Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-03-16
THURSDAY, MARCH is, 1855.
EX-GOVERNOR SMITH.

|
expend itself in sulky complaint and they sa'o
assurance that this indugent treatment "o''e
mately bring the refractory stager 10 qu'''' " ~
very efficient service in the harness. ine Wv
| too in his first speech after the ad)ou' nho"' "
eress represented himself Us not yer resoFeu ~ w
pose tho Democratic party, and gave ia'h' P''use
! of good behavior if not driven INTO cohlui"cy anu
| rebellion. Well, we hearkened to the appeal No'
| body undertook to coerce Governor Smith. he was
left free to follow tho inclination of his own mind
and what is the result Does he display more con-
ciliatory dispostiou Does he occupy even neutral
position in the present canvass On tho contrary, he
stands in open and uncompronising hostility to the
Democrat party--n open and uncompromlsing nos
tty to its organization, its principles and its cand
dates. He repudistes the authority Of its Conven'
tion lie discredits and denounces its nominees lie
trescherously abets Know-Nothingism with express
sious of sympathy and declarations Of approval ol
its principles. In word, he is fighting insidousy
but with none the less zeal and effect, against the De-
mocracy of Virginia, in this crisis Of their EXTREMIST
need and peril.
Surely, Governor Smith does not expect the Demo
cratic press to wink at his apostacy. Nor should he
thiuk TO escape the just indignation OF the party by
protesting his devotion 10 Ns interes''' "he he ~
tenpts to give it fatal stab.
If there is u man in the Commonwealth OF whom
i, NAV be said that he is bound by every obligation
OF party allegiance and personal honor TO support
the nominees of tho Staunton Conv, nton, that man
is Ex-Governor William Smith. Why he is tho crea-
ture of Caucus. For everything OF distinction or
political power he may boast, be is indebted to the
strict organization and rigid discipline OF party II
is then parricidal wound which Governor Smith
would infict on the authority of Conventions, and
| tbs ipyolabity of REGULAR NOMINEES. But for the
agency of party hc would never have risen from the
obscurty of across-road reputation. And, now that
be has attained to little emnence, he contemptuous-
ly kicks away the instrument of his elevation -
There are persons who have regarded the promotion
of Governor Smith as discredit TO the Democratic
party In the ingratitude Of his present conduct they
may affect to find abundant confirmation of the re-
proach.
Independently of this general obligation, Governor
Smith has contracted special and more binding en-
gagemcn, to support the candidatesof the Democrat
ic party. He ,cas h'haSet an 0prdm for thr ~01at'
nation Of tie Stauntom Conrention. We remember
the quibbc by which he seeks to cover his retreat
| from this position. 1t will not avail him. Ho may
draw nice distinctions between an acre and Pa's's
competition for nomination, but the fact that he
avowed his readiness to accept tho candidacy OF The
Stauntou Convention s eQuira'ent to an instruction
to present his under circumstances taporaoe 10
has suecess. We did not understand that either
Mr.. Leaks or Mr.. Wise all aef!re candl'
| date for the nomination. They certainly did not
como before the Convention i'll the attitude of suppl
cants. They manifested a willingness to accept the
nomination; and nothing more. Yet we dare affirm
that if Governor Smith were the nominee Of the Con-
vention and Mr.. Wise recusant no would not be
more severely blamed by any man than by him who
now seeks to evade obligation Of good faith by this
equivocal and insufficient plea.
The motives which Governor Smith assigns for his
dsorganisirg conduct entitled to no more consider
alton than the argument by which he would establish
a right to break his engagement to the Convention.
Is il for him to suy that Messrs Wise, McConas and
Bocock are not good and sufficient Democrats
Have they not the solemn sanction of the party'-
May they not plead nomination by convention Of
tho Demoeracy-ths sword and shield with which
Governor Smith has 80 often fought his way to oicel
dispute their pretensions, TO dscredt their title to
the support of the Democracy is to se the opinion
perhaps the selfish resentment of individual against
the deliberate conviction and formal action of the
PARTY In anybody else this conduct might merely
imply eItrsvagant presumption, but, in Governor
Smith. it exhibits not only inordinate egotism, but
singular indecacy Of sensibty thus to contest the
claims of his successful rival for coveted political
distinction.
1t is unnecessary to expend more words in ustra-
ting the false and untonable position which Governor
Smith occupies before the Democracy Of Virginia.
Its absurdtyis obvious to ALL is indeed confessed by
himself. For, with an air of mingled penitence and
pride he pompously reces his services to the party
and claims impunity for his present misconduct in
consideration of his past fidelity.
For whatever services Governor Smith may have
rendered the Democratic party he has been reward.
cd in full measure. He has balance to his credit
with which to compensate the Democracy for the
damage they may suffer from his present apostacy.
Governor Smith is not disciple Of that school OF
philosophy which teaches that AL honorable course il
its own sufficient reward. His mind fluids no repose
in a simple consciousness Of integrity. He cannot
bear with the injustice Of men, and unless he gains
the 'recompenso of reward for which hs sighs, he
straighway renounces the ways Of virtue, and seeks
to avenge his wrongs his party. Such conduct
cannot but suggest suspicion that his consistent
fidelity to the Democratic party, hos been calcula-
ton of personal interest rather hun an unselsh sup
port Of certain principles of public policy. And, in
deed, if we look back to the public career Of Go
vernon Smith, will discover that he was faithful to
his party just so long as any thing was to be made
in the service of party but that tho instant his per-
sonal fortunes and the interests of his party in
conflict, that moment be deserted to the enemy. Let
him not then attempt to propitiate the sympathy
Of the Democracy, by an extravagant encomum on
his political consistency. Fidelity to the party s
thing unless it be the unbought homage of the heart
genuine and unswerving attachment to the ntor-
ests and principles Of the party. IT, in truth, Govern
or Smith be the disnterested and inhe1ibls Demo-
orat he would have the world believe, why does he
desert the party the hour Of ts utmost n"ed and that
too obedience TO the suggestions ct personal resent
srent and disappointed ambtsi0n7
successful resistance to the authority the party
will result in its hopeless disorGanization. No man
should be tho better for betraying the Democracy
Therefore, let convention of the party in the Alex
andria Congressional District bring candidate into
The field against Governor Smith. lfa Wing should
'"nc" TO be elected, tho blame would attach to him
VINO bids defiance to the principles, usases and au-
'nof''y OF the Democratic party.
-N
lhE KNOW NOTHING CONVENTION.
'vu'e tune we have had private information of an
~ ,,r Nothing convenonin Winchester
A-' " ''" organ confirms the correctness ofthe
iepo'' A'iu oou'ahces by authority that Know. No
'1'nR oon'on''oh "ss Yesterday held in Winchester
cahodatos Tor the executive offices of the
State. Now we understand tho mv.torv of tho sud-
den appearance in this city OF so many Of tho old ana
vined stagers of the Wing party. Thev ,roro