Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-28

favor of a conyention-he is here OF his own
accord, and | am here by the same riSh''-
lie contepded that any man had a right 10
come before the people for an once anu II
two men of the same political parry. "elc
r%unninr for the SAM Office, II was their uuty
~ suhmit their claims IA q convention, VINO
would decide which should run, and thus
prevent anv Earring or discord in the party.
TN. onlv Convention with which MIR. Smith
had ANYTHING 10 do. was a Know Nothing
Convention which assembled III Alexandria,
in 1855. whichdeclared that Smith was good
enough Know Nothing for them. Gov.
Smith WAS now running on his own hook.
He lSmith) had always opposed a Con-
v%ention. and Conventions were a Democratic
usage. and any man had a right to come be-
fore them. When IA Convention was not
needed by him, however, it was never neces-
sarv.
lie lShackelfordy was in favor of a Con-
v%ention. Smith SAYS Il Convention Is not
necessary, and so long as he can rule the
roost, he won't have oue--but when there Is
danger, he very condescendingly says, that
if the people miH have a Convention, he VIII
submit. lie (Shackelford) in reply to Il let
ter from certain gentlemen i'll King George,
had said he was in favor OF u Convention,
and though. one was necessary to heal the
distractions, and dissentions i'll the District.
He denied that it was the usage OF the Demo
Gratis in Virginia, that, because Il man was
in Office. he was consequently a candidate for
reelection. I'm nearly all the Districts IN
the State. Conventions have been called and
nominations made. and in many of these, De-
mocrats have come out i'll opposition to the
regular nominees. He had Il gentleman on
one side Of him, whom he designated as Old
Rip Van Wrinkle, and Sans Sentinel on the
other. \ Coon on one side, and Il Postum up
a Gum Tree ON the other. He therefore
thought it the duty of the Democracy to take
n good sound Democrat like himself, one who
had never straved from the fold. Don't axe
the Coon. but don't trust the Postum. MIR.
Smith. he contended, was not true 10 the par
~ in '55. His want of fidelity was then sus-
pccted, but it was not brought to light, TILL
within IL few days Of the election IN 1891,
when he Smith begged that no notice would
he taken of it, saying that at a proper time
he would make Il general defence of his
course: and the Democratic Recorder, a paper
in Mr.. Smiths interest, had urged the peo-
pile not then to pass upon it. The speaker
next referred to Mr.. Smiths refusal to sup
port Gov. Wise, and his coalition with the
Know Nothing party for the defeat OF the
Democratic nominees. lie demands 10 know
whetherI believe | have a chance of my cleo
ton. | will tell him that fine will produce the
Walker letter, | will respond to his inquiry.
lie has put me Oh my honor. but who gave
him the right to interrogate me? However
| will raise no objection 10 these even, II he
will show that Walker letter. The gentleman
brings all kinds Of proof to show that he do
not write what II number of respectable VIII
nesses say he did, when by showing that
Walker letter he could settle the whole affair
himself. Ii would kill him az dead as adcor
nail, and he doesn't dare produce it. The
speaker then read the letters of Messrs. Lew.
is, Walker, Bolts and others. also the letter OF
Gov. Smith to Mcssrs. Walker and LipscomD
heretofore published.) The CONCESSION that
Mr. Suite wanted Governor Smith b make,
was that he should join the Know Nothing
Order. This Mr.. 5. declined to do, because
he thought it the best policy to run outside
the Order. thereby securing Democratic votes.
His denial of the charges made against INN Is
not strong. lie does not come square up to
the subject and give ii u fiat denial. Inc
speaker next noticed the statement OF MIR.
Williams. of the tender of the Know Nothing
nomination to Gov. Smith by Mr.. Bolts, ana
Mr.. Botts's denial of the statement, and the
speaker thought that Smiths letter to walk
er and Lipscomb was conclusive proof OF his
(Smith's) anxiety Ia secure the nomination
ofthe Winchester Convention. The speaker
then. rs he has done in various other parts OF
the District, gave a history of the correspond
ence between Smith aud Walker, and EN-
phatically denied that Mr.. Smith had ever
offered to show him the Walker letter. If
he Smith was not plotting against the De-
mocracy, why was he holding 4 corresponds
encc with the Opposition? He denied that
the nomination of Use perpetrated any out
rage on the Old Line Democracy. because
that Old Line Democracy were fully repre-
scented in the Stauntun Convention.
The gentleman says he will introduce
written statements to show that he did not
oppose the Democratic nominees. yet here Is
IL letter in which he says he has II plan by
which Mr.. Wise can BE- defeated. The gen
tleman was So keen for the Winchester nom
nation. and for the defeat of Gov. Wise, that
he sits down and writes out in detail the
plan he has for hi, defeat. which is that ho
jSmithJ should himself run against Wise. lie
tSmithJ had administered his love powders
to many Democrats whom he expected u
carry with HIM and thus beat hun. The
gentleman complained of i breach of conf
icncc IN reading letters marked 'Contiden-
tial.' would refer him to his debate with
Mr.. Morris Of Illinois, when he Smith
stated that the retaliation of political secrets
was no breach Of rCIiilcnce. He Smith
could read other peoples letters also marked
Confidential bur when one of his " was
produced he considered it q breach of conf
dence. \ disclosure Of the Walker letter he
thought would compel Gov. Smith to retire
from the contest.
Mr.. Smith r%cjoincd, and occupied all the
time III replying to the charges brought
BY Mr.. Shackcliurd. lie c%ontended that
Mr.. Shackclford hal discussed no pub
lie question. but his speech was IN arraign-
mcnt of himself alone. He reviewed hts
cours" i'll Inj5. acknowledged that he was
deeply opposed to Mr.. Wise, a. were many
prominent Democrats, and cited Messrs.
Letcher and Lcakc, who had likewise opposed
Mr. Wise. lie would not oppose the Know
Nothing, in $50, because hc desired u CON
centrate the whole south against Black Re
pubIicanism. He thought it better 10 rea-
son with the Know Nothings than to quarrel
with them, and has not changed in the views
he then entertained. He next referred to
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