The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-07
The Canvass I'm the Seventh Congregations
District OF Virginia.

The Canvass in the Seventh CODgresslOna
District OF Virginia.
As We before stated there are candidates for Con-
gress the Seventh district Of Virginia. two democrats
and opposition, and the contest has already com
menced to be quite and animated The three aspi
rants Hon. William Smith, the democratic repre-
sentative in the last Congress- Henry shackelford also
democrat, both Of whom stump candidates, neither
having been put forward by convention; and Henry W.
Thomas on whom the entire opposition have united The
district composed Of the counties Spottsy
Alexandria, Fairfax, Fauquier Prince William, Kappa.
hammock, Culpepper, Stafford and King George, and is
pretty equally divided In political sentiment it having
given about nifty majority against Governor Wise in 1856
Mr.. Shackeltord has announced his willingness 70 20
into convention with Mr. Smith, and abide by its deci-
SION but appears the latter is not willing 70 submit his
chances TO ordeal where the result would be 80 very
uncertain So the matter stands and continues the
position up to the day election the sue ess of the
opposition candidate is next to certain.
The three gentlemen stamping the district together
taking their regular turns n addressing the electors We
have the following report of their speeches recently
Ivered IN Prince Wlam:-
Governor SMITH first took the stand and after thanking
the democrats OF Prince William for the renewed Of
confidence they had expressed Ia passed in
democratic meeting which had just adjourned, proceeded
TO give an "account OF his stewardship" He said mauy
and interesting questions had arisen during the late session
OF Congress Two great States had been added 10 the
Unon-tha he had against admission Of both,
that while he did feel inclined admit by his voe
any more Tree states THIS was not The main reason tha gov
erhed him his vote He dwet for length Of time
The financial condition OF the country. Some time since,
he remark ed, we had millions of surplus in treasury.
The present depressed condition Of the country from
various causesthey originate the changes of the times
1uctuaon oftrade, he SAID, begat lucuaton Of ex-
penses. A heavy expense--six millions of dolars-was
incurred in adding 10 the Capitol buildings there were
debts that had TO be paid and the in the salaries
Of members OF Congress, government officers &C., all
tended TO increase the expenses Of the government He
had advocated, in caucus Of the democratic members,
retreDchment and submitted proposition commencing
by curtaipg the salaries of members Of Congress.
powerful effort made to raise the tar-he thought
The public expenditure could be brought down the pre-
sent He stated that an extra session Of Congress
would probably be called. The Governors time having
expired he concluded by announcing himself candidate
for reelection.
Mr.. SHAcKELFoRD next took the stand He was still a
candidate for Congress, but was ready TO submit his
claims to Congressional Convention. II the democratic
party was beaten would not 90 his fault He said that
Gov Smith had given the most meager account Of his rep
Iesenatve that he had heard given by any
representative; that he bad not defined his position on
many of the great questions which had been before Con-
gress that he had told them he had against the ad
of States had assigned no reason for
so doing. Mr. Shackeord said he himself a demo-
crat nnd expected democratic support Gov. Smith
not entitled to it; he had solicited the nomination Of the
Know Nothing party for Governor in opposition to Mr.
Wise. He stated that he crcdiby informed that on
the evening before the election 1855 there two po
lil,cal meetings held IN Aexandra-one ny the demo-
cratic party at the ycenm Hail. the other by the Amer
party, at American Hail. Gov. Smith tho Mar
shall House, 10 that city, at the time He Gov s. did
not attend the democratic meeting; committee from
him to address them in their meeting, which he
consented TO do, and started in company with
this committee TO the hall in which their meeting
was being held; having proceeded more than a
square, they met by gentleman who advised the
Governor to return to the Marshall House and address the
Americans from that place. and he accordingly returned
the committee reported 10 the Council tsat Gov Smith
ready to address them the Marshall House. and the
meeting adjourned to that place, where he addressed
them Mr. snackef.rd said he held in his hand letters
from John Minor Bolts, r. +. Walker and c. W. Lewis all
of whom state that GOV. Smith did, in letter written by
i'm IN Mr. Nptk rr VIZ.
Conve non which letter is now in Gov Smiths posses.
sion, solicit the Know Nothing nomination for Governor
Gov. SMirII-rhat s simply q lie.
Mr.. SHAcKELFoRD-DO you mean to apply that TO me-
sirY
Gov SsirrH-No cir.
Mr.. sHAcKEIToRD then read the letters from Messrs
Lewis and Walker and about to read that from Mr.
Iotts when was announced that his time had expired
Major HOMAs said that the Governor considered the
President Of the United States the embodiment of the de-
mocrac party and read from speech Of the Governor
70 prove IT, he sad many OF the measures recon- mended
In the Presidents message were such had been sug
gested ard approved by the wings He adverted the
tariff of 1s42 and ls46 aud showed the prosperity Of the
country under the former aud its pecunary embarrass
ment under the latter He said that in 1912 the Governor
advocated revenue from direct for governmental
support and asked him if he was in favor Of such
sure nowp
Governor SMITH made no response
Mr. THOMAS continucdHe said the Governor had told the
people what ne bad Gone In Congress their representa-
tve and that he would tell them what he had not done
He then reviewed the Governors during the ast
session. and argued hat mpotent of no benefit
to the country. Mr. Thomas thought the country had
been under democratic msrule long enough it was time
there a change.
After Mr. THOMAS had ncluded, Gov SMITH again ad
dressed the audience He had TO say TO the eope
but had not sufficient time. He was surprised that he
should again be compelled 10 deny that he had ever
solicited the nomination for Governor the hands of the
Know Nothing party, aud produced letters from Col
suite, OF xandra, and John Williams, Esq., of Washing
ton city, to efuie the charge He astonhed that the
gentlemen should have expected fuller account of his
COURSE during the short time he had TO
speak.
Mr.. SHAcKEIFoRD read the letter from Mr. Bolts and
called on Gov Smith, If he desired clear himself OF the
charge, to produce the Walker letter.
The speeches OF all three OF the gentlemen were we'll
received by their respective friends who frequently ap
plauded them