Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-15
From the Richmond Wing. ]


,urdav, to the choice Of Governor TO succeed to
office from and after the 4th March next. On
the first ballot, WIN. b. GILES, Esq. received
majority Of the whole. Giles lo7, Nelson 81,
Floyd 81.
We are well pleased with the result Though
we have not admired the temper, or approved
the entire views exhibited by Mr.. Giles, since
his last appearance on the political theatre,
commencing with his newspaper lucnbralions,
we are not forge,ful on the other hand, of his
services in organizing and leading the Repu6-
licar party to victory. We are OF those who
prefer 10 remember former merit rather than
recent error Mr. Giles feelings have appear
ed to require some token of Legislative conf
dence 10 atone for what he deemed an unmerited
fall from grace, at the time he incurred the
censure Of the General Assembly Tor viola
ton of Instructions, real or supposed. We
have no question that the operation oil that cen
sure on Mr.. Giles mind, soured the milk OF
human kindness which was supposed once 10
predominant SO largely in his composition, and
produced that tendency TO iDdiscrimlnate war
fare, which we have seen TO characterize his
latter productions. We may hope that the
restoration of the confidence of his country, will
once more give the milk ascendency over the
gall, and convert the Ishmalite into the lsraelite
We are pleased on Mr.. Giles account, and
pleased on other accounts. Mr. Nelson, we IN
derstand, has recently given it TO be understood
that he was great friend OF Jackson, and as
this intmalion was made ir the nick of time,
we are gratiied that he and the world are given
10 understand the General Assembly Of Virgil
mia, have not sunk to that point of political de-
gredation, when losing sight OF principle and
dignity, they are prepared to make Jacksonism
the test Of Office. May the day be lsng ave:ted
when they shall fall so far below the ancient
fame Of this State. If we are pleased at Mr.
Nelson's exclusion on this account, We are e.
quaIly pleased at Gen Floyd's, since one of his
nomina,ors insisted on his transcendant merit,
his being a Jacksonian, as very conclusive ar.
gument in his favor. We are pleased at his
exclusion on other accounts-.for as he seemed 10
think in one of his letters, read by his friend Gen.
Smyth, that the salvation of the nation depend
ed upon his remaining in Congress, we are de-
cidedIy of opinion thai the State of Virginia
ought TO prefer the safety OF the Union to her
own qualification. She is no doubt, however,
duly sensible of the honor reinquished, and Of
the severity Of the sacrifice incurred.-A word
or two, upon the nomination.
had committed the responsibility Of bringing
his name forward or not, with that fatality
which marks his friendships, read several let.
tiers from the Doctor, for the purpose of show.
ing the improperly of nominating him. This
Improperly was derived from the opinions Of
Gen. Floyd and his friends, that his continu-
auce in Congress was indispensable 10 the pre-
servation of the Republic. There seemed TO
he ,,,tI,, I,aH
his friends. that he was the Camllus Of the
Republic, who alone was competent to save il
from the Gauls-Oh! the decisions Of selc.love
how sweet, no doubt, and soothing 10 their VIC
tim, but how ridiculous to others. Nsverlhe-
less we are pleased 10 hear that even in the o.
pinion Of Jackson members of Congress, there
is one man besides Gen. Jackson, capable Of
saving the Republic. We are glad they have
found God Of War; "Dalhousie" TO serve
as Lieutenant Colonel to their "Earl of Mar"
Perhaps Gen. Floyd may be found worthy to
succeed Gen. Jackson as President Of the u
nited States, and the line of "safe precedent"
transferred from the Department of State, be
finally settled upoa succession of MILITARY
Chieftains"
But to return to the letters-Wilh great diff.
fculty, we found one gentleman in the House Of
Delegates, sufficiently acquainted with General
Smy,h to prefer to him an application, that as
the letters had been publicly read in the pre-
sence Of large concourse Of citizens, we might
be permitted TO publish them. The General
refused, and il then perhaps occurred 10 him
for the first time, that he had acted with doubt
full proprie,y, in making public private letters
addressed TO himself, and evidently from their
authors speaking so much Of himself moi ill.,
tended to meet the public eye. Perhaps it oe.
Cured to him rather sooner too--for when in
the course Of the debate, Gen. Taylor enquired
of the Chair if the letters having been read by
the clerk, had ncl become public property, Cen
Smyth without any notice Of the movement,
rushed from his seat, and bounced upon them
like hawk upon partridge. Gen. Smy,h's
indelcacy to his friend, is nothing to US or the
public, but every citizen has RICH, to cri.icise
the practice first introduced by him, and now
again repeated, Of reading TO the House Of De.
legates letters which he receives from his Wash.
ington correspondents. 1t is an indigni,y 10
the Legislature, and through them to the whole
State. IT is founded upon the implic alton, that
the Legislature is too Ignorant to decide upon