Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

From the Winchester Gazette.

TO THE FREEHOLDERS OF FREDERICK CO.

The period is near at hand when we will be required to make choice of "two fit and suitable persons" to represent us in the next legislature of this commonwealth.--The importance of this duty is I trust duly appreciated by every reflecting mind; a duty in the exercise of which, we should discard all personal consideration, and endeavor to call into action the best talents in our power without reference to personal friendships or individual attachments.

That Western Virginia does not command that influence in the legislature of our state that its wealth, population and intelligence entitle it to, is a lamentable fact; a fact which it is believed will be admitted by you all: and the reason is obvious. The people are culpably negligent in the selection of men qualified by their talents, education, intelligence and standing, to represent and promote their interests in the legislature. I wish not to be understood as having any personal allusion when I say so; the remark will apply with equal force to the western counties generally. Compare, I ask you, the delegation from this section of the country with the delegation of the lower country and you will find a woful odds against us. How does this arise? Do our Eastern brethren possess more talent than we do? This, I presume you will not be willing to admit,--I for one am not willing to admit it. But I will tell you, my friends, why it is that we are so far on the back ground in the scale of legislative importance:--of the lower counties, in the exercise of the important privilege of choosing their public servants, act as rational people. They make choice of the best men they have.--men whose qualifications command respect; whilst the Western people seem to regard qualifications as of no importance. Were we represented in a proper manner on the floor of the legislature, we should not have such frequent cause of complaint that our interests are neglected, and that the legislature turns a deaf ear to our reasonable requirements. The truth is, and I mean no offence, I repeat, to any one when I say so, we have no men there qualified to represent our wants. Is it not time then to shake off the apathy and indifference which have hitherto attached to us, and adopt a different rule of conduct in relation to this important concern? Let us therefore, at our next election, act wisely and support the men best qualified by their education and endowments to be useful to us; let us lay aside those little petty feelings which too often influence us in the choice of men to represent us; the time has arrived when it behooves us to call upon the best talents to serve us; let us therefore reflect well upon this subject before the day of election arrives, and we shall no doubt act correctly.

A FREEHOLDER.