Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-19

and Know Nothings: but will he say. he
would not be thankful for their aid to beat
! Mr.. Goggin? Or will he. or any other man
of responsibility and common sense, say,
! that if a candidate for Office he would not
prefer that the votes Of any class Of people,
that were clothed by the Constitution with
the power To vote should be given to him.
rather than TO his competitor. If they will,
then I have only to say. | don't believe
them. and nobody else will; but if true, they
ought ut once. rs Col. Benton would have
said, To be cut for the simplcs.
During the revolutionary war, the negroes
were armed, and their aid accepted to repel
the enemies of the country; and at the battle
of New Orleans, Cen jackson avalled HIM
self Of the aid of the slaves OF Louisiana, in
beating back the British forces under Pack
cnham But was it ever charged that either
our fnrcinthcrs. or Gen. Jackson proposed
t" mite with the negroes. free or bond, on
terms Of equality and reciprocity: Such au
attempt in this case on the part of Mr. Letch-
er is unworthy Of his last position, and Of the
positions he seeks to fill Let him leave such
efforts TO a reckless party press, and conduct
the canvass on his own merits, and the mer-
its of his party, OH its measures and princl-
Piles, with Il manlincss that would seem to in
dictate that he had some little remaining con-
tilcnce--that the cause he represents is
upright and just and not implicitly admit
that neither himself, nor his cause can be
sustained, except by resort to an expedient
that will neither add to his political advan-
tage, nor to his personal honor.
There were five persons formerly OF this
city, who are now dead, but whose memories
will live in the public regard for many,
many long years 10 come, who never omitted
an opportunity to cast their votes for me
when was Il candidate, either for the State
Legislature or for Congressman Of whose
support have felt, and shall ever feel, a just
degree of pridc-they were John Marshall,
John Wickham, Chapman johnson, Watkins
Leigh. and RU. Stanard; and yet, when the
Sheriff came To count up the votes 1T the close
OF the polls, they counted but tye-and if l
had received the vote of one '.Holungeon.'
and ne had been authorized by the Constitu-
ton to vote, and had had u majority ofonly
one-it would have been difficult to tell
whether was most indebted for my election
To the "HoIuayeon." or To the Chief Justice
Of the United States: and if my com
pettor had received six "Molungeon" votes,
or the votes of six worthless or more degra-
ded locofocos, (supposing there could be any
SUCH they would have than balanced these
five of the first men of which the State could
boast, and hardly think | ever had COM
petitor who would not have claimed the benefit
Of the return, on the ground that one cOnstl-
tutional vote was as good for an election AS
another.
But. lastly, he says, "Spoils are Of more in
tcrest to me- than the rights of the South.
Now, | ask John Letcher to lay his hand
upon his heart. and answer, before Heaven,
whether he believes this To be true. What spoils
have received, or sought? What evidence
have given ola desire or thirst for spols?-
What party have forsaken or abandoned?--
What principles or notions have | changed
or ,scaated when candidate or not a candi
date, for public honors and emolumcnts9--
When was charged with taking spells, UNI
der the instructions of 80 men that ! would
not take without them and that ! had admit
ted was not entitled to receive? When
was charged with keeping watch over the
Treasury to defeat private claims. old sol
diers' bounties. and old widows pensions,
whilst was voting the appropriation of mil |
lions, for purposes that would necessarily /
enhance the value of my own private specu-
lations. No, Mr.. Letcher, sacrifice of
principles for spoils is very common charge
against politicians, especially those Of the
party to which you belong; but no such
charge has ever been before made, OF can
now be sustained against me-
If when have been denounced and beaten
by my own party-and had every possible
induccment and promise of reward held out
by the other-if when daily examples were
spread before me of those who had re-
nounced their party associates, abandoned
their long cherished opinions and principles,
and gone over to those whom they had for
years and years denounced Us rogues and
royalsts, and thieves and traitors, and were
then rewarded for their apostacy with high
honors and emoluments-if when ! saw all
this, stood firm and immoveable in my in
tegrity, and my principles. not in hopeless
minority only, but almost by myself alone
when spills and honor and distinctiom were
within my grasp-if this gives evidence of
my preference for spells over the rights ofthe
South or anything else that was right or
just. or proper in itself, then Mr.. Letcher's
denunciatGry charge is well founded and |
will submit without defence. But; IT, on the
contrary, my course has exhibited prefer
cnce for truth, and honesty, and justice, and |
right, and principle and love Of country,
then Mr. Letcher's charge falls harmless at
my feet, and recoils with tenfold severity up
on him who rashly makes it: and leave him
to the full enjoyment of whatever advantage
it may yield him.
But John Letchcr does not believe it him
self. and honcSt .john should have been I'm
honea Ia have said it. Let him reach the
chair by fair and honorable
means, if he can, but let him exhibit more
generosity and fairness than thus to attempt
the sacrifice Of ii friend, or make his reputa
ton stepping stone Ia his own prcferment;
but he must not expect me to sit with my
arms folded under such imputations from
him. Respectfully, JNO. NJ. Bolts.
Styles Of Crinoline.
1t is stated, for the information Of husbands