Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-09-02
ADDRESS OF LEWIS .IckEN/IE
10 tic Voters ofthc SccrnM Congressional Dis
{rict of TirginiO

10 tic Voters ofthc Scc-nM Congressional Dis
Lict Of TiTyi"ia.
Follow CiLzens: Or the we'll founded ~;
sumption that there is 10 be no change III Tie
Congressional Districts Of the State for tho For
ty-SecOnd Congress, l announce myself ii: d
candidate to represent this District in that nody,
and will submit my claims 10 tho voters st the
polls.
In doing 50, beg leave to say that during
tho short timo hive had my scat in tho Forty
First Congress, have endenVorcd to schargc
the duties OF u Representative TO tho best OF
my ability for this interests Of this District and
tho State NJ large. l believe IL! fair minded
mon of both parties in Congress will say this
for mo- l lGborcd hard and faithfully up t.
the closing hours of the last session ID secure
the removal Of political disabilities rrom every
Virginian, and, indeed. from ove:y citizen un-
der disabilities and, stop in the direction
of universal amnesty, WAS particularly INK.
ious that the Senate bill for removing the dSa-
bilities Of several thousand persons should be-
como a law. | expect this bill will Gc passed
carly in tho December session, 10 be soon fol.
lowed by an net granting universal amnesty. u.
In tho future, as in tho past, l will omit Nc
effort to promote this great measure of concil-
lstion. voted against imposing conditions
upon Southern States admitted after Virginia,
ss n prerequisite 10 the admission of their Rep
resentatives, believing they had o right to full
representation, subject to no other conditions
than those imposed upon all the Statcs Of the
Union. My course previous to the admission
of Virginia ought to DO some guarantee that J.
could be safely tTustci with hel l1tercs!:. Al
though Republican, l ain for Virginia a:d
for peace and fraternal relations between all
the States of the Union.
l have heard of no complaint of ny course
in Congress, except, perhaps, by some who de.
sire to find fault with me because of my vote
for the bill to enforce the Fifteenth Amend
ment. Soici,ou<, above all things, tina: no
suspicion Of insinccrty should fall upon the
pGghted word of Virginia, l voted tor that bill.
Tho Legislature of the State, AM sure, 10 good
faith, had voted for the Amendment, and mad
also voted 10 give Congress power to enforce IT,
1t was in pursuance Of this power that the Dill
was passed 1t is general law, equally ap.pl-
cable TO all the States. Faithfully and fairy
IS Virginia is carrying out her pledges, 10 make
al! men equal before the law within her limits.
there is no reason to suppose that this act will
ever become practically operative among US
1t will operate only to stop the frauds and cor
ruptloIs in elections IL the great cities
Fellow Citizens: Virginia hiss just returned
TO the Union. She has been nine years without
a Representative. There has been Il great deal
to do; there is a great deal moro to be done -
The question of the improvement oflho harbors
Of Virginia, and the internal improvements in
which this Commonwealth IS deeply interested,
Is looked upon with interest in Congress. Some
thing has been done to relieve the tax payers
by reducing tho duties on sugar, coffee Al d tea.
MUCH more romans 10 DC d0nc, 10 Simplify inc
tax laws, and to reduce tho expenses Of Tho eel
lection of the revenue, and to bring the public
expenditures down to the lowest possible point.
The Increase Of banking facilities i'll Virginia
and in the South must command, rs it has al
ready done, the serious attention Of Congress.
1t must bo for you to say whether you deem
it expcdient, ut this time to set aside ali prcco
dents, and elect Il new man, OF whether, hav-
ing Just chosen one who begins tn understand
your wants and his duties your kcpresents-
tive, you desire moro party man in his place,
while perhaps, the great interests OF tho State
arc to suffer. With your decision at tho polls,
whatever it may b., will be content.
Your follow citizen,
sep2-lt LEWIS Mck kNZlE.
GPapcrs Of the Congressional District will pub.
li:h once, %nd send mo bill. | will pHy
L. Nick