Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-10-14
Radical Ratification Mectina.

The ratification meeting OF the Radicals Of
the city, at Liberty Hall, last night: was but
poorly attended. There were not over two
hundred present at any time during the night,
in which number were included the boys, and
spectators generally. 1t was, however, an
orderly meeting; no harsh language being in
dulged in, and nothing occurred to disturb the
proceedings, save slight interruption Of one
of the speakers by man, who was promptly
quoted by policeman.
At St clock, Josiah Willard called the meet
ing to order, when, on motion, Lewis Mckenzie
was called 10 the chair, and Henry b. Claggett
elected Secretary.
Mr. Mckenzie thanked the meeting tor the
honor conferred, and said he would have
| preferred to have had the meeting postponed
until some other night, in order that more
notice be given The call had not been pub
lished until that day, and lie was satisfied a
great many had not heard of or seen the call, IN
fact they should have waited until that august
BODY, 1.-THE county convention) which had been IN
labor for so many hours, had met again and
made their nominations He said there would
be a stl uggle in the Senatorial contest, and adj
vocated energy on the part Of the Radlcal IS ID
the coming canvass His hearers all knew how
Prince William stood; it was full Of men still
clinging to the old leaven Of Democracy. He
then spoke On the financial condition OF the
State; signifed his adherence Of reputation,
and said such an act would be j stigma on the
Republican party, He drew contrast De.
tween the amount Of property in Virginia and
that in Massachusetts,, and said it Was impos-
sible for Virginia to succeed in building up her
waste places while under the rule OF old
fogyisnl. 1t was Il fact that sixty men could
not be banded together to form 4 soldier COM
pany in our own city, and advised everybody to
espousc the principles OF the Republican party.
Ey-Gov VIM Smith had published L Sin
column letter in the Warrentou lndex--a paper
which had persisted in abusing the speaker-sett-
ting forth the writer SvicWS OF things IN general.
Now Mr. Smith had gone to work and made APP
portionments in this that and the othcraud liked
the number of senators and delegates 10 the
Legislature Was the writer OF this letter
aware of the fact that a census was taken every
ten years and the number Of senators and dele.
gates fixed accordingly? The apportlonmens
had been made in accordance with the last
census, SO Mr. S. 5 ideas could be set forth at
least nine years from this time. lie was Of the
opinion that the candidates for the Leglsa
tive houors would got out ol the convention oil
Tuesday next, it would proceed better.
At the conclusion Of Mr. Mex remarks, ".
| II. Daniels, one OF the candidates Tor the Sell
ate, was Introduced He said he had never Us
kcd any one to vote for him, and that his nom
nation had been eutirey unexpected. as he had
in no way desired it, lie was, however, going
to accept it, and would Ito his best TO-
wards the furtherance Of the great Objects III
view, and to properly represent the party which
! had conferred the honor upon HIM. He had
no opinions to conceal and did not want any
body to vote for him under any misconccrton,
nor did he want to he mlScOnstrllcd in any way.
The great want Of the whole country, at the
present day, was the euunciation OF the princl
ples and politics desi gned to be set forth tur
the government OF the people, aud that per-
sons Should express their sentiments freely, and
should vote for that oriy which they deemed
best aud to the interests OF the bulk Of the leu
pie; and that, in order to bring about such ac-
ton, parties should be particular in making
their platforms and politics clear aud compre-
hensivt, and to publicly set forth the same,
that all may see and hear, and judge Tor them
| selves what measures are to their interest or
detrincut Whenever any party undertook to
conceal its principles, it was lrima i"or cyl
dence Of fraud in some way, and was invariably
an imposition upon the general public, and
should be so regarded. 1t WAS not very dcsir.
able for him to 60 to the Senate, as il elected,
he knew he would make somebody mad before
| his term eXpired, for there was always Il GER
tain set who were externally demanding the pas
sage of measures which were not calculated to
be for the public good and for L uIau To do his
duty and vote against them, would make him
enemies among this class. He was uI' the
opinion that too much was expected ul public
men; there was too much looked lnr from rep
resentatiyes in the Legislature. When upon
his Earm, luailing the delicious country alr, he
felt like u king, but in public Office he should
feel like a servant. Every candidate ior public
favor should know The trust his party repOsed
in him; he, therefore, had no fine speech t"
make, but would say that he had cast his lot
in Virginia, had brought his wife and children
here, and his bones would no doubt be depoa-
tied here when he 'shut'led OFT this mortal
collin fact he was one of Us, and intended
to give his views plainly, that every one might
know lust where hc stood. In the first place.
lie said, there is always one good course TO pur
sue in every thing but it is remarkable fact
thar very few people find this proper course out.
| People. for instance, should not undertake to
| make water run up hill, nor was it in any Way
proper for contendlng parties to use harsh la'l-
guapr towards each other The ship Of State
was drifting about at the mercy Of Il mighty
ocean, and the question, at this time. was, who
| would bring her safety into port Everybody
was concerned in this matter and 1t Was now il
question how to rear and bring up our children
in the right way. Now, in order to do this, the
| past should bc entirely cschcwed, anu every
| one 70 in for what Is now before them, aud not
| he rcsurrcctiug old aud no account IDEAS.
man in business never consulted the previous
wears crop to ascertain what he would realize
the coming year-and so it should be in politics
at the present The Conservative party, il
could not be denied, had no princip Irs. save rp.
position to Radicallsln; and preventing progress
was dog in the munger. preventing another
party from its purposes. The party III question
endeavored in every way 10 put the people
against the present administration, by telling
them Of some dctauting paylnastcr u: some
dishonest post Office clerk, etc, etc. II Told
the worst things of the Radical party a ways,
but never invited their prose yteS to look over
the waste lands Of Virginia. and tell them who
! al, IL Inf.,