Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-12-07
- F5rfhe Register.
WILL WE BE REPRESENTED IN
THE NEXT CONGRESS


WILL WE BE REPRESENTED IN
THE NEXT CONGRESS
Friend Zittle-The above question
has been. of late, frequently propounded
TO me and in view OF the anomalous
state of affairs at present existing in this
Congressional District, l think the ques-
ton well worthy of consideration. 1t is
known that grave doubts exist as to the
proper time for holding our Congress
sional election under the New Constl-
tuition and that, consequently, ft0o eec-
lions were held and too gentlemen
elected to represent us in the next Con-
gress. Mr.. Hagans claims to be our
representative OH the grolnd that he re-
ceiyed some votes Oh the 22nd day OF
August, the day which he and his few
friends supposed to be the proper one
for holding the election and, with an
equal show of justice Gas far as we I'M
learned in the law can see,) Mr. Martin,
who was voted for on the fourth Thurs
day OF October and received, by the
way, a very small vote claims the honor
of being the choice of our people.
Now, friend little, it strikes me that
The ptopie had very little idea of electing
either of them and the ludicrously small
number of votes cast Oh both occasions
ought to convince those gentlemen
themselves of the fact. Mr.. Hagans
was voted for only in one or two coun-
ties. In the remainder Of the District
he was literally unknown and, not until
election returns cane in from the coun-
ties in which he was voted for did many
Of us here know that such man was IN
existence. Mr. Martin was voted for
somewhat more generally, but, as the
election returns plainly show, lie can
have no pretension to the placeon the
score of popular preference and not
only that, but it is notorious that he was
not the choice even Of his olDn party.
We must presume that Congress de
sires bona tide representative from ey-
erv district in the United States, and as
neither Mr. Hagans nor Mr.. Martin can
do much to obstruct or assist the party
at present so overwhelmingly dominant
in the National Councils, it must be sup
posed that Congress will have no selfish
motives in deciding the contest between
our rival representatives. Moreover, as
the LAWYERS OF our own State are about
equally divided on the subject Of the
proper time for holding the election, will
not the lawyers in Congress experience
the same difficulty as ours in deciding
the contest and will not a great deal OF
valuable time he wasted in the discus
sion? Th>re is no district in the Uni
ted States that will have deeper inter
ests at stake before the next Congress
than ours. Hundreds of war claims
will be up for decision and it behooves
our people to be not only rrpresenttd
but rel represented. AS matters no~
stand we may have no GORE at all until
Tie contest between Messrs. IIagans and
Martin is decided Even fh,n | am
pretty certain that the successful one
will not be the choice of our people, for
| can see no just claim that either Of
them can shew for the possession Of this
honor.
would suggest then that a petition
be presented to Congress from our PEG
pie irrespective Of party to ignore both
the elections and order a new one. |
take it for granted that both the gentle
men concerned are too heightened to
intrude or to appear to intrude into
position of so much importance, and
that either of them would be anxious to
have the undoubfed sanction of those
who alone are to be the judges of their
fitness for 1.-THE people. The election
of Mr.. Hagans was plainly a snap judg-
ment, and that of Mr.. Martin was Sc
cured, in the first place, by treachery i'll
convention, and secondly, by the con
fusion and uncertainty consequent on the
claims of Mr.. Hagans.
Let lis, by all means, have a bona
fide representative, and as he ought to
have a great deal of influence with Con
gress i'll order to protect the many IN
terests which our people have now at
stake let him, at least, have the recon-
mendation of being The peoples mdoub-
ted choice. \ WORKING MAN.
Harpers Ferry, Nov. Both, 1872.