Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-14
Ear the Eu1niTcT.
TAT nc TNTHUtT.
THE HON. WILLIAM SMITH.


much interested observer OF the subject, which
has engaged The attention OF the good peop'e o.
this Commonwealth with apparently SO mnch
harmony and good feeling manifested on 'fe par
OF the friends of The several candidates, who
have been nominated for the hIgh ana 'is'ih-
yuisbrd station of Senator OF the U. States, 10
iii the vacancy occasioned by the expiration OF
The term OF service OF The Hon. VIM. Z. kIVcS.
None have been depreciated-but all have been
exalted: this is as il should be. How deilghiui
and gratifying il is; how wholesome and promo
tive Of lis interests, when we sec the conflicting
claims and different pre,ensons of candidates OF
the same great Republican family, calmly, mild
~, honestly, and with dignity, discussed!
In bringing before the Legislature Of Virginia,
and The whole people OF this Commonwealth, the
often urged and oil repeated claims of the dis
tinguishcd gentleman, whose name stands at The
head Of this article, hope that >lall do so with
that modes!y and candor, and same degree OF iaIr-
ness, which seem 50 much 10 approve.
Who is William Smith, and what claims ana
nre,ensions has he 10 The high and distinguished
office OF Senator OF The U. States, from The an
cirnt and renowned Commonwealth oil VIrs'-
MIA? Born in the county OF King GeoTge-
educated in Virginia and Cunneclicut-he qua
lifted himself Tor the Law profession, unuef
The excellent and efficient supervision OF me
late Judge Green, OF the Court OF Appeals, ana
Gen Winder Of Baltimore and was admillen 10
the bar, in the county OF Culpeper, about The year
1920, Just then twenty one years old. Oi an ar
den, disposition, enthusiastic and generous ma
lure he soon took an active and efficient pafl III
the politics OF his adopted county. Early I'M
bucd with The conviction OF mans adaptation
and expansive capacity for sel-governnen', WIN
certain wholesome and constitutional Restraints
and limitations, he, upon the very threshold 81 ms
life, took decided ground, and July Identified MN
self and his interests with the Republican parry
oil that dav. His political indocirinaiion was de-
rived from such works a. Locke, Say, our own
TAYLOR, Madi>on's Es>ays on the Constitution.
and Madson's Resolutions and Report oil I9o-
90. Al these Republican fountains OF political
doctrine did he drink freely, and discarded The
immoral ienets Of Goodwin, and turned away
from The impure aud muddy pool OF F'ilmer-
With these principles and political theories a
the sn6Stratnm OF his political creed, he set oul
upon The Republican track, without any prospect
or desire of personal roi;ica ACKNOWLEDGEMENT oi
himself, ard has ever pursued the same uniilnch-
ing undertaking, unliring and consistent course.
lie maintained firm and decided opposition 10
tie administration of The Younger Adams.
Delishiing in The characters, and admIrins The
regulations of Gen. Jackson and Mr.. Calhoun,
the ardent personal and political friend OF the one,
and the equally decided political friend OF The
other, he enthusiastically promoted their election,
and vigorously supported their administration
differing with it upon one or TWO paramount qnes-
lions, after Mr. Calhoun had leil The Vice Presi.
10 ha rip
efficient supporter OF the measures Of Gen. Jack
sons second Term more especially during all OF
lis momentons and ever memorable Struggles
save one. His stern and unyielding support oil
the veto of the Z. ). Bank biil-his equally tirm
and undertaking opposition 10 lis rechaIler-his
familiar ACQUAINTANCE and PRACTICAL knowledge
OF Banks and Banking, elected by me exciiihe
and absorbing question Of The Velo-his general
information of The domestic and foreign politics
of The ccun,ry-and last, though not least, his
active. untiring and distinguished support OF Mr.
Van Buren,, election, inclined The people, as sooh
as he was released from his perpexng and ex,
lcnsiye business transactions, WIN which ne hdu
been embarrassed Tor more IMAM the previous
eight successive years, 10 solich ms services 10
the Senate OF Virginia. Accordingly ne wa
elected 10 The Senate in 1887, Tor tour years, oy
large majority His course in the Senate, upon
all questions Of State and Federal poi,y, was
marked for il efficiency and talents, Tor lis init
mate knowledge Of all Stale relations and State
economy. and for The industry, yea and ability
with which he originated and prosecuted any
measure having for its object The interest, prospe-
r;,y and elevation Of the character OF Virgil
MIA. He was for several wears chairman o! The
Commi lee OF Finance, and exhibited know
!rdpe of finance and the financial concerns OF the
banks, worthy the oldest ard most experienced
financier. (See his speeches in The Senate upon
Banks)
In the a-absorbng, but unsuccessful attempt
at The election Of U. S. Senator, occaslcned by
the exp alton Of Mr.. Rives' term IN 1889, Mr..
Smith delivered a speech in the Senate, icplete
with strong and irresistible argument, ao'nnding
in rich and flowing eoquence. (See Speech OF
February lG, 1899 In 1910, he was reelected
10 the Senate without opposition.
In the ever-mcmorabe Presidential contest OF
1910, when the Wings boosted that they would
carry the Stale by large majority, from The
mounlain-,op 10 the Valley, and along The plains
of The distant West, every eye was turned 10 VIM.
Smith as the chief pillar and support oil The De
mocratc cause-as the Goiah OF The Democratic
parv He was honored with special messengers
from different parts Of The State, from the borders
OF Ohio aud North Carolina, and earnestly en-
treated TO come up 10 the re>cEe, anu 90 battle
with The Philis,incs. Not feeling himself al IL
berry, at this doubtful and critical conuncure oil
affairs 10 deny these repeated and earnest sollci-
talons, though illv able TO bear the expense and
loss of lime from his profession, ne went forth
with the sword OF power and truth and The glitter
ing panoply OF justice, and did illuslrious battle
in the sacred cause OF liberty and human rights
He commended with such men as WIN. I. Rives
Judge Baldwin, Gov. Barbour, Wise, Stuart,
.Ianney, Summers, and many other able and dis
tDguished men OF The Wing party. For six
months, he did yeoman's service in the Demo-
cratic cause, and proved himself what his own
Immediate constituents have always known him
10 he, one OF The most successful taclcans, and
ab'es deba!ers in The State.
Being embarrassed in his private affairs, he re-
signed his seal in the Senate in 1871, much 10 The
regret oil his whole district Not being willing
that his talents should be wholly lost 10 The Stale,
the people of his district soon looked 10 him as
their fit and proper representative in the Congress
of the United States But no; Democrat
was already in Inc field, and a Wing has an
nounced himself candidate; and, 10 use the Ian
suage OF Mr.. Smith in letter upon The subject,
"buoyant with hope, and radiant with conf,
dence." Mr.. Smith zealously promoted his cleo
lion, and supported The interests OF The Democra-
tic Parry, though he we'll knew that he was the
decided iavorile of his party in The district. A
new election came around; he was again by a
large majority OF his parry eniTeated TO become
a candidate but the same circumstances exist
ed, he would not endanser the Democratic cause.
He urged the abandonment ola Convention, and
again warmly supported The election oil Colonel
Banks. which, from the previous election, was
considered very doubtful, he having beaten Mr..
Slaughter only 10 votes in disiric, Of 500 ma
jori,y The dissatisfaction OF The Democratic
Parry NAV well be imagined. a third election
came on, when the people OF his district not only
enreacd, bnt impera,ively commanded him 10
become candidate. BE accordingly did So and
though The opposition was fixed, united and
vigorous, he triumphed over both Wing and De-
mocral By 400 majority.
He served in Congress Just two years, and
though his career was short, his course generally,
and esRscay upon the rrOmiinen! QUESTIONS q, Of
Bank Tariff, Distribution, and Loan Bill, was
marked with degree OF talent, research, ability,
and practical efficiency, which shed honor and
credit on himself raised and extended his repula-
ton as statesman, gave qualification to hislrue,
and oil v1 "A