Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-18
y'he Eighth Congressional District.

AS one of your correspondents has declared
that Gen. Hunton was never a popular man, l
deem it duty which I owe as personal and
political fiiend, as we'll So to the cause of truth
end justice, to give the public brief sketch OF
his public career. of which an charitable
enough to believe that your correspondent is
ignorant, or he would not have done the Gen.
eral such gross Injustice.
will begin by saying that when very
young man-not over 25 years Of age-he was
elected Commonwealth Attorney, by the
County Court of Prince William, over de.
servedly popular gentleman, who had accepta.
bly, served the people of his county 10 the
State Legislature, and convention. After the
adoption of the new Constitution, be was can
didate before the people for the same position,
and against the same formidable opposition,
and was triumphantIy elected. He was sent once
or twice as delegate to the national conven.
ton, end was presidential eleotor 10 the cam
pal2n of 1860. lie was elected q delegate to
the secession convention from Prince William
county by the largest majority that that county
ever gave candidate Tor popular favor. he
faithfully sci we'd bis constituents 10 that capa-
city till war became inevitable, when he resign
ed his seat in that body, to become the COM
ma0dGut of the immortal 9th Va. regiment.
He vas, during the war, whilst actively en-
gagged ia the performance Of his military duties
without his sollcltation-or knowledge, elect
ed Judge Of the Circuit Court, to succeed the
lamcntcd Tyler, but he preferred wearing the
gray to the ermiuc aud DIVER qualified. lie
was promoted to the Brigadier Generaship,
which position he accepted only on the condl-
ton that his old pet regiment should constitute
part Of bis brigade. He returned, after the
war, without money or home This house having
been destroyed by the enemy and located 10
Warrenton, the county seat.ot his native cou1.
ty, where be prosecuted his profession till the
fall of 1872, when be became candidate for
nomination to Congress from this district. 10
that contest he encountered most formidable
opposition 10 The persons Of Attorney General
Field and Hon. James Barbour, Of Culpsper;
Gov Thomas, OF Fairfax; Mr. Samuel Moore,
of Clarke; j. a. Carter. esq.,, Of Lo1douo,
and Messrs. Claughton aud Hill, Of Alexandria,
(geDhemen more generally and iavorably known
than his present opponents) s1d VA nominated
over them all by two thirds vote.
Ia 1874 he was again before the o0nvedlon
for denomination, aud received the vote OF all
tho counties Of the district, except that Of q
portion Of the delegates OF Culpcper, who with
drew from the convention, and their faVorlte,
bon. James Barbour, Immediately announced
himself an Independent candidate. General
1unton was elected over his popular opponent
by over five hundred majority, and. | feel war
rsnted IN saying, that 60 other man IN the dis
trict could have succeeded, under the then OK.
isting circumstances.
la 1876 he was nominated without oppos
ton.
Thus i. will be seen that General lIuGtou
has bccu number Of times candidate, with
out ever sustaining defeat yet, in the face of
these incontrovertebIc evidences, VIC are grave
Iy told he has never baen popular man. 10
shame, where il thy blush. "
If your correspondent should ever be able 10
boast of such a record, land l hope be may,)
am sure be would have too much magnanimity
OF soul to do public man Injustice, but would
ever be ready to render unto Cec Jar the things
that arc Cnsar's"
In conclusion, beg leave to ask the pooplo
Of this Congressional district if they can toler
ate the double handed game that is being play
ed against their faithful representatives. game
which propose unwilling to the public gaze
1t is we'll known to the readers of tho Gazette
that number Of communications have appear.
ed in that paper against the nomination OF
General HuntoD. 1t is pretty we'll ascertain
cd fact that nearly all this parade and flourish
Of trumpets is made by two or three persons
Justice, Conscience, Patriotism, and four or
five articles ever T. were written by a gentle
man who resides in county that belongs TO
another district, and | wish he would write
more, for they have done General II. more
good than harm, because the people of this
district are not willing to submit to outside
dictstion, aud have the authority OF the War
renton Index for saying that those emnatlng
from this county are all of the same litter.
1t will be seen that all the opposition that
has manifested itself to General Hunton is con-
ined to few persons, and is about as fcrml-
da bic as tempest in tea pot.
A VOTER.
Broad Run, Fauquier county, May l6.
To the Editor ofMc alexandria Gazette:
Whilst there are several worthy gentlemen
10 L0uloun who would make good representa-
tives in Congress, yet there is strong current
10 the county in favor OF James V. Brooke. 10
selecting candidate it is immaerial whether
be resides on the banks Of the Potomac" or
on the top of the Blue Ridge. 1t is not the
locality, it is the representative the people
want. Consequently, the opposition to Gen.
Hunton is not because he is from Fauquler;
aud should he fail to get the nomination, there
is no reason why another Fauquier man should
not receivo it. L0UDoUN.
Answered Prayers.
The Charlottesville Chronicle contains the
following remarkable letter.
Editor Chronicle Soon after the ESQ called)
Missouri compromise on slavery, [ was in con.
versation With Mr.. Thomas Jefferson on the
subject, and told him did not think the lead
ers in the Northern States were 10 earnest on
the slavery question:; did not think they would
be satisfied till the negroes were freed and al
lowed vote in all elections. That, | thought,
would produce civil var between North and
South. Mr.. Jefferson replied :-"That might
be-" I replied :-''Not in your day or Daniel
Webster's." thought Daniel Webster worth
more to the United States than the five New
England States coDjoi0tly.
When Abe Lincoln was elected President
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