Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1886-06-26

visions were therein made by which
the legislature of the State might re
duce the qualification ofvoters which
was accordingly done, at first five
acres of land and afterwards to GER
tain species of personally, and by
this reduction in property TO qualify
voter, the Democratic party in
Berkeley county became stronger.
As in all political parties the great
wing party of Berkeley became di-
vided by schisms OF whatever nature
/ am not aware, and DR.. Allen G.
Hammond, q shrewd observer of po-
litical affairs was offered by a rem
nant of the wing party, he being a
whig, to coalese with the Democrat
ic party, each party offering a can
didate for the legislature. DIR. Ham
mond and Lewis Grantham forming
the Democratic ticket. This elec
tion resulted in the success of the
Democratic candidates, which was
the first of the party that ever sue
ceeded in the annals of the political
history of Berkeley county. Your
readers can readily imagine the joy
and hilarity succeeding this election
by such party leaders as / have hero
in mentioned. / was authorized to
carry an account of the vote at
Robinson's Mill to Martinsburg, it
being then Democratic stronghold,
and after my arrival on the election
day, or rather | arrived after night
fall, the election of the Democratic
candidates then being deemed GER
tain. The shouts and hub-bub that
went up made the old ancient town
ring, Again and again did they vo-
ciferate their JOY over the result.
Peter Gardner, being a Democrat
and at that day kept the Eagle Ho-
tel now kept by Philip Smith, Esq,
opening his house, where we all Wis
tied and enjoyed his hospitality.
Uncle Mike playing the most active
part in the iubilalon at the time
and by some means many ofus as
cended the stairway in a room where
there was q stove, uncle Mike de-
claring that he would go up the
stove pipe A goodly portion Of the
crowd repaired that night to the
hospitable residence of uncle Jacob
Seibert, on Tuscarora, now owned
by George w. Hawk When late at
night, we retired for the night, I'M
Gle Mike declaring he wonld sleep
with Lewis, which accordingly he
did. At the next annual election
the same candidates were offered by
the Democratic party, an incident
occurring which came very near to
meaning the success of the party at
that time
A day or so before the election,
was awakened about the break of
day by a servant man, belonging
to M. S. Grantham, Esq, who hand
ed me couple of letters, one from
Mr.. Grantham, the other from a
prominent Democrat from Gerards-
town District informing Mr.. Gran
than that the night previous the
wing party had met in Caucus at
Levi Henshaws, on Mill Creek, and
nominated DIR. Hammond and some
one else, to serve on the wing ticket.
The doctor having so recently came
over to the Democratic party caused
skeptical minds to, in some measure,
doubt his fidelity to the party Of his
late adoption, and they thought best
to arm themselves to meet such an
emergency. The other of these let
tiers directs me in haste to inform
Lewis Grantham of these facts, so
that he could at once investigate the
report. | remember well when he
read the letter | handed to him; he
manifested the greatest GOODNESS, he
being man of remarkable good
judgement, doubted the truth of the
report; but said ferewarned, fore
armed, and directed me to scan the
billy portion Of Back Creek valley,
while he would visit DR. Hammond,
when we were to meet again at his
house sometime the night succeed
ing, which accordingly we did--he
bringing news that the report, as he
at first surmised, was enormously
founded. This election came off, the
result OF which was the election OF
the entire Democratic ticket; to the
great satisfaction Of the Democratic
leaders, and especially to the great
I qualification Of Uncle Mike and not
much less so to his good old lady,
Aunt Polly, as we Familiarity called
her which in this communication
cannot nor viii not be passed BY
without notice, and can only say
that your correspondent never knew
a better meaning and more charita-
BILE woman. This old couple, by
their assiduity and attention to bust