Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-07

,noricsns on guard to-night"-and there,
~ the speaker, pointing TO Mr.. Smith. is
-, selected guard of the Americans, with
'" I'D drawn and musket cleaning. There
r,s a sons of Moore which he would paro-
S,s 10 suit the occasion,
On BILLY believed thee true,
And was blest in thus believing,
Bn- now mourn that ere knew
4 BOY so GAY and so deceiving.
u- Smith did not deserve the confidence OF
.',bsr marty. In the last canvas the Wings
ia an issue on the Land Distr ibution ques-
IAN Mr.. Smith had declared himself op-
",.a1 10 Distribution. but favored the explo-
"a nroiect Of Deposit. Mr.. S. then gave
s;s views on the subject of Distribution and
Dso,si,, thought the subject of Deposit was
;n,oraeticstle. MIR. Smith, BY opposing
His,rjbution, had secured the Democratic
,,,e and by advocating the Deposit system
had induced many Wings to vote for him
MIR Shackeliord explained his votes for MIR.
smith. In '55 Mr.. Smith was 10 tight
Mace. and for that reason he had supported
Kim though when he did it be was not
.,,re of his completely with the know
No,binp party. 10 '57 it was necessary
,bs, Mr.. Buchanan should be support.
ed and for that reason be had voted
for him: but because he had voted for
him. il did not follow that he endorsed
him. lie appealed to many Democrats pre-
sen, who, ike himself had voted for Mr..
sui,h, to know ii they had endorsed bis
course. NJ. S. said that the friends OF MIR.
Smith thou gbt hin nviEci5le, but he would
,sIj them that be had been beaten often. EI-
nl.lned bow and by whom he had been beat.
en-, Including his defeat by Mr.. Hunter for
the L. S. Senate, and how often be, Mr..
Slsckelord, had been elected. lie next
touched VI on the rotation principle, decar-
ing that Mr.. Smith was in favor Of rotating
Mr.. Hough oct of the Custom House. but
sben the rule was to be applied to himself
be was opposed to the principle. Mr.. Smith
said the speaker, waoted TO know IT be was
never to have any peace. Pl tell him there
IS no peace for the wicked, but efter the 4sh
Thursday in May next, when. having return
ed TO the shades OF private life, be will have
90 opportunity Of repentirg of his misdeeds,
and then maybe he might receive PARDON
lie gave an account Of the attempt made to
turn out Mr.. f. S. Hough from the Custom
House in this city, aud contended that MIR.
Smith was at the bottom OF the movement--
When man claims re election, be ought to
show what he has done to entitle him to that
honor. He commended that MIR. Smith had
done nothing for bis District, his party, or bis
country, and consequently ought not to be
returned. By bis course be lost this district
TO Wise by 800 majority. IA voice he'll beat
you by 5000 Mr.. 5. (you bad better not
couo, YOUR colckcns before they are hatched,
and think your egg will DC bad one.l-
Mr.. Shaekelford said be bad been eight
years ia the State Senate and had always
voted for any proposition for the benefit OF
Alexandria. lie bad voted for the appropra-
tiou for the Alexandria. Loudoun and Hamp-
shire Railroad (appiause) because he thought
twas destined TO be a great work. lie thank
ed the audience for their attention, and sta
ted that he would on some future occasion
again address them. Hereturned bis thanks
for the kind attention shown him, and hoped
on election day be would receive the appro-
val of his fellow citizens of Alexandra.
Mr. Smith arose ani was recelVed with
great applause. He thanked the meehp z
for the very cordial reception with which he
was met. The gentleman who had just Ia
ken his seat had not stated the proposition
fairly. lie had not challenged him to crItl-
else his course, but to show what qualities be
possessed superior to bis own. lie did not
think the people would turn out faithful
servant and take up stranger. or to use
homely expression, they would not take a
wheel horse from the wagon when the roao
was bad ar mud deep, and put IN an IN.
tried colt The gentlemsD's modesty would
not allow him to claim superior ability, and
it was for him to prove that bis qualifications
we're superior What has he told you to IN
duce you to withdraw your cou6dencH lie
accused Mr.. Shackelford of having been a
National Republican. This Mr.. Shackei-
ford denied.) Well said Mr.. Smith you
we're something before your were Demo
crst, and what were yen. Mr.. Sbackeitord,
that's for you to say. Mr.. Smith-well you
were something though its Of such little I'M
portance that not many ever head. 10 Piince
William you declared mere than fifty times
during your speech that ycu were Democrat,
but here it don't suit your purpose 90 we'll
and ycu don't repea. it SO often. MIR. Smith
said that when be had returned from Califor-
MIA be had desired to 90 to the State Senate
which was quiet body and suited him. to
the record of which body be pointed with
pride to show bis usefulpess--referred to the
general Banking law, which was at frst
met with snec-s, but was now considered 80
beneficial. There was no public act Of inter-
est ths, be DID not take an active part H.
The whisper bad never gone forth that
he was too lszy to work or read. lie
bad fought through the dark period OF
80, '32, 49, aud "a. He refused to accept
. nomination, aud 10 '36 wac elected without
solicitation, Governor Of the Old Common
wealth, Of which he va. proud. Ii the gem
tleman couli show anything like this IN bis
record, it would be sweet, indeed, to him.
he could point with pride to bis messages
while Governor. His recommendations had
been in many instances adopted. The en-
rolmeu, OF the Militia he had recommended,
and It's repeal by the Legislature he regret
ted. His recommendation 10 regard to Free
Negroes has at last been adopted by the Leg
isls,ure. The internal Improvement schemes
be bad urged, and all now saw the dement's
sccruiug from their completion. In regard
to bis course in Congress, he could refer the
gentleman to his constituents, who would 40
sWr.
When he returned from California ne ha1 Ia
ken the ground that the people OF this District
lat -. inN4 hn