Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-04-25
Enr lie Enlnircr.

Of Col. Polk. that Democrats should have refused
10 90 into an election without having first ascer-
tanned that effect wond be given 10 The will OF The
people thus expressed. This was all right and
proper.
The enquiry now is, Who shall be Senator ?
who, IN fart, is best qualified and most entitled 10
the hcnur2 | put the question emphatically 10
The Democracy Of Virginia 10 say, II there is a
man. Throughout The length and br.adM Of his 81!
Commonwealth, wioha foDgK m0rc gai'anty and
successfully tiT Democratic pfinciplsS, Than Ne Hon.
WIN. SMITH Of Faagnier? With unanimous
voice he is the man whom you should elevate TO
the distinguished station in question. He has
served his party faithfully for years, under great
disadvantages, and much 10 the sacrifice Of his
private interests. In 1910, he saved The State 10
Mr.. Van Buren, by his ndomiablc energy and
perseverance; by his great powers as a debater
and tact in handling his adversary and especially
in having met and repulsed often, the flon. VIM.
c. Rives. In the lale election, he did more than
any single man in the State for Polk and Texas
he travelled from The beginning 10 The end OF The
canvass, Staying the hosts of Federal Whiggery,
and bearing alofl the banner OF Democracy. on
The field OF every rencontre; ne won for himself
and his party honors every where, and The result
was, 10 gladden. the hearts of ireemen. This is
enough 10 make him first and foremost in The
hearts and wishes Of his party.
But other causes conspire 10 make him So
causes. not the less entitled 10 the consideration
OF his friends and the Democracy. He enlisted
as soldier at an early period, and Tough through
other campaigns-three, nigh, say, under the
brave old Jackson, and one under that admirable
and sagacious civilian, Martin Van Buren,, with
out ever having falered or grown sick of the bat
lle The importance he attracted soon made him
frs, in all public assemblies, and during The Storm
Jest period, when all was alarm, and the enemy
had almost triumphed through the corrup,ions OF
the Bank and the distress OF the country, the only
man equal 10 the emergency in one of the most
imro congressional districts in the State, and,
indeed, might add, many other districts. He
was, shortly after under circumstances most ho-
norable 10 himself. elevated 10 a seat in the State
Senate, where he distinguished himself for many
new and interesting reforms he proposed 10 in
lroduce in the Legislature OF the State, as well
as The rare ability and genius with which he sup.
ported them, exciting The admiration Of his
friends, and exlorling from his enemies com
plimcnts of the highest character. His in
dus,ry at hunting up rar0 facts in the space
Of night, and his promp,ness at reply,
were universally remarked upon, and not un-
frequently foiled the best skilled, most inform
ell and ablesl debaers in that l'ody. In all mat
lers calling for treatment OF Tidicue or rrpartee,
stion forbid sacredly his wounding the feelings
OF ANY, he was perfect master, and soon taught
others to respect, who before had undervalued,
him. He was equally successful, being fearless,
physically and morally, ~ meeting all attempts
al bullyism or bravado in fact he was invncible,
whether assailed by satire or threatened with
fnrce-governed by principle in all he did, ne
acted from the highest motives and refused So
cial or political intercourse with the unworthy or
nnprncped.
The writer OF this knows him well, and can
attest him pure and upright man; one, on all
accounts, and in every sense, worthy The station
Of U. S. Senator.
As a member of Congress, he took high ground,
and bid fair 10 establish a character Tor himself
second 10 none in that body. He spoke hnl sell
dom, and always TO the point, and hence was lis
tened to with respect and attention.
On the Tariff question, which then engaged The
attention Of Congress most particularly, (this pre-
sent Tariff Of 1929 he made speech of most
singular merit amasSed great amount OF inior-
nation on the subject and condensed it within a
space so very narrow, lhatlhe whole operation OF
that most complex question can be seen almost al
single glance II exposes in clear light The
injustice and partially OF The whole protective
system-in fine, 10 express 1suHnm IN porro, ne IS
a true hearted Democrat and inc0Sruptble pairtof-
experience, and wherever placed by the conf
dence OF his friends, if not the frs he will and
must soon become 50, BIZ his great industry, uni
ted 10 an extraordinary vigor of intellect. He is
decidedly al this time, the first man with The peo-
pie in the State, and il would be reflection, under
all circumstances, that any, however meritorious,
should be elevated over him.
AT meeting of the Democrats OF Rappahan-
mock, perceive the adoption OF resolutions ex-
pressive OF their high appreciation OF Mr. Smiths
services and merits, and hespeaEins Tor him
foreign mission from our new President This
may not be offered him. and he is too proud 10
ask IT, The honor OF Senator should De his. he
deserves il for his talents and his services. He
lost his seat 100, in Congress by The new arrange
ment 0: the districts, which gives additional
weight 10 the claim, and which the friends OF The
party should not forget. Had the State been diff
ferently dislricled his usefulness would not have
been so soon Withdrawn from the people OF the
district. So reluctant were they 10 give him up,
that they forced him, on his merits alone and great
worth, into The unequal contest, which defeated
him. From This defeat however, his friends had
much 10 console them II was moral triumph;
for in a district which gave Gen. Harrison up
wards OF 900 majority, Chiffon, his talented com
peiitor, beat him only 2(;5 votes
The Senatorial Election will not take place un-
right 10 discuss The respective merits OF those they
prefer 10 see elevated. ! have nothing 10 say
against others, hut mean, in my plain way, 10
endeavor to keep before The Democratic people
the high claims Of the msritorious individual who
IS The subject Of This communication. | know
what he has done, and SO do The people. Can
they, who have so often heard his thrilling ap-
peals-who have witnessed his sacrifices for the
cause-who know his pure, consistent, unbough',
unlerritcd Democracy, ever forget irl Forbid 1t
gratitude forbid il justice! Will not The Tenth
Legion rise and shake The dew dlop from her
mane2 Will not Rockingham, Shenandoah,
Page, Madison. Green, and others. who have
been so often delighted and instructed by his elo-
quence and striking illustrations come 10 the res
cue Of their gallant warriorl look with conf
dence 10 The result call upon the party, not 10
forget the man who has done so much for the
cause.
Archer and Rives have committed political
suicde-he one. in assuming paternity Of that
miserable, patchwork report, Of Blue Light,
Hartford Convention, Federal, British, Whigery,
against Texas-the other in having made 0
speech TO the same e1ec', after having proi,ssed
10 be in favor OF Titus establishing his claim
TO The disaplesiip, not Of Thomas Jefferson, the
Republican, but of that wise man Of Greece, the
prince Of hypocres, Periander.'
Should William Smith no, be our next Senator,
in the event of Democratic majority on Joint
ballot in our next Legislature, do believe it will
be an act Of great cruelty and injustice and TO
some extent give favor TO what has sometimes
been imputed to Republics, insralitude--which |
trust, for The honor OF The Stale, will not be.
A DEMOCRAT.
.Periander's maxim was: "a man ought So
lemnly TO keep his word, but not hesitate 10 break
ii, whenever it clashed with his interest"