Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-03-03
EVENING STAR,

the new Cabinet, some facts In hi, nersons,
and political history will doubtless prove O,
interest. He has been generally regarded az
q State-rights man and strict constructionist
Until the year 1910, he took no especial part
in politics, having some years before that pe.
riod removed to Arkansas and lost his health.
which crippled him for several years, and in.
duced him to return to Virginia. Soon after
his return he met the Hon. VIM. G. Rives in
political discussion, and he 30 acquitted him
self as to cause Mr. Rives to declare that the
speech Of young Floyd was as able q one, in
reply to him, as he had heard In Western Vir.
ginia He warmly supported Polk and the
annexation of Texas in 1874. and since then
has always been the Democratic elector in his
district, where the Democratic majority has
run up, in two or three campaigns, from some
800 to 5000; and in each of the campaigns
of ls4S and 1852 equalled, and in 1856 his dis
trict rave larger Democratic majority than
any other in the State-proving in the late
election to be the banner district of the ban
ner State of the Union. Until the last cam
paign he has had too much to do at home to
admit of his speaking out of the State. He,
however, paid visit to New York, in the late
canvass, and by request addressed the people
at the Merchants Exchange, in Wall street,
| in reply mainly to the speech of Mr.. Speaker
| Banks, delivered few days before at the
| Same place. The audience assembled to hear
| him was immense, even for New York city.
At tse close of his speech, in appealing to
the Fillmore men to rally to the support of
Mr.. Buchanan, he declared that, if il should
so turn out that he should be convinced that
the only mode Of defeating Fremont would be
| to vote for Fillmore, he would give the vote if
the earth opened and swallowed him for it-a
declaration which was cayiled at somewhat at
the time by persons who forgot that he was
speaking by invitation to conservative mer.
chants of both the Buchanan and Fillmore
parties, and could not have addressed such an
assembly in a mere partisan speech.
During the agitation of 1850, Governor Floyd
was warm opponent Of the Compromise,
although, being Governor at the time, he was
not engaged personally in that exciting agita-
ton. His father, the elder Governor Floyd,
was one of the chief actors in the movemen.
of 1917, which united all wings of the Democ-
racy Of the Union of that day in the support
of General Andrew jackson for the Presiden-
cy, and which secured that renowned chief
tain's triumphant election. In Miles, Regis
| ter Of 1927, vol xxxii, pages ia and lis, may
be found some curious "reminiscences on that
subject, which will show that the elder FLOYD
refused to be elected Governor of Virginia in
that year, on the ground that his continuing
in Congress at Washington was necessary to
bring together a combination of the Crawford
and all other wings of the Republican or Dem
| ocratic party in a concentrated support of
| General jackson. A year after he retired
from Congress, alleging that he did 30 with
the more pleasure as the Democratic party
had succeeded in electing General Jackson
an object which had enlisted such strenuous
exertions among leading members of the DEM
ocratic party, and engaged SO much of his own
efforts and solicitude Yet, when in the tri.
umph of General Jackson's power few years
| afterwards, when Floyd the elder had con
| sented to be elected Governor of Virginia,
| Gen Jackson Issued his proclamation against
| South Carolina, and ordered troops to be in
readiness to march against that State, the
same Governor Floyd threw himself into the
| imminent breach and declared that he would
| not permit Federal soldier to march through
Virginia-as if verifying the toast of the late
and celebrated Governor Giles, in 1927, to wit
"John Floyd-A Republican, whom mot
all the gold of Pyrrhus could seduce, nor all
his elephants intimidate.'
Young John Floyd was one Of the gallant
sons of the Old Dominion who volunteered on
the occasion to resist the threatened march of
Federal troops, of whom the late Judge Bev-
erly Tucker said in his speech at the Nash
Vile Convention in 1850, (who was very fond
of the young Governor as he had been of tie
old oneD Sir, Virginia did not approve the
the attitude assumed by South Carolina in
1888. What then? Was she prepared to lift
a hand against her? On the contrary, she
remembers Low with pride that her Governor
then declared that before one foot should
cross the Potomsc on q hostile errand against
South Carolina, he would lay his bones on its
shores. That was old John Floyd, sir; man
VINO never prOtnlseu Dut ne meant 10 pay anu,
thank God, there stands now another John
Floyd in his fathers place to repeat and make
good his father awords :"
These things are mentioned as anteeedents
of Governor Floyd, which are sure indications
of character and present political feelings.
In the notification year of 1882, Governor
Floyd's district, called |" Little Tennessee"
elected a State Rights opponent Of the Proc
Iamation and the Force Bill in the person Of
Charles Johnston, and 1t has ever since been
one of the soundest districts, on these subjects,
in the State, although it was almost unanimous
for General jackson oh his frst election Mr..
Calhoun was always very partial to that dis
trict, and in the fall IF ls46 or IS47, made 1t
a special point to take that circuitous youte