Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-02-10

then collected has been, at our request,
kindly handed over to this paper for
publication
MAGNUs TATE was born in Ber-
kelley county in 1850. lie was man
of superior intelligence, and far
mer by occupation. He was twice
elected from the county to the House
of Delegates of Virginia, in 1897
and 1898. He was commissioned
magistrate in 1899, and twice COM
missioned Sheriff of the county in
1919 and 1920, and elected to the
House of Delegates in 1903, 1909
and 1910. He had much of the old
Virginia character about him in his
tastes and habits. He was fond of
dogs and horses and in his younger
days keen fox hunter His house
was the abode of a generous hospi-
tality, and the lovers of whist. music
and the dance could always find an
opportunity there, to crafty their
appetites for pleasures.
In January 1916 he announced
himself a candidate for Congress for
the district composed of the coun-
ties of Berkeley, Jefferson, Hardy
and Hampshire, and he was trium-
phantly elected. His address to the
freeholders of the District prior to
the election is all that now remains
of,this gentleman to show the temper
of the man, and the character of his
intellect, and certainly his descen-
dants have no reason to be ashamed
of it, either upon the score of its
sentiments or of its ability We give
it entire:
To the Ffeeholders Of the District
Composed of the counties Of Berke-
leg, Hampshire, Hardy and Jeter-
SON.
FELLOW CITIZENS:
| offer myself to your considera-
ton as candidate to represent you
in the next Congress of the United
States. 1t is possible the curious
may be disposed to inquire, why |
have become candidate without
the sanction of committee. To
this interrOgatory, | answer, that
the recent method of nominating
candidates by committee, however
highly | may incline to appreciate
the practice, is, nevertheless, as it
seems to emo way preferable to the
ancient custom which everyone un-
derstands. Again, have been in
duced to declare myself at this time,
and in this way, by the request of
my friends, who think with me, it is
the wish of majority of the Free
holders of the District. If, however
we should be mistaken, in this par
ticular, whatever the result may be,
| will cheerfully submit to, when
fairly ascertained on the day of elec.
ton. All | desire is to give the
people an opportunity of making a
selection, and all | ask lis an unbias
sed expression of public opinion.
This manner of proceeding appears
perfectly congenial with the first
principles of our government, with
al our political institutions, and
consequently can be liable to no ra-
tional objection. Here, perhaps, it
may not be improper to premise, that
| trust my department on this Occa-
sion, will be found fair and manly
and that if | should meet with an
opponent, he shall receive from me,
all the politeness and decorum, due
r,nntlnnoop tn
To those gentlemen in the upper
parts of the district, with whom /
have not the pleasure of personal
acquaintance, / am persuaded |
shall he exonerated from the charge
of egotism and of complimenting
myself, when they are informed that
/ am farmer, in the middle walks
of life, and that if honored with their
suffrages, my circumstances are such
that | will neither be driven from
the path leading to the prosperity of
our country, by want or poverty nor
allured from it by avarice or ambi-
ton.
Citizens of the District, if az ar
dent attachment to my native soil :;
if many friends and relatives, whom
totVSui duu Nclltldlc IL 81 Hutuci
Gus progeny intertwined with every
moral perception of my heart; if
either or all these considerations
firmly combined, can rivet a man
to his country and to liberty-these
motives, these inducements, which,
in my estimation, are the most pow
eIful that Can operate ON the human
mind, shall be left by me, as pledges