslty of this County is ended. AID ! feel as
though sheula 5e worse than an iagrase,
dia ! not return % you ny .wasinest aeknoHl-
edgemonts for the geoerous,ardent, and eon-
slant support you have extended e me
Throughout Ibis protraefci struggle. ] SHAH
not be guilty Of tho byPoci aey, tee often ~
dulgal in after defeat, to say care nothlog
about it, or am indifferent 70 TIE result =
Believe nc, / am sincere, when say DO
feel regret at the result If tie cleciioa--not
so much on account IF mystl hut IN account
Of The defeat, for tie present, in the county
Of Berkeley Of the great principles You eou-
tended for,!h,5ugh me as your ageot andrep-
resentiye-tbe choice Of shcrifs aud oil kin
bred officers, free and independent Of al Po-
i.ieal and party considerations, and noInina
tons BY Caacuses.
When partial friends first presented my
name to you as an Independent candidate for
the SheriiTalty it was because they knew
that ], IN common witb themselves, entertained
views in opposition to the choice # all Judi
cial and mpisterial officers frcm considerations
OF political, party or seetarian cbsraoter.-
These were no new Vows With me. II was
well known | entertained them and carried
them out at former election, aud that had
frequently, and upon 81 suitable occasions,
expressed them ia my humble way when urg-
ing reform in the orgabie Law Of the State;
and particularly 10 regard to the Old County
Court System. which controlled the appoint
ment Of a majority oftheso oliecrs and which
too often was controlled BY the political or
seetarian bias Of The appointing power 10 the
ascndency.
foadly cherished The hope that the power
and influence Of an Independent popular sen
tment would bring the proper correetiye.--
Though defeated at this time in the County
Of Berkeley, { / believe the only ins'enee IN
the state where tie caucus nominee has been
successfully | do net despair, and firmly be-
iere that had the people in this county been
left free to speak their honest sentiments
and none but legally qualified voters allowed
to cast their votes, the result would have
proved different III support Of this opinion
vill only refer you to two instances; FIRST,
IN tie adjoioiug County ef Frederick deci.
dea democratic County, The independent
Wing candidate was eleced over the Demo
cratic caucus nomiaee by a large maiolity.-
Alexandria Couaty, where there Is Wig
tho Independent Democrat was cleo
ted over the Wig caucus nominee. ] might
multiply these examples if necessary, but it
IS not.
These facts however, show proper appfe-
citation Of the nature Of these Offices by tie
people, and their determination TO make them
serve tee oljoas Of their creation, and rot
the purposes Of P2'itical,or seeiasian party az
grandisment
For these principles, Fellow citizens, in
common with you contended, but we have sas-
tanned temporary and unfair defeat by
means and appliances, as honestly believe
in many respects not altogether very orcdita-
bic to the victorious party, OF rcconci'cable
with good conseicnee. do not wish or de-
sire to contribute to tue recent excited i'll
feeling in the County By analiz.ag be meas
used in tie rcceat contesi--tLcy are well
known to all YOU
Ny opPoaeat has been called again from
supposed exile (seo the editorial in the Re-
publican Of the l2,h Of August where be is
compared to Iaroellas) and it world be moth
ing more than fair that should be invested
with the Classic robe; but am a plain man
and will not even ask that worm eaten boon
from the yictors. but lcnye it 10 tie bands oG
the Clique who viii need ii after the Alb Of
March mex. TO eESAgoa4 one greater and
misLticr than i, aud wbo viii no Doubt as
sume with smiling face aa3 cen5cred heart
to ezclaim
|1IarceiGs moro true joy in exile feels,
Than Caesar with a Senate at his heels"
But l shall trespass no further upon your
time than 10 add that the principles for