Washington telegraph., 1852-06-09
The Gubermatoria. Candidates.


there are now prominently before them, two
aspirants for the executive chair of this State,
both of whom are democrats,-one the
nominee of the State Convention 9th
er an independent candidate. That the
views of each, on the important subjects
which now agitate the public mind, may be
fully and fairly known, we give place to-day.
to Gen. Conway's letter Of acceptance, and
Gen. Smithson's response to the citizens OF
the counties of Benton, Madison, Carroll
and Washington, by whom he was first call
ed upon to become candidate. AS far as
political matters are concerned, both gentle
men, we presume, entertain similar views,
but upon the subject Of internal improve
ment,-a subject of vital importance to the
people of this State at this time, there ap-
pears to be material difference. Of this
difference, it is our purpose at present to
speak.
In the first place then, as regards the
viewsexpressed by Gen. Conway on this I'M
portant subject, we must acknowledge, that
in common with majority of his most ar
dent political friends in this section of the
State, we are disappointed. We expected
from him something tangible on the subject
of internal improvement, and favorable to
the repeal of those acts, which all are bound
to acknowledge, tend to an injudicious ex.
penditure of the proceeds of the 100000
acre, and seminary funds.
In accepting the nomination rendered
him by the Democratic State Convention,
Gen. Conway, gives his adhesion to a reso-
luton adopted by that body, which resolu-
ton, to say the least Of it, is not sufficiently
explicit cl the subject to which it refers.
It will be recol!ected that resolution
was introduced into the convention that
nominated Gen. Conway, by Mr.. Brodie,
which read as follows -
"Resolrea That this Convention is in favor of
no person for the Office of Governor, whose views
and feelings are not known to be III favor OF re-
peang that portion of the distribution act which
distributes among the several counties, the pro-
ceeds of the sale of the 100000 acres of land do
mated to this State by Congress, for the purpose
of internal mprov enlent. and appropriating and
concentrating the fund it was intended by Con-
5ress in some form that will be of permanent ad-
vantage to the whole State; and; also, who is not
in favor of having the State, aid by all legal and
legitimate means IN her power, liberia and BEN
eficial system of internal improvement, that Will
be of lasting practical utility, and rebound to the
honor and prosperity of the whole State"
This resolution was defeated by the Con-
vention, and the, following, introduced by
Mr.. Flournoy, was substituted in its place.
"Resolved That the Democratic party of this
State, are in favor of wise, economical, and
we'll guarded system OF Internal Improvement"
The resolution introduced by Mr.. Brodie
was plain unequivocal, and not to be mis-
understood, but it was voted down, and
resolution SO '',oeU guarded" as not to
commit the party to the repeal of the acts
distributing the proceeds Of the 5O0,00O
acre, or seminary funds, or to any liberal
system of Internal Improvement, was sub
stituted and adopted by the Convention
This is the only resolution on the subject
of Internal Improvement adopted by the
Convention, and such a system as it recon-
mends Gen. Conway, in his letter of ac-
ceptance, says he hopes to see established.
Further than this he promises nothing; his
letter does not contain single word in re-
lation to the repeal of the distribution acts,
and have we not, therefore, good grounds
to believe, in the absence Of any express
sion to the contrary-that the nominee Of
Convention which refused to pass reso-
luton favorable to repeal of these acts, is
himself opposed to repeal. The Demo
Gratis Of this section of the State, ex-
pected, and desired that the Convention
should occupy unequivocal grounds on the
subject of Internal Improvement. They
were anxious the party should be commit
ted to repeal of the acts by which the
Internal Improvement and Seminary funds
are distributed among the counties, and
several Southern counties have already
so expressed themselves through their Rail-
road Meetings They pledged themselves
to support no man, even for the Legislature,
who does not favor the repeal Of those mea-
sures, and can they be expected to support
a candidate for Governor who goes no fur
ther than to pledge himself to such sys-
tenn of Internal Improvement as was ap-
proved by Convention which voted down
resolution embracing all the people re-