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Letter to Editor
November 17, 1813
The Alexandria Herald
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
Satirical letter mocking a city council's decision to extend voting rights by deeming owners of cows or dog-houses as house-keepers, provided they pay taxes.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
MESSRS. PRINTERS,
I congratulate you and the other true Republicans of this town, on the wonderful extension of our elective franchise. By a late decision of our honorable Council, and honorable they are all, undoubtedly, by virtue of their station; and wise they certainly must be, by virtue of their being the choice of our city. Well, then, these honorable and wise men have declared, in the case of a certain member who was thought not to be a house-keeper in the common acceptation of the term, that he was so. And why, courteous reader, do you suppose?--Because it was determined if a man kept a cow, or a dog-house, he was to be considered a house-keeper. It was a pity they had not added a pig-house.
If, then, this be the case, every person who keeps a dog, or a cow-house, provided he pays his taxes, is unquestionably entitled to a vote for members of Common Council.
I congratulate you and the other true Republicans of this town, on the wonderful extension of our elective franchise. By a late decision of our honorable Council, and honorable they are all, undoubtedly, by virtue of their station; and wise they certainly must be, by virtue of their being the choice of our city. Well, then, these honorable and wise men have declared, in the case of a certain member who was thought not to be a house-keeper in the common acceptation of the term, that he was so. And why, courteous reader, do you suppose?--Because it was determined if a man kept a cow, or a dog-house, he was to be considered a house-keeper. It was a pity they had not added a pig-house.
If, then, this be the case, every person who keeps a dog, or a cow-house, provided he pays his taxes, is unquestionably entitled to a vote for members of Common Council.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satirical
Political
Provocative
What themes does it cover?
Politics
Constitutional Rights
What keywords are associated?
Elective Franchise
House Keeper
Voting Rights
Common Council
Council Decision
Satire
What entities or persons were involved?
Messrs. Printers
Letter to Editor Details
Recipient
Messrs. Printers
Main Argument
the letter satirically congratulates on the extension of the elective franchise, mocking a council decision that qualifies owners of cows or dog-houses as house-keepers entitled to vote if they pay taxes.
Notable Details
Late Decision Of Our Honorable Council
Case Of A Certain Member Thought Not To Be A House Keeper
Keeps A Cow, Or A Dog House
Pity They Had Not Added A Pig House