Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-08
Letter from j. v. Brooke, ESQ.

To the editor of the Aleraulria Gazette:
10 your issue of the 5th inst. you publishcc
an account Of the discussion OF Gov. Smith and
myself. at Markham, which you credited tc
the Warren Sentinel Of Front Royal. Your
readers would naturally iuter from this thai
your extract was from 40 editorial 10 that pa
per; while, iu fact, it was from the communi
cation Of 40 anonymous correspondent. Might
it not have been az we'll to have 80 stated ?
Whatever tho motive Of the writer of this
Communication may have been, it's effect might
be to do me injury, If my friends were not al
ready guarded against the influence Of such cx'
pedients. have replied to it, 80 Tar as 1t COD
Germs my views on public affairs, through the
Warren Sentinel" desire now to state 10
general terms that the article 10 quest on Is
tissue of misrnrr. s,ntaions from brginng 10
cod.
My position on the public debt has not been
9 uncertaiu. 1t can be condo 'scd nto a lew
simple proposituns:
LIT The Necessity of readiustntu'. as pro.
posed by the State Convention, as thn surest
safe guard against reputation. T.
2ud. Such reaGiustment to be without threat
or coersioo. but upon such an exhibit OF the
condition OF ff.ils, as would enable the crcdl'
to 10 judge wisely as t. his interest.
3rd. La the event Of failure torcadjust, the
Il ,bt to stand as now. aud to DO entitled to re-.
ceive the benefit Of any excess of revenue over
the expenses Of the State government.
Alb. No increase Of taxation ia the present
condition of the people Of the State.
Nor was dubious about the dog law. %
this subject | have stated that, while | have
grave doubts as to the oonstItutionallty OF the
law, this was matter for the courts 10 settle.
But, in view Of the importance OF sheep bus
baudry 90 the one side and the prevailing pre-.
JUDGE against dog laws on the other, it might
be we'll to compromise upon law exempting
the house or guard dog OF each householder
aud raise the necessary tax on the sutp!u1 dogs.
Such compromise would, feel sure, harmo.
nize public sentiment ADD remove this question
from the political arena.
Nor was | "unfavoraJte to the road (alo.
Ga the contrary, have everywhere advocated
the importance of an efficient and thorough sys
tenn of road improvement adapted as far as pos
sibc to the interests and wishes OF each dis
trict.
Nor was "do,va on the special taxation Of
sohiM;ey." have, il aud out Of the Leglsa.
ture, favored tax upon the consumption OF
liquor, aud have only ics's!el hat it should
reach all Consumers equally, BE- capable oil Ger.
tain enforcement, and not be collected by ma
chi.neyu The scheme Of the "Molfett bell.
punch has not won my admiration, am free
to confess.
So far as III, statements Of the cJrrespon
dent Of the sentinel" from whom you quote,
purport to represent the occurrences at Mark
ham, it Is sufficient TO say shat he would brdly
be borne ous in them by majority Of those
present. If, 90 far, during this canvass, | have
''smarted under the blows Of nv opponent. or
have charged him ''aoih reputation ofprtpate
anG 10Th dShonoraJle connections
othera0issc' or have had the ''lie' given me,
Or have asked for quarter, am not aware OF
ho iac'. Upon these poiu,s the au licences
Who have heard VI in our seven public discus.
lions can Judge for themselves, and to them |
cave the subject at present. My desire has
been to c)rf1e The discussion TO matters pro.
pefly involved in it, without elimination or re-
and | think the canvass 10 this
Senatorial District can be safely left to those
engaged in it and the people whom it directly
concerns. Yours.
JAMES V. BROOKE.
Warrentou, Sept. 7, 1877.