Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-06-27
A7FXANDPTA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
The Eighth Congressional District.

The Eighth Congressional District.
10 the editor Of the alexandria Gazette:
CLARKE COUNTY, Va, June "a, lS7S.-As
your valuable paper has large circulation,
we ask room in its columns for few words to
the voters Of the Eighth Congressional District.
Tho time has nearly arrived when We must
select our representative to Congress, and the
question is frequently asked, who will be
chosen ?" Although We cannot answer that,
vet we desire to submit the claims of the Valley
to your consideration. 1t has been many
years since those claims we're recognized. The
eastern portion Of the District has tong and
worthiy enjoyed the honor of sending one OF
its citizens to Congress; so long that We over
here begin to fear you may one day regard it
as permanent right. We would therefore,
with all respect, say, gentlemen this IS ON
Hmc." Heretofore we have stood up to you like
men and brothers are we not entitled to recl'
| prooity of action from you? Can you not at.
| ford once in while to recognize the claims OF
these counties, the voters Of whose section have
so constantly and gracefully conceded yours
| Without drawing iuvidious comprehensive can
offer for your sutfrsges as true and able men az
| the district affords. To be sure we have heard
it maintained that new deal would deprive us
| OF very good representative. the present re-
spccted Incumbent, but remember the present
Incumbent bad to learn his lesson. and if this
argument had been regarded on his first caDdl
daoy, it is plain he never would have been sent
at all; moreover, in the opinion Of many his
lesson has not been learned over we'll. At any
rate he himself endorsed in the strongest man
ncr the doctrine Oi:rotation when, in caucus, ne
voted against such o man as Samuel j. Randall
for Speaker Of the House. We think, too, it
may fairly be said that the judgment OF the
present incumbent was greatly at fault IN sup
porting the Electoral Commission, and to sus
tain this opinion we present short extract
from published letter Of Hon. q. w. Potter,
chairman Of the present investigating commit
tee. The conservatives were scared into terms
by the bug bear Of civil war, but says MIR. Pot
ger of civil war, and here arc his clear and
obvious reasons:
"The whole thing was, as | think, & gan.
tic game, in which We held the cards, and the
republicans b,utfcd ua Years hence, when il
is remembered that We needed only one clecto
raj vote, and that your side could not get on
without every ono Of the remaining II; that
we bad 10000 popular majority; that our
maorities were around the capital, yours III
New England, the Northwest and the Pacific
coast; that the moral sense of tho country was
that our man Was elected and yours noi that
:. you had nothing on your side but the oontro
of an army OF which ten thousand men could
not be got together, the privatos mostly in
sympathy with US and commanded by officers
educated to understand the supremacy OF the
civil over the military authority, officers. who,
excepting The leaders, Grant; Sherman and
Sheridan, could. l believe, never have been
generally used to resist the declaration oil the
House OF Representatives, IL am told that this
will appear certainly, whenever the secret cor
respoudencc Of the War Department is re.
voalcd,) and that you were laden down with
the care Of the national credit, the first shock
to which would have arrayed against you all
the moucycd Institutions in the country; that
under such conditions, | say, your leaders CON
trvcd and were able to carry through the cap
.urc OF all these seventeen votes Will DC re-
garded as ono OF the greatest political perform
ances of history. / admit the success oil the
republican leaders.
There is hardlya doubt thatby good manage
ment the republicans won game they were
not entitled to, and to which the democrats il
Congress proved unequal. 1t is understood
that the present incumbent was prominent IL
the counsels of the losing party, and to the ex
tent OF his acts and Influence he is We suppose
accountable for these untoward results. Now
the country is in surge Of discomfort; yet pc
itical schemes and party quarrels engross the
Congress. The people are suffering from un
examplcd financial and other burdens but SO
far, no man has been found able and willing ia
devote himself 10 the great problem of relief.
Let those Who oppose rotation thick OF these
thiogs; let them also remember q principle OF
the constitution, which controlled its enactments,
and which almost requissd the frequent return
of the Representative to his constituents.
There is wisdom in the policy. The best men
become selfish, too we'll satisfied with promo
ton, they hasten to forget their humble con-
stituents. Its only when persons otrare talent
and adaptation to public life are found that the
principle of rotation should be discarded. Three
terms in Congress are surely enough for any
Representative, who is not within the exemption
referred too, aud these terms ought to satisfy
the ambition OF any one county or section; hence,
VIC maintain that on the principles of justice,
equality, and if you choose, safety, the next
representative Of the Eighth Congressional dis
trict should be a oitiz9n Of the Valley and VIC
submit these claims 10 all confidence to the
capdor and fairness Of our fellow voters.
We are your friends and citizens of the
SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
LEEsDURG, June 81, 1873
10 the editor Of tie AIecanclria Ga=etto: