Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-08-11
POLITICAL.

The impression has gotten abroad,
chilly through your paper, that Mr.. Barbour
will have no opposition, or as your Wash
ington correspondent puts it. ''pructically |
no opposition for the nomination before !
the convention soon to assemble in Alex |
andria, and l am sure YOU will allow me
space in yur columns to do what | can to
correct it, The Valley has never abandoned
or wavered in her purpose to assert and
press her right to have some voice at least
in selecting the man who shall represent
this district in the next Congress. \ great
many of our people think that the eight
counties beyond the Ridge have been per-
mitted long enough to name the candidate
and expect the three little counties on this
side to elect him. We have had four con-
ventions in this district since its formation
III it is ut present constituted. Each time
the choice has fallen upon gentlemen be-
yond the Ridge, though upon two occasions
the Valley presented her candidate and
earnestly sought to procure his nomination.
| In each contest that followed the nominal
ton the three Valley counties pollcd for the
nominee Of the convention their full
strength-which in one-that between Gen.
Hunton and Mr.. James Barhour-saveh the
day and elected Gen. Hunton.
That these three counties have rendered
efficient party service think will be con
cetletl that they have waited with Job
like patience under the promise and assllr-
ancc each time given that the next would
be their time, think will also be conceded;
that they are called upon to wait no longer,
but have the right now TO demand sub
stAntial recognition of their claim. ought |
think, also to be conceded.
1t is true that out of the $50 delegates, Of
which the convention is to hc composed, III
of them will come from the other side and
only SO from this side, and upon the prin-
ciple that will beat /, Of course the large
majority from the other side will have the
arbitrary power to beat us lam not disposed
to quarrel with the committee who tiXe.l the
basis of representation Of each county, in
the convention. though / must say it strike:
Us as exceedingly unfair, In the last fail
election for Governor, the Sth district gave
Mai. Daniel little over four thousand ma
iority, of which the three Valley counties.
Clarke. Frederick and Warren. gave more
than One-haif' In other words the majority
in these three small counties is greater than
the aggregate majority of the eight counties
on the other side Of the Ridge and vet in
the convention we are to have but 80 dele
gates and the eight counties which gave a
smaller majority than our three are to have
III.
We have nothing to say against Mr.. Bar
T. bour as man; we concede him to be an
honest man. but we do not concede his right
10 denomination.
He was taken up by the convention at the
, dictation of Mr. Nculc, whom no one else
would satisfy, and nominated The con-
vention had been in continuous session for
over forty eight hours and the delegates
!; were exhausted and worn ont from loss of
rest, and constant work. In this condition
Mr. Neale agreed to break the dead lock -
provided we would accept Mr.. Barbour. No
other alternative was left 10 us but yield
to his demand, ana the result was that Mr..
Neale named and dictated Mr. Barbour and
the convention lalmoSt under durcsSI rati-
fed it.
Again Mr.. Barbour is ri the head of :,
great Railroad Company, the duties oi which
; must of necessity take good deal of his
time. Can he serve both the people of this
!. district and his other constituency, the rail
road company? 1t seems to lis that th:;
largely increased road with its largely in
creased and increasing business must take
his time which should be given to the inter
u est of this district and State.
Besides this, many of our people have the
: notion that legislation, both State and Fed
eral, should be had for the purpose of re-
: stricting the now practically unlimited right
II Of the railroads of the country To charge
!, what they please for transportation. l. Mr.
Barbour in favor Of such legislation? Ii
these large corporations are to he allowed
: to charge the farmer what they please for
transporting his produce to market it may
> become question rs TO who owns the farm
y the railroad or the farmer. The people in
the rural districts. who arc so vitality inter
II ested in this subject, have the right to know
J. how Mr. Barbour will stand in this matter
l. should legislation be proposed They very
= properly think that they should be repre-.
sented in both the State and national cgs-
!. lature by men who occupy no uncertain pc,
u sition on this question.
y Another serious difficulty is suggested Ia
{ us. We can't conceal the fact that Mr.
Il Massey's candidacy has inspired no enlhu-
siasm among our people 1t has fallen like
t wet blanket upon them. We think Mr.
{ Barbour's nomination will make the Blanket
S petter Will he take the stump in this Val
II ley. and see that the voters are gotten out
y for it is expected that the candidate in the
district will look we'll to this matter. Upon
{ him the candidate for Congressman ut large
J. must in a large measure depend for his vote
5 | have no hesitation in saying that Mr. Bar
bour cannot bring out the strength of these
three counties.
What have said is not in disparagcment
i of Mr.. Barbour, but, in times like these, We
n must be permitted to throw ont suggestions
n which, while they may injurc one mans
chances preferment, will promote the in
> terest of the party in the district, if needed
! We propose to come to the Alexandria
e convention and bring with us Major Holmes
' Conrad, of Winchester, whose nomination
= we will press.
: Let me say that our people are becoming
very tired Of this thing of being put Oft 50
: often. The district can't afford to lose the
: vote Of these three counties. Yours, &C.
: ''NALLEY
. Berryville, Clarke Co.. Aug. 10.
The Coalition Convention of the Richmond
= district which mat nj Hnnrirn & II uastnr