Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-02
Letter from Westm0reIand County.

Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
MoNTRoss, Aug. 29.-Judge J. B. Jet
presided at our County Court on Monday, in
place of Judge Lewis who was prevented by
sickness Little business of importance was
transacted. Sam Pierson, colored, arrested
and lodged in the county Jail few days before,
on the charge Of stealing eight ears Of corn
from the field Of neighbor, was bailed for his
appearance at the September term.
Col. Thomas Brown, Chas G. Baker and A.
wise the land books of the county under spe-
cia act of the Legislature.
Chas. +. Stuart, jr., qualified as an attorney
to practice in the courts Of this county.
The usual monotony OF our monthly court
day was enlvened by speeches from the Pres
idential Electors of this district, w. w. Walk
er, esq, and DIR. w. w. Douglass The friend
ly relations OF these gentlemen were interrupted
by personal difficulty which occurred in pub
lie discussion year or two ago, and on this ac
count the canvass is not conducted according to
the old established custom. They do not ap-
pear upon the stand together; there is no
agreed division of time, and nothing of reply
and rcjoinder. DIR. d., in the opening of his
speech, complained at some length that Mr.
Walker should decline to meet him in formal
discussion: and argued that he should either
consent to do so or resign his position as elect
or At the conclusion of the Doctor speech,
Mr. Walker came to the stand in response to
enthusiastic calls from the audience. He ex-
planned that from personal considerations alone
he had declined, aud should continue during
this CANVASS to decline, meeting the eector OF
the Radical party in discussion. And IN doing
this he could not be charged with taking any
advantage to himself While his own speeches
should not be framed or directed as replies to
those Of DIR. d., the latter would have the ad-
vantage of replying to him. Aud while he
could not, for the reason alluded to, take up
the gauntlet thrown down by the Radical elect
or Of this district, he held himself ready at all
times to meet any other man that might be
designated, in or out of the State; whether it
be Col. Hughes, Secretary Boutwell, or Senator
Wilson
Mr. Walker then proceeded to give the his
tory Of the great political organization now ar.
raycd against the Grant Administration, char
actcrlzng it as unlike most of the movements
known heretofore in the history of political par
ties in this country, in hat it Was the sponta-
ncous action Of the peopic themselves, without
I
professional politicians. The great masses of
the country had risen in their might, and by a
union of all the better elements of old political
parties, they had determined, through the bal.
lot box in November DeXt, TO rescue the c0un-
try from the hands OF mlSru.e and corruption.
He showed the great folly of any one who
chez .shed the least sentiment Of patriotism,
STOPPING now TO discuss the dead issues Of the
past, ur iialting in this grand popular march
of rciprm, to enquire whether our standard
bearer was formerly a Democrat or Wing.
The arguments of the speaker were frequent
ly enforced by apt aud striking illustrations, or
lively and appropriate anecdotes, and abound
ed with many OF those lofty flights and stirring
strains of cloquence characteristic of the dis
tinguished orator
The pretentious c!aims of Grant and his par
ty to Southern patronage were SO completely
dwarfcd and overthrow by the irresistible logic
of facts adduced by Mr. Walker, that the few
RAIDS who had veutured to Listen at first, now
fled in shame and not black spot OF them
| was to be seen IN the audience when the speech
closed. 1t was felt too to be a mercitul ar
rangement on the part of our elector that his
antagonist had been allowed to retire at the
opening of the siege When your correspon-
dent left the courthouse he could find but one
lonely Rad in sight, and he looked like the last
Of the Mohegans as he sat in solitude upon a
locust STUMP.
Our Congressional candidates have not made
their appearance 10 Westmoreland yet We
shall look tor them at our next court. Is.
REPRESENTATIVES, The Warrcnton Index
publishes the following, made up from reliable
data, in reference to the representation in Con.
gross, from the counties comprising the Eighth
District:
FREDERICK (which until 1886 included War
ren and Clarke, had: