Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-07
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADV ER1SER MARCH 1852
Remarks of Mr.. H. w. Thomas,

remarks Oh lhV"os'
Ou he coca ,om Of hi, nomination for Congress by
rhc Whig aud American Convention, in session
III this city. on Friday, the 9TH Of March
Mr.. Massey. Chairman Of the Committee
to bring before the Convention the name Of
some gentleman who, in their opinion would
be- best calculated to secure the votes OF the
Seventh Congressional District, having re-
ported the name of Mr. II. W. Thomas, and
the nomination having been unanimously en-
lor>ed by the Convention by rising vote:
Mr.. Thomas said, that he felt some cmbar-
rassmcnt at the recommendation OF the Com
mittcc. not from any lack of devotion to the
party or its principles, but from the fact that
there were so many in the District who were
more competent to conduct the canvass, and
ensure its success than himself 1t was known
to many members of this body, that he had
heretofore declined being the candidate but
duty to himself To his party, and his country,
required him To iurego his personal feelings
Oh the subject, and to acqulesc III the recon-
incubation of the Committee, which had been
So enthusiastically endorsed by the Conven-
ton. He was ready at all times to defend
the honor Of that flag under whose folds he
had been raised, and whilst others might look
down IA mathematical line from the cradle to
the present time upon their political course,
he could with truth affirm that his record was
eminently consistent throughout. lie had
followed with patriotic pride, the lead Of the
llustrious Clay, and had never failed to bat
tie for those glorious principles when assaled
In accepting the nomination rendered HIM,
Mr. Thomas said that it was his intention
to go before the people of the District and
demand their support, in the name OF the
interests of the State, and the present untor-
tunatc condition of the nation-that he
should claim the support of the Democratic
party upon the ground that the Chief Magls-
trate of the country had recommended Wing
principles in part rs better calculated to ad-
vance the interests Of the country, and be
should demand of his opponents to know
whether they endorsed the recommendations
of the Executive upon the subject OF the lar
it, and Internal lmprovements-that II they
refused TO sustain the Executive in those re-
concentrations he could with propriety
claim their support inasmuch as those prncl-
pies are part Of that great American system
which was established and sustained by the
7
his wish and belief that the canvass in
which he would soon engage should be char
actcrizcd by great courtesy and fairness to-
wards his opponents, with both OF whom he
was on terms Of friendship, more especially
with one, Mr. Shackelford) with whom he
had served and to whom he was personally
much attached, having served for long Sc
ries of wears with him in the Senate OF Nir-
/ gnia. He should examine their principles
and records. and invite ut the same time
strict scrutiny into his own. This he would
do in spirit Of fairness and candor, hoping
that he would be met IN Il like spirit; but if
on the contrary the canvass was Ia be other
wise, lac was prepared and ready to meet
them on whatever ground they chose to
! take. For many years he had represented
most faithfully and 10 the best of his ability
! the people of Alexandria and Fairfax, in the
! STATE Senate. having yet to hear the first
complaint from any one Of any party in OPP
position to his course during the whole OF
that long period. If then the voters of the
! District should see bit TO transfer him from
the councils of the State to that Of the ma
ton. h. trusted that his past representative
course and fidelity to the interests OF his
constituents, were an earnest Of what he
would de- in the future He was prepared
| to ~ into this canvass in real earnest. and
! to leave no stone unturned 10 achieve VIC
| tory but while he should not lag in the
/ fight he desired the gallant Wings and Amer
/ leans of the District to buckle on their ar
mour and 90 into the fight. too, with the de-
! termination to win the victory.
! In taking the field as the nominee OF this
! Convention. he should appeal to the voters
! IL Americans, (and he said it in no party
scnSc. for Us was truly remarked by dis
tinguiNhed gentleman in the late glorious
/ Wing Convention at Richmond, that every
/ Wing was Il true American, and every
/ American was II true Whig,) To come to his
support aud to make one other effort Ia re-
deem the District from les present thraldom,
50 that the prescribed opposition in the State
might have one Representative in the next
! Congress. The speaker then concluded by
earnestly and cloquently appealing to the
| Wings and Americans in the Convention
and throughout the District to rally to the
support of those principles for which they
have been so long contendlng, and which
have been even acknowledged by their oppo-
nents to be sound and correct.