Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-02-28
MEETING OF THE CANDIDATES.

nicipal offices, convened at three o'clock yester-
day evening in the Hall Of the Sun Fire Com
paDy. The room was tolerably well Tiled, as
nearly all the gentlemen, whose solicitude to
serve their fellow citizens tor the coming year
is SO. commendabe, were present.
Mr.. Samuel Beach nominated Ihos W hit
tington as Chairman, but that gentleman de-
cined the honor, stating that as this was an
adjourned meeting the chairman was already
appointed whereupon Mr.. Hugh Latham re-
sumed the Chair, and stated the object OF the
meeting; which was to devise some plan by
which, if possible, to determine upon the most
popular man named for the different offices, and
on whom the voters of the city can concentrate
their suffrages at the approaching election
He mentioned the action Of the First and Sec
ond Ward meetings, on Monday night, and al
SO that of the Third and Fourth Wards, last
week
Mr.. Beach was willing to adopt the pan, pro
posed by the First and Second Wards, (Whlch
is to hold primary election on FRIDAY; j ne
thought the Third Ward would favor that plan;
did not know what course the Fourth Naro
would pursue, but he wanted to know what
would be the action OF the gentlemen present,
if at the primary election, owing to the numer~
Gus candidates Tor each Office, one OF the few
CSTT1GOIldlS Ill TIC Clly SIlOO!o AoPPSi ~ ~
ceiye the largest number OF votes.
Mr. Joseph Padgett asked in what manner
the decision Of the Fouth Ward, with regard to
the adoption or rejection Of the First and Sec
ond Wards plan, could be arrived at.
Mr. w. H. Mcknight did not see how any
one man, without beng specially delegated,
could represent the Fourth Ward, but tar as
he was concerned, he was willing to come mo
the measure adopted by the First and Second
Wards, and he believed the voters OF the Fourth
Ward would approve that plan,
Mr. James Fossett-still recumbent-rose,
and, as a citizen of the Fourth Ward, would
agree to the. proposed plan. He then resumed
his usual position.
Mr. Henry l.. Simpson disapproVed Of the
remarks of Mr.. Beach respecting the ''Ierrlto-
rails. " He wanted all the citizens tovote at the
elections and to vote for whom they pleased
No candidate or voter should be ruled out
Mr.. Beach said as the 'territorlals were
not willing to participate III the meeting they
Should be ruled out. TO be sure, though, none
Of the candidates would be unwilling to receive
as many votes as possible.
Mr.. Simpson did not approve OF the '"Ierrl-
torials, " but all we're Union men now. All had
taken the oath, and there was no use IN re717-
Ing old issues.
The Chair stated Mr.. Beachs position.
Mr.. Beach said there was time of repent
ance as we'll as time of SHINING, and that if
any one of the ''Territorials' had SO far reform
ed as to present himself at the meeting, he was
willing his clans should be considered.
Mr. James w. Atkinson said the question
was the course likely to be pursued by the
Fourth Ward. He wanted that determined.
The Chair wanted tangible matter presented
for the consideration of the meeting.
Mr. Joseph Padgett, like the Patriarch of
old. leaning upon bis staff was opposed to the
mode of proceeding suggested by an cid Office
holder" published in the Gazette, and also
to the primary election scheme You could lead
horse to water, but you could not make him
drink. People who were not as much interest
ed in the approaching contest as the candidates
would not like loosing two days In attending
elections He, however, desired a free express
sion Of the preference of the people favored
Mass Convention, and thought that the fairest
and best method Of arriving at the popular
will.
Mr.. VIM. E. Atwell came to the meeting
without intending to say anything. He did
the First and Second Wards plan. Did not
see how any honest man could object to that
plan. By that plan he was in the hands of his
friends and they would handle him. He adj
mirea scrub race and was not afraid Of the
'telritorials'''
Mr.. Padgett-it in this proposed primary
election territorial should succeed in OBJ
tanning plurality Of votes will he not be our
candidate, and will we not be bound to support
him?
The Chair said that if after the primary cleo
ton it was discovered that the 'terrltorials'
had by concentrating their votes upon one man
succeeded in giving him plurality, then the