The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-13
WASHINGTON.
FRIDAY MORNING. MAY 10. 1853.


FRIDAY MORNING. MAY 10, 1853.
The Second Ceming OF Governor smith.
His energetic excellency, WILLIAM SMITH,
surnamed " Extra" having completed his
gubernatorial term, had, we thought, expatria-
ted himself to gather gold and glory in Cali
fornia. When we had recently seen him
clearing his way to the first rank of the polit-
ical and professional forum, we had supposed
that unless, in the destiny of progress, he
should circumnavigate the globe and come
home via the Sandwich Isles, or as the mes
senger of the Democratic electoral returns from
the precincts of Arabia, Algeria, or Ireland, we
should never again behold his excellency in the
flesh. But like that Earl of Peterborough SO
famed in song for the abrupt celebrity Of his
movements, when we were looking to see him
rising resplendent through that medium of op-
position which is his true element, represent
the executive sovereignty Of the Gold State, or
perchance preferring to confer honor upon the
Federal Councils, evict the great gold doctor
himself from the Senate and reign in his stead
But to our CONSERVATION, and more particularly
to that of such aspirants as may have intended
to lay warrant upon the vacant seat lately
held by the Hon. Mr. STRorHER. his extray
agancy pops up in the Alexandra district, and /,
denouncing all packed party conventions, gets
up one of those interesting conflicts for which
he is so renowned.
But those who may have preferred differ
ent partition of the spoils think it hard that,
whilst they were engaged in conquering the
common enemy, his cratic excellency was col
lecting the dust of his California clients So
that just when these meritorious gentlemen had
sat down to make comfortable partition of the
common spoil, the ubiquitous governor "comes
me cranking in, and cuts them from the best
part of their and;" helping himself, without
"saying by your leave" to the representation
of Democratic district. made to order and
warranted proof against even Wing insurrec
ton. At the risk of being twitted with our
Democratic proclivities, we do not hesitate to
agree with the anti-Smithians in pronouncing
this decidedly COOL"
Knowing the unrelenting wrath with which
the Virginia Democracy punish all treason
against party supremacy, we knew that Gov
ernor SMITH could not return to resume, like
SANTA ANNA, absolute dominion. We are not,
therefore, surprised that his autocratic excel
lency should encounter vigorous and uncom-
promising resistance 1t is the law of the coun-
try to which the Governor has come, as well
as of that which he lately left, thst party
having "staked off" digging for himself will
not abandon it without struggle. But the
controversy shows, incidentally, the indispen-
sable importance of the fundamental principle
of the Wing party: that the abuse of execu-
tive power ought to be restrained and punished
1t seems that some years since-eatra con-
sule-his excellency WILLIAM SMITH being
Governor of Virginia-the executive power
was for the first time brought to bear upon the
independence of that very honest and inefficient
system, the old county court. From very
early period that body had been in the habit of
filling vacancies, in its own body, by nomina-
tons which were confirmed by the executive
without the exercise of any other discretion
than in such cases as remonstrance was made
against the appointment of any particular no
mnee for matter affecting his qualifications
for office. But for the first time during the
rule of Governor SMITH it was commended that
political opinion should constitute rule of ap-
polntment. To this abuse of executive power
the Wings of course objected strenuously,
and of course without success. The State
Convention was called to establish, among
9th oil ryhI oE
should break down the Richmond Regency,
and the executive supremacy sought to be es-
tablished. 1t was argued, however, in justif-
cation of Governor SMITH. that he designed
only an equalization of office by appointing a
larger proportion of Democratic justices. But
that the power exercised by his excellency
was employed for private and personal purposes
for the advancement of his own friends.
1t is charged and shown. by the testimony of
Mr.. JOHN M. JOHNSON, that Governor SMITH
employed his official authority not only to ap-
point Democratic justices for the county of
Alexandria, but that he promised to pack the
bench to elect one Democratic clerk, and vio-
lated his promise by packing the bench to elect
another.
We hope that our Democratic fellow citizens,
as deeply interested as ourselves in the welfare
of the country, will see in the disgraceful ex-
posures made in this controversy how danger
Gus it is to give supreme rule to selfish and
designing men. Such men stimulate party
prejudices, and maintain party organizations
for no other purpose than to secure to them
selves political consideration.
we publish in another column the card of
Mr.. JOHNSON, portions of which we have ital-
csed to save comment.
From the Indignation which the usurpation
of his ubiquitous excellency has occasioned, we
should not be surprised if it be prosecuted to
the permanent injury of the Democratic party,
unles some of the combatants shall be trans
lated from the field of mortal conflict to the bo
som of their political Abraham, in which case
all may again be smiles and harmony.
Have we Great Commercial Entrepot
amongst us:'
All honor to the enterprise Of our sister city
IS L.. ~. Gov bor