Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-20
Discussion at Culpeper Court House.

District, met at Culpeper Court House, on
Monday last, for the purpose of discussing
before the people Of Culpeper, the questions
involved in the canvass. The Court House
was crowded to its utmost capacity, and at
one o'clock the candidates took the stand.
amidst much applause. 1t was arranged
previously that each Of the gentlemen should,
in his first speech, occupy three quarters Of
an hour.
MIR. Shackelford arose amidst applause.
He said that after many months of toll and
canvass. he appeared once more before the
people Of Culpeper. He expected when he
took the field that there would be but one
opponent, and that in the person Of Cover.
nor Smith, who had very kindly told him,
(Shackelford) had he waited awhile that he,
Gov. Smith might have gotten another
office or died. lie urged against Gov. Smith
want of fidelity to the Democratic party
and he had with him proof to establish his
assertions. Gov. Smith had professed to be
a Democrat, and the standard bearer Of that
party. In 1853. he had been elected to Con,
gresS without opposition, except from the
Wings, and in 1855, still claimed to be a
Democrat, but how had he acted? The
speaker then reviewed the course of Cover.
nor Smith in 1856, when he. (Smith) had
refused to sustain the nominees of the Staun-
ton Convention, and had set himself up in OPP
position to the whole party. He reviewed
the rise of the Know Nothing party. and
said that when that party were struggling u
overthrow the Democracy, Gov. Smith had
arrayed himself against the Democrats
He wa found fighting for the Know Moth,
ings, and giving them the benefit of his coun.
sci and his infuence. In that memorabilia n,
test, this District. on account of the course
pursued by Gov. Smith had gone for the
Know Nuthings by a considerable major,
ity. He says / am here for mischief, when
it is palpable that all the mischief done
is by the gentleman himself. If he had
not opposed the Democrats. and favored the
Know Nothinss, he would not now be called
upon to define his position. In the election
in 1855, whilst protesting to be a Democrat,
he was running with the Know Nothings,
and was actually making proposals to the
Know Nothings to run against Wise. Gov.
Smith says that he has a letter which will
d~isprove all alliance with the Know Moth
ings. He reads letters from other persons
to him, but that letter to Walker he refuses
to show. As IL Democrat it was his duty To
produce that lettcr-hut he refuses. Had
not a correspondence taken place with
Walker prior to the Walker letter.: Did You
not reply TO a letter, requesting you 70 be-
come n candidate for Governor! Did not a
correspondence take place on the subject,
and did not Gov. Smith write to Walker.
lie paused for a reply-lie won't reply. !
have here the l~ettcr-tCries of read i'll
which | will read. Here it is.
Letter from G"r. Smith 10 .Nr. Walker.
WAsHISG1oS. December H., 1891.
Dear Sir: I am in receipt Of a letter dated the
Sth inst. subscribed by MARrIS Z. L%irscoMD,
Sergeant of the City Of Richmond, Virginia. X. +.
WALLER, of Lynchburg, Va. containing a re-
quest that | should direct my answer TO you,
at Richmond. Virginia.
The signature to the letter. and the letter itself.
all seem to be in the same hand writing, and as
YOU are wholly n stranger to me, il It's obvious that
our relations cannot be marked by that f%rankness
and confidence, which the occasion may require.
am deeply dissatisfied with the nomination OF
Mr.. Wise. not from any personal difference with
him, but from the gross outrage and injustice
which has been ~practiced upon the Old Line De
mocracy" and the people, and, as at prcacnt
advised, have no desire to see him elected. To
defeat him, however, requires u course OF policy,
which | shall forbear at present, detailing to you,
until VIC understand and know each other better.
To do this, can you visit Washington, or would
YOU prefer | should meet you in fredericksburg?
For the confidence you are pleased to express in
nv behalf. you will please accept my thanks. 1t
will not be found misplaced, as | can truly SAY !
was never false to a personal or political relation.
am, very respectfully yonr''
To r. Z. WALKER. WIN. SMITH.
lie read this letter to show his. Governor
Smith's) completely with the Know Moth
ings. Did you write such a letter as that ?
Gov. Smith replied that he could not recol-
iect-very likely he did, Does any one
here who heard that letter, consider him
worthy? Walker failed to meet Gov Smith
in Fredericksburg. and the Governor sets
down and writes Mr.. Walker a letter. He
says this charge is one against his personal
honor; then. why don't he show it. Let him
produce the letter. and if it does not SUBJ
s;antiate my charges, then will | most
willingly withdraw them. The Governor
charges that | only produce Know Moth
ing evidence. / am compelled to do this
because he, Smith was in cahoot with the
Know Nothings. and had nothing to do with
Democrats about that time. He, lSmith)
had authorized his name to he Withdrawn
from the Staunton Convention, if il should
be proposed. and had wanted to he tho Know
Nothing nominee, and had said that he
could accomplish more by running outside
the order, than if he were a regular member.
for bv so doing. while he wa at heart a
Know Nothing, yet he could get many DEM
~ocratic votes. He had written in regard to
this nomination. and this was the plan he
wanted to divulge to Mr.. Walker. lie then
referred to and read extracts from n letter
from Mr.. Bolts. Mr.. Smith had promised
to show this Walker letter at the proper
time. The speaker thought that that time
had now arrived, but still the letter was sup
pressed. When these charges had been pre-
ferred in 1857. the Democratic Recorder, a
paper in favor of Gov. Smith, had asked the
people not to pay any attention to them. as
they had been sprung upon him at 50 late n
day. that he would not have time 10 refute
them. For this reason, he. (Mr. Shackel-
fordl had then supported Gov. Smith. Mr.
Botts's letter was again referred to. The
reason Gov. Suith's name had not been be-
fore the Winchester Convention. was that n
resolution had been previously adopted by
! which none but n member Of that order
could receive q nomination, but nOt"ith-
standing that, Gov. Smith was a most iormi-
! iahIe candidate. Again. he read from Mr..