Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-15
SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.
-. To the Peonla Of the sevsnth Congress

-" To the People of the Seventh Congress
sIonal District had the honor III October laSf,
I" announce myself candIdst" i"r your -uhrdgr7
~ the next election for cnnsrc,s. N mat time
there candidate before the people; your
late member MI Smith. certainly pot &C
cordins to his own repeated declaration. II" Il"
clared at Breutsv. in November that he was not
then a candidate and that nc would not determine,
whether he would be candidate or not. until alter
the ith of March lie male ia. -am" declaration
at Culpcpyr Court House. whcr" he -aid ought I"
have waited, for h" NIGH, d." ger b"r'' "r'"'--
There WAS them up to the ih "i March, n""th"r
candidate before yDu. On that ia! the " hlss ana
Americans presented Mr. Henry W. Thomas, an
old line Whiy 10 the District. On the 9TH a,
Prince William Court, and after the nomination "l
Mr.. Thomas. Mr. smith for the first time in the
Canvass, declared himself a candidate. We haze
then before the people two gentlemen claiming 10
be Democratic, and one on the part OF the OpP"si-
ton This it, 10 say the least, an unequal contest.
The Democratic majority in the District Il not sui
fciently large to allow division at the vote. ana
ifthc opposition should mite on Mr.. Thomas "
requires prophet to predict the result
What then will the Democratic party do IN thl'
emergency? For either division Of the party to say
to the candidate of the other. you must withdraw.
i, manifc,tly arrogant and disrespertfu have
no more right 10 call on Mr.. Smith to abandon the
canvass than he has 10 make such call on Inc-t
there lac any difference, II l. against hIln Tor Nc
was the last to announce himself, and then after
Mr.. Thomas became candidate. 1t may he 'ald
that Mr. Smith was the late member ana thelc-
fore was expected to he candidate. But he
would not announce hmself-Was |. a well as
every other Democrat in the District to wait until
it was Mr. Smiths pleasure to say whether he
would he candidate, or not or until he might die
or get better office; There is but one way I" set
tie such differences with due regard I" the intcgrI-
" of the party--and that il Convention. W men
! first became candidate, declared my willing
ness to submit to a Convention. Ny friends have
at all times been willing to 90 into Convention
Who are they who have opposed il? portion Of
the friends of Mr.. Smith. In Rarpahnnnock they
opposed Convention for Congress. and went into
Convention to nominate Il candidate for the House
of Dclegatcs In Prince William they sustained Il
Convention for the Senate and opposed 1t Tor Con
grcss. And So every where and for every thing
except where Mr. Smith j. candidate for Congress
In that case alone it is considered unnecessary.
The Virginia Sentinel. whilst calling for conccn-
tration Of the party vote on Mr.. smith, says not II
word of a convention. but hints ut modes OF doubt
full propriety and uncertain operation. aud which
will not succeed. In other district. where similar
difficulties exist inventions have been called In
such cases il is the best and often the only resort.
| say To you. Democrats. If yon do not meet IN
Convention. You are in imminent danger of defeat.
You know the old adagc. lin union there Is
strength
The question is with you. For my part, my
course is taken and lies plainly before me. II y"n
hold Convention. shall -ubmIr--ityou do not.
shall abide the voice Of the whole people. | am
respectfully, your obcdicnt servant.
HENRY SHACkELFORD.
E.f" Papers in the District will please copy.