Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-03-14
Tho Coming s.ancressionni Struggle,

qrant to go-THc Situation Calmly Reric,vcel
| -CHunccs for und against- Candtdatcs
INicE as BlachJerrics and us l0racious as
Cutfsh-lW of the Congressman to hare
Opposition
Correspondence OF the Alex s;.isi. Gazette.
| RICHMOND, Mach l.. 1878
AS the lime lor tho osG Ut lie session Of
the General Assembly draws ~ 40 end other
t}ri,s thaa legislative questions arc Lrirg dis
cu,set among Tic members The Congressional
pot is bcigg hung on the political fire and is
slowly heating. Men arc already putting Their
heads together. and tuauy political aSpiraIls
sleep IL chcquered by ambitious dreaming.
The legislators are anxious to return home Tor
breathing spell before throwing themselves
into the fray, for they snuff the battle aar off.
1t is a known fact that the Legislature cltc :s
the United States Senators, Tut it is All un
known fact that it elects members of Congress
alsc-not openly and by voice-but by its
influeGce. Many oil the members Of the Legis.
Iaturu can carry their Own section Tor aoy Con-
rrcs,ional aspirant whose cause they may es-
pouse. They not only can do 80 because Of
personal popularity, but by their stronR late
bound IarIy ties, which have not had time 10
loosen. Your correspondent has had, during
the session Of the legislature, ample opportu-
city Of seeing many ct the people from the
various Congressional districts, and has Inter.
viewed many of them with the view OF getting
reliable information as to the chances Of the
present members Of Congress from Virginia
being re elected, and also as to who will b.,
Ia. f,,rp cF Hair
sequcnt upon the veto message Ct the Governor
may vary these Specuatons some, fer We can
not tell how far this debt question will be intro
duc,d 10 the canvass this year.
OF c0uls,, first in importance and Interest to
Alexandria is the Alexandria district, and your
correspondent has devoted much lima to inter
viewing such gentlemen as represent the seDtl-
ment Of their people. 1t seems to be agreed
on all sides that the aspirants fer the plac, will
be mauy. The names mentioned 10 this con-
acction are Gen. Eppa Huntou, the present
incumbent, who desires reelection; Mr. n eale,
of Alexandria FIX Gov. Kemper Moore, of
Clarke Gen. Williams, OF Frederick Powell
IIarrisou Of L2udoun James Barbour, of
Culp:per; Thomas Wallace, Of Orange j udgc
John Il. Lowell, Of Warreu, aud Geo. ". Ii,
L. Lee, Of Fairfax. It is conceded that Gen.
IIunton will make q heavy fight to keep his
positiou, and beirg now 10 he has the advan-
lagc Of possession. which is niue points IN the
law Then again the plumber OF his competitors
IS 10 his favor as it will split opposition. 1t
seems to be set down that Gen. Huntou could
carry Clarke. Frederick Warrcn aud parts Of
IIoudouu and Fauquier, with scaltcriog dele
gates from the other counties.
MIR. NcaIc is considered the strongest oppo-
ncut Ct Gen. Hunton. He is young. and is
said to have few, if any. politic.l enemies. 1t
is believed that if nominated he would be
elected
As to Gov kemper's chances, it is not
thought they arc the best in the world, aud II
nominated, it is predicted that he would be
beaten by an Independent.
Moore, of Clarke, could possibly carry the
Valley counties, but Piedmont Virginia would
not cordially endorse him because ho is not
known we'll enough.
Gen. Williams, of Frederick, il iavorie in
the Valley but it is difficult to say how ho
would run elsewhere.
Mr.. Powell Harrison might be the winning
man, although it would not BE- sale TO bet Oh
him at present.
MIR. James Barbour. Of CuIpepcr, refuses
TO be q candidate except in certaln c5ntlDgcn
cics, which are not likely 10 occur. 1t is con.
ccdad that he would be q very strong man and
|
Major Thomas Wallace, oil Orange, is named
for The position by his friends lie is person.
ally very popular 10 his section, and would
have efficient support. Judge John I. Lowell,
of Warrcu, is also warmly urged. That he Is
popnar in his section there can he no doubt
The fact ul his having been sent here lor three
terms, each time by an unanimous vote, shows
that.
Gee. w. Il. L. Lee bias warm supporters for
the place, and % warm opponents. who say that
if he runs be will be opposed by an indcpend-
cnt 1t is strongly predicted that if Gen. Hun
ton should be rcnominatcd he will certainly
have opposition in all independent candidate.
Such is the state of politics 10 the Alexandria
district as seen through other mems glasses
In the first district Hon. B. b. Douglas will
have spirited opposition. The promln,nt can.
didatcs in opposition to him aro Mr.. John
Nicely, Of Accomac; Gen. FI!z Lee; Ger. Beale,
of Wcstmorcland; b. Il. Gunter, of Accomac,
and Gen. VIM. Is. Taaferro, Of Gloucester
In this district it is thought there is no danger
Curlct, member of the House from lancaster,
aud the head of the republican party in the
first district, states that the republican party 10
that district is dead, and that he will not call
any convention. 1t is rumorcd that MIR. Doug.
las will run al al independent democratic can
didatc in the event of his not being rcnominat-
ed, but his friends Indignantly deny the asser-
ton, and say he will abide the result whatever
it may be. 1t is believed that 40 independent
will be run, but such gentlemen are now laying
low. Talafcrro is the only oao who has for
ualIy announced himself in this district. State
Senator Benjamin L. Bland, of Mddcscx, is
also candidate, and his chances are considered
good. lie is very popular with the masses
Iu the second district Mr.. Goode is caodi.
date for re election, and his chances of success
are considered lair. In this district the can.
didatcs principally spoken of are d. G. Good
pu Judge 3. w. Lacy, Col. VIM. Lamb. and
Mr.. II. H. Harrison, Of Sussex. The latter
gentleman represents the readjusting element.
How far this debt question will be introduced
in the Congressional canvass remains yet to be
seen. 1t is believed that an independent will
run in this district. Mr.. ,. G. Goodwin has
been mentioned as probable independent oan
didste, but your correspondent has been asss,
1 ~ i. D