Alexandria Gazette

Letter from Augusta.

[Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.]

FISHERSVILLE, Va., March 28.—The democratic county committee met and decided last Saturday to have a traveling primary in this county to decide which of the numerous candidates shall be voted for in May. The ballot boxes will be carried to each voter at his house by a sworn commissioner and his vote recorded. Many believe this will be the most satisfactory plan, and will give a more general expression of the people than either of the old plans. The principal contest seems to be for the circuit court clerkship, between J. N. Ryan, present incumbent, and Jos. B. Woodward now deputy county clerk. There is republican opposition for most of the offices, and it will be necessary for the democrats to concentrate their vote or they may get left.

All interest is now centred upon the Legislature and upon their action on the debt commission in particular. The general impression here is to appoint the commission by all means, and see what the bondholders propose to accept, and if a settlement can be effected by conceding even more than the Riddleberger bill, to give it and settle the business forever and be rid of it, and the people will uphold them in it.

If this Legislature adjourns without making a settlement woe be unto us next fall, and for policy sake, if nothing else, they should do something. The democratic party now have the opportunity, and they had better not fail to improve it.

Mrs. Mary Brown Donald, wife of S. M. Donald, esq., of Barter Brook, and daughter of Dr. J. M. Watson, of this place, is critically ill at the home of her husband. Four physicians are in constant attendance upon her, but nothing they have been able to do has improved her condition, and the gravest fears are entertained about her.

The prospects for wheat in this section are very poor, and many farmers are seeding their wheat fields in oats.

SCRIPTOR.