Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-20

Smiths room. at the Marshall House, VII"
exclaimed lis that YOU Sambo ?'-Ies! was
the response, and out came Gov. 5. on the
steps of the Hotel, and made a speech.
There was presented the spectacle OF one
claiming to be the War Horse Of Democracy,
paving the ground in front Of the Know
Nothing tabernacle. In December, 1899.
when Congress assembled. the Democratic
party held a Caucus, and in that Caucus they
positively declared that they would not coal
esce with the Know Nothings-W hat did Gov.
5. dn upon that occasion? Dad he unite with
the party, and agree To abide by the resolution:
No. He turned his back upon them and
left. After a few days he was nomlna-
ted by the Know Nothings for Speaker, As 4
reward for his utilization with them, and
failing to pet the Democratic vote, WAS deiea-
ted. Mr.. ShackiefOrd then spike OF the
Know Nothing Convention in 1879, when
the party refused TO make a nomination,
considering Smith good enough Know Moth
ing for their purposes. Mr.. b. johnson
Barbour, a most worthy and talented gen
tleman opposed him. and was tremendously
beaten, receiving a very small support from
the American party, that organization gong
almost in II body for Gov. Smith. In refer
ence again to the Walker letter, he had called
upon Gov. s.. to produce that document, and
if by it he was acquitted, he, Shackeltord'
said, amen. He then called upon the peo-
pie to know if they would not rebukc HIM
should lie fail 80 u do-(A voice-yes we
will Mr.. Shacklcford then proceeded tocom-
ment upon what he called the Inconsistency,
and injustice of certain parties. \. correspon-
dent Of the llth of April had SAID that he,
ShackcIford. had defended the Administra.
ton against the vigorous assaults OF Mayor
Thomas. and then on the 18th OF the same
month, an article in a democratic paper
in Mr.. Smiths interest said, that he. Shack
elford. had never defended the Government
from the attacks of Mr.. Thomas, to this day.
Mr.. Shackclford then referred to
cation in the fredericksburg Recorder say
that if Gov. Smith WAS to he beaten it was
preferable to be defeated by Thomas than
to be trimming with Shackelford, Ito which
Major T. agreed.l In regard TO the propricty
of hold ny Il Convention. he. Shackelford,
had ALWAYS favored it. and now AZ this
late date. after refusing it, Gov. ;. and his
friends, seeing the hand writing on the wall
were agitating the question. Having acted
consistently and fairly throughout, Mr.. Shack
elford eloquently appealed to his friends
to stand by him to the end. He took his
seat amidst great applause.
Gov. S. took the stand and was cheered
loudly. He said that in appearing before
the people of CuIpeper, he looked upon old
and familiar faces, and spoke in the hearing
Of men with whom he had been associated
from his earliest days. Here he bad com
menced his career-and here he had passed
through the hardships and trials of his ear
" life. What a spectacle do we behold here
to-day. 4. member Of the Democratic party,
claiming to be a good and true Democrat,
was, on this occasion, acting ~ the Lleuten-
ant of his Wing antagonist, Major Thomas.
Instead of supporting hin in this canvass,
he was truly a disorganlzer, and he charged
it home on him. | call upon him to state
whether he has the slightest ch rance of an
election. Shackelford.-l expect to beat
you-Cheers. ! ask the gentleman To state
whether or not he will be Il party TO this
Here there was great confusion and OK
element, and for some minutes the speaker
could not be heard-whcn order was at length
restored, Gov. Smith said, that in attempt
ing to defeat him, he, Slackeltord, was re-
ceiyins the aid of two Democratic and thee
Whig papers in the District. He had but
little time 10 discuss these matters and would
be forced to pass on. but Mr.. Shackeiford
had never said one word in defence of the
Democratic party, while his private CORES
pondence had been conned over t. find some
thing against him. 4 large number of
Democrats had refused to support the Stauu-
ton nominees, and he did not deny that he
shared in the dissatisfaction. He had re-
ceived letters from all parts of the State, re-
n~uesting him to take the stump against
Wise, and he was willing to see him defeat
ed, lift could be done by an old line Demo-
crat.
Governor Smith then read a letter from
Martin F. Lipscomh and Walker, request
Ing him to consent 10 allow himself tn
be run. assuring him that if he would run,
he could beat Wise ten thousand votes.
He never intended to desert the Democracy.
while AT the same time no was ready and
anxious to beat those whU had attempted to
crush him. The Stanton mOm'uatiOn was
one not fit tn he made, and he had always
said so. He denied that he ever went into
a Know Nothing lodge, or at any time ever
sought do. H. had written to friend who
had advised him that now was the time for
MN W aNtlEt ill'Irtl hI'l nus h"'
who had tried to crush him down. Hence,
the Walker letter. He had that letter in
his pocket, but ina>much IS there were
names in it that he did not choose to show,
and by reading it he might open old sores,
he, after consultations with his friends, chose
to withhold it from the public. His refusal
t, 60 into the Know Nothing party. he con-
sidersd as having closed the correspondence.
lie was willing to beat Wise with an old
Democrat. and in this connection, he read a
letter from Mr.. George F~itzhugh, Of Caro-
line, urging HIM to come out rs u candidate.
in OF position to the Staunton nomination,
believing he could easily beat it and detail
ing the points which would render his OPP
position eifnctual. In 1855, this Walker let
ter had been sprung upon him--thcn it was
Know Nothing thunder-now it was Demo-
cratic thunder. Soon after Mr. WISc'S nom
nation, Mr.. Bolts on his return from New
York. called upon him at his room, opposite
Browns Hotel, and in great good huinor said,
that he was the man t. beat Wise.
lie then introduced the letter If John VIII
liams, formerly of Prince William county. to
show that his statement wa, correct. Mr..
Bolts, said Gov. Smith, WAS an old acquaiEt-
ancc. He had p~rotfcrei him the nomination
and said that he could beat " isc2D'ipp votes.
Ii ne. smith, bad wanted the nomination If
the Winchester Convention he you'd s"oner