Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1865-09-19


Suffrage, and in favor of putting the Southern
ers on the same footing that they were prior to
the war. IF crimes had been committed, let
the offenders be tried by jury OF their peers.
Slavery, the prime cause of secession, was dead,
and as the cause was removed, that was sutl-
Gent He charged that secession was hrst
originated in Massachusetts, that not only
the youth Of the South, but many OF those at
the North had been misled, and that they
never could be voters again unless these test
oaths were abolished, and that it would be one
Of his first efforts, if elected to see that these
restrictions are removed. He thought 1t OF
urinary importance that the State should De
REPRESENTED in the next Cong1es, but that IN
1ess the aDDlicant Tor seat should be able to
Take the cath REQUIRED, It would be doubtful if
he was allowed his seat, and therefore unless
Mr.. Conrad was definite on this point, he
thought it would be useless to vote Tor him.
nGr. d. was and always had been Uoion man,
but CHALLENGED any one TO say that he had ever
done any injury; personally, 10 any one Tor
entertaining opposite views. lie expressed
his admiration Of Virginia and ViggInians
lie acknowledged that Mr. Conrad would be
? shining light II; the House CT Representa-
lives, but his brilliancy would avail nothing
If he were not allowed a seat, and thought It
would be better to have q lesser iumlnary, 5han
none at al. Ur Il. concluded by reading his
card, lately published in your paper, which
be said, would in few words, explain lis Pc
siron The audience remained passive and
though occasionally there was 4 lighting OF the
c0untenances CT some, yet there was no out
ward demonstration whatever.
Next came Lewis Mckenzie, esq, WHO
announced himself candidate and would be
glad If the people would elect him, though he
was not certain that he Or any one else would
be admitted to seat. He had tried it twice
and failed but in 50 doing he had not lowered
the dignity OF his constituents. lie had never
button hoied member Or asked one tor his
vote be had made his speech and then re-
tired-gracetuIy. He considered it OF vital
importance that Virginia should be represent
ed but from the course Of certain gentleman,
who were running, and would probably be
elected-in the Valley and in the Southwest
ern part of the State, he thought that the
thing was very doubtful. Congress would Ger
tainly not alter its laws tor MIR. Sandy Stuart
or any one else, and unless men could take the
oath required, it was useless tor them to at
tempt to Get seats It he thought that Mr.
Conrad, whom he knew to be good man,
could take the oath, he would not trouble him
WI
sidered that to be out OF Congress, was 10 be
out of the Union, therefore the Importance. OF
being represented He was always q Union
man, but never malicious always allowed
others to entertain their own opinions, and
treated all as gentlemen. lie thought that
the question Of negro suffrage should be lett
with the states, who alone had the right TO
regulate the question Of suffrage tor them
IL hrI n n n
with it. distractions, in his opinion: had
BROUGHT on all our troubles, and they should
now be let alone-slavery was dead were
in the Union and bad to stay, there, and we
would be treated well. He read statement
of Gen. Schenck to show that representation
should be based on votes, not property, and to
show that the south would for the sake OF
representation allow the right Of suffrage to
negroes. This, however, was only to show
that the question would be agitated, but he
would leave it to the States The audience
neither exhibited pleasure nor otherwise, by
any outward manifestations
Next, and last came ". D. Massey, esq,
who thought it very important that the votes
of the people should be cast {or a man who
could take the oath, and he was not willing to
leave that question with Mr.. Conrad. Mr.. VI,
was brief, but fervent, but the audience we're
stoIid and made no manifestations whatever,
and the President announced that the meeting
stood adjourned.
st public gatherings there are a ways people
who like ''to make figure" to have some
thing to do-to act as seconds, and adjust
the 'punctiIios This was attempted, to-
dav, but the speakers and audience paid no
attention whatever to the arrangements,
and the meeting went on regardless OF pune
tilios' old things are passing away.
The Village looks in rather dliapldated3