Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-04-13
To III, Editors ar ire Eggviycr.

McSsrs. Editors In Your paper OF Aprli oth' We
find The published i'oceea'nTS' ,iIIsa ny ' "n 81, :
rotary, Of what purlv rts to have been a meeting o.
the Democratic party of Orange county, held III ilic!i
Court House, on the 10th day "f March ln.t.
We also find our rHulcs among those npp!oin'ec a.
delegates, by that Ir,,:ti,g, 10 represent ms c"uh!
in a District Convention, proposed 10 be held IN Char
lottcsville, on tho l9th OF this month. :,
lnasmuch, sirs, Us IL resolution offered by DR.. DOL
folk, aud claimed to hive been passed by this meet
ing, is calculated to place W.. with q very large portion
of the Democracy ot the county in n fn!se position We
desire through Your columns to offer q very Driei s'd'e'
mcnt OF the facts as they occurred on thai "cc"-ion'
This resolution presents MI who participated i'll
these proceedings lbs j~uslitying and approving 'ne re-
cent course Of Gov. Smith, hs endorsing Ills posi'oH'
and recommending him TO our iellow-citizehs ior re-
election.
DO repudiatcd by nino.tcntlls, probably Dy nlhe'! 'ni"c
bmdrch;hs of the Democracy Of this county.
Ihoy may not, indeed, be prepared to adopt al tins
time, the policy ut an organized Democratic "iposi-
ton 20 his election. Upon this point there Ii Ger.
tainly a diversity Of opinion, and some VINO, Il IL"
days ago, We're adverse TO such Il course, arc III" us
posed TO advise il.
We have seen but q single Democrat who justties
the course OF Gov. Smith. No doubt there are others
and ia an evidence of the spirit %! this little trng-
mrnt Of the party and their patriotic devotion to prln-
cipie, be it known that they ue openly threatening
hostility II our State ticket IN tho event ot Democrat
ic opposition To Gov. Smith.
In our Judgment, the vote taken in the meeting in
question was no indication whatever that the DeInoc-
racy of Orange approve o! his present position or Ce-
sire his RI. election.
After the adjournment Of tho Court, it was made
known that Gov. Smith would address the people,
and tho Court House was soon crowded 70 excess
Men of all parties were assembled, Wings, M, M
| deed, thure are any Of them lcit,) members OF the
know-Nothing or American Order, a. they ierW
| themselves, mud Democrats. The anxiety TO hear
Gov. Smith, and to learn from himself his position,
was great, and the house was soon fllcd 10 Us utinos'
capacity. When he had concluded, there were rniIsiroin
the crowd for several gentlemen, and MnJnr Lee had
taken the stand TO respond 10 this Gull. Al inns juno
ture, il Was proposed that the speeches should De suS-
pended till II Democratic meeting conid be i"rl!eu'
and delegates appointed Ia tho district convention
prrposrd Ia be held at Charlottesville and, accord
imsiy, Major Lee gave way for ihis purpose. Mr.. IA
liutcrro was then called to the Chair, and MIR. Jcii-
niugs appointed Secretary OF the meeting.
As it was generally understood that this business
would occupy but Il short time, uud that the speaking
would be resumed, few, If any, lett the house.
After the proposed delegation had been appointed
and before the chair was vacated, the resol"tioi' d
published in your paper, approving the course oi GOV
Smith in Congress and recommending him Tor re-
election, was offered by DR.. Voolfolk: ihc V"1lns
thereon was by 10 means cnnilhcd 10 tho heniorIauA
nor ~ il By any means CERTAIN, thn1 u "as "Plio'eu
BY q majority of this mixed crowd. IL WIS., however
J.c;d.d nv the chair to have been passed., and as no
appeal was taken tllercfrom, we presume II mus. ot
40 considered. In truth. however, no movement "
,Iis kind was anticipated aud no one was therefore
prepared 10 meet II. cn
/ II was generally expected that the positions OF Gov
Smith. both a.. to the guberna;oriGl election ana Inc
" American Ordcr,' would be nssnilcd by Mayor Lee
and others. and il wa. obviously not inst that /" reSo'
In,iou Of his character should have been nc'e' on
| ,il h,th sides had been fully heard. And claiming
AZ il does, to come from tn" Democracy nlone; We
cauno, see tho ~propriety OF having itncicd or by i
mixed usscmb!.gc Of all political parties.
Conversations with many OF the most Jealous "no
consistent, Democrats OF our county, convince u
that there are few who will sustain HIM Dythcr woes
none, so far ~ VIC can learn, wba sanction his coure'
or who can approve hs position in the present COZ
vass. 1910 no S.roo
rsry Of our county IRE unwilling to appear IN 'n'
public prints, III recommending !"rIre,e!ectlon' . inai
10 whom Indeed we were once warmly a'tacheu, ~
whom we regard as violating onr principles anu VI
ilicting much injury ON tkc payis. we must request
publication of the foregoing statement.
The Editor of Alexandria Seitinc!, hnd any "'no
editors who may have published the account o. th'
proceedings in Orange will plraau copy this article.
JOHN WILLIS,
ALEXANDER A. BOSTON,
JOHN =. LOW.
JAMES Is. NEWMAN.