Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-07
The Eighth Congressional Distric3

10 the editor Of the alexandria Gazette:
The fact that selfdefcnce is a natural aud
legal right. will, trust. exous, me for aeai:.
troubling you with another communicated
10 regard to the importance OF elect;Gg coui
petent member Of Congress from the Eighth
District. lyright, as citizen. to criticlse the
character and merits 0! candidate fer Coo
gress out Of my owC district is illegally and III
justly denied r.le. The sectional feelings AMI
se!6shness ;fhch dictates this denial Of an i'm
portan. privilege, are the cause Oh all our PIE.
en-. misiortunes. 1t thus appears that we hsE>'
/ some people amongst us who can readily adopt
the pernicous policy and ethics which they 81
Justify condemn in others, when they lnurt to
their own benefit. The story of my bull aud
your OK fairly illustrates the character o! 6
large portion of mankind. True patriotism is
not founded in selfshncss, but love OF country
and right nor is it confncd to the narrow
limits of single Congressional district. lit.
extends to all parts of the State and county
Virginia did not, 10 1851, appeal to me an:
others similarly situated, by solemn law. e.
| which the good people OF tho eighth district
were party to resign honorable and lucrative
life positions to assist 10 defending their rcspec
tive Congressional districts, but the whole Com
monwealth. But now that those officers have
lost the power to confer benefits, ambitious and
selfish political generals, and some Of their mis-
taken supporters, would cruelty conGno their
patriotic efforts to one Congressional district
What ineratitude ? How ptiablc? 1t Is az
insult and rcproach to the whole State. SuoI.
are some Of the baleful fruits Of Huntonisln.
am not az entire stranger to some OF the
good people ofthe Eighth District. Over fifty
years ago laborcd in the corn ard wheat ficl|.
of old Loudouu, and, from long associatlp'l,
learned the simplicity and purity of the Quaker
as we'll as the honesty and noble gclcrosity OF
her people, who will mover KNOWN civ do wrong
to any one. 1t was among such. people that |
discovered that tho great object of life is to live
honostly, inure no one. aDC 10 render all their
dues.
My right to discuss the claims OF candidate
for Congress in any portion of tho State, is 80
clear that no intelligent and candid man wilt
deny it. 10 press the matter any further woall
be an insult to all patriotic citizens.
The people are sometimes deceived and in
iured by the arts and wids Of the selfish, hut
they never tail to correct their errors when they
detect them.
AS a mans character is known by the com
pany he keeps, so Gen. Hunton's ability may
be learned by the weakness of his political
bummers. The Gadera is man of chance ? al
not of merit. Let the justice of the fulurr, cor
rect tho errors Of the past, and the FepubIIc
and our liberty will be eternal and tie glory Of
the world.
have unintentionay peglecte, ] TO staln that
the apology of b., sometime ago. for his mi.
take in regard to my servicr, to the State dur.
ing the war, ia entirely aa Refractory, and is posi-
tive evidence Of a gcnl'Iman. Blood will show
ITSELF
The criticism of j. NJ. in reference to ny
article Oh "Conscienco. shows degree Of
thoughtand learning which is highly creditable.
and is almost pleasing. | thank bin.
h. bias delivered himself of another batch tt'
Huntonism. As weakness is the natural 10
heritance Of all men, can afford to have ny
Judgment impeached without Injury, but moi
my honor. II. draws upon his imagination
for facts, and substitutes silly criticism for his
argument. As for bis master, Gen. Huntou,
he has risen to high public position and aiHu
eDce by the ruin and misery of the people
My position is peculiar one. Having betu
denounced and punished as a traitor for my
devotion 10 Virginia, am now abused and 10
suited by some Of her ungrateful and dcgene
rate sons for my eyertiona in the cause OF right.
There arc some portions Of tho letter Of Ii.
which cannot be discussed 10 a public journal!
IT,