Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-04-08
The Discussion at spotsylvania Court House.

again. In I'll, when first a candidate he was
in the same fix, with one Wing, and one
Democratic opponent and now rs then, he
had to appeal for fair play-IIad been Repre-
sentative for six years, been faithful to the
! duties he owed his people. the South, and
! the Union, had fairly and honestly represcn-
! ted YOUR interests and your feelings, and now
asks YOU for renewal of the trust AZ is Gus
tomary and usual Mr.. Shackeltord seeks
NV position: announced himself candidate
as early as last October under the assurance
! that the field would be left to Us: that was the
common wish and common sentiment OF the
District. Mr.. Thomas himself was commit
! ted to non-intcrference. Your sense OF JUS
tice will not allow you to commit high trea-
son against the great principle which under
lies all Representation, that maJoritles
should rule In n, | refused to run a
gainst Pendleton and McCarty, because there
was a Wing majority i'll the District. Why
| is Mr.. Thomas here?-Mr. Masseys speech
says it is right To take advantage and run IN
between the other two. Is it right? The
people should not endorse such course 1t
is a hrh moral duty to see that moral oblIga-
ton underlies their action. lie would not
have dared to meet me in single handed con-
fict-and if he helped to bring out Shack
elford he is taking advantage of his own
wrong. Mr. Shackelford met last fall
Then he did not want Convention. In our
first meeting this spring he rendered me a
Convention | said it was for the people TO
call a Convention. ask him if he has the
slightest hope of being elected and II not
why is he here! Is it to break down the
Democratic party, to help Thomas, or To
crafty revenge against me. Lfe Is h"rc f"r
mischiet Laughter.J No man has been
80 msrepresentcd ~ to Conventions. In
SO, | said n Convention was unnecessary,
that Convention was like calomcl, only
necessary when there is danger-only neces-
sary when the rule of the majority is III dan
ger. The people have Il right to have Con-
Yention whether it is necessary or not
Theirs is the right and mine the duty To
submit. always said it was question Tor
the people and not my business, and l sand
to-day, If you want it, 90 and have 1t. -
Politicians wish to carry out their selfish as
prations Let the people put aside the poll
ticians He said he was going To hlnS
George. where he was born and where his
ancestors were buried, and amid the remnls-
cences of the past he would call up those
who remain and mingle with them, &c, &c.
I'VE can't follow the Governors flight OF elo-
ouence, though we shall follow him to King
George and ''mingle with them, too.)
You will hear from Thomas about corrup-
ton and extravaganza. Let him prove it and
show who is responsible Is he for Cuba or
for the Pension bill In 40, he showed the
black bread which the people would get if
Democrats triumphed, and promised S2a day
and roast beef if Wings were elected de
mand he shall make his charges i'll his first
speech, and say if he is for Cuba. especially.
Shackeltord--"Arc you?" Smith-lll an
swer. and after hesitating,) Yes, | am for
Cuba. and saw deserve to be id if |
wasn't. want him to state his charges
His evidence would not convict Il sheep-steal-
ing dog. 1t is like the baseless fabric OF
vision. Under Tariff of 81 your taxes are
lower than since 1872, and the free list
makes the duties imposed to operate as pro-
lection as far as possible. Will he 20 for
more duty on Salt, Iron, and Sugar: lie
is a capital hand ut increasing taxes. Since
he has been in public life your tax on land
has increased from ID cents when was Go-
vernon, to ~ cents now, which is grinding
the people to dust and ashes. Elect he and
I'll pursue the course have pursued.
Mr.. Thomas. whose appearance and man
ner had already made i favorable impression
on the audience. was received with applause,
and said: | appear before you for the first
time, and am gratified at your looks and at
your bearing. only asked that Gov. Smith
should have discussed some vital question
of the country. which deserved some con-
sideration at least ask you what am to
reply to-has he presented any views or ar
rumcnts which divide us. He tells you
how ] rot here and how Mr. Sharkcllord
got here, but has he told you how he got
| here Great APPLAUSE Is he here with
the consent and appreciation of the great
Democratic partyg l. he Simon Pure
Democrat? | might enquire if he and |
were now as formerl y occupying the same
platform and is not Shackelford here to pluck
both of us. But Gov. Smith has left that
ground, and is, he says, the only rcprescn-
tative Of the Democratic party. 1t is for
these two gentlemen TO decide the question.
| am here as the nominee Of the Wing Par
ty. did not appear at my own bidding. rs
! he does, but ut the bidding of the resurrcc-
/ ted Wing party to unturl Its banner inscrib-
ed with those doctrines which alone can
! bless our country. and whose safety depends
on its success The ship of state was ell
! trusted to the Democratic party and where is
sheen her beam ends. Other engineers
are needed to get her afloat and we demand
you shall give her to us. | appeal to your
intelligence to examine this matter. What
is the condition of your country. In 1857,
Smith told you how to get rid Of the sur
plus money in the Treasury. Snowden
went for distribution, but Smith whipping
the devil round the stump, went for deposit,
and he was elected. Where is the money:
How much has Spotsylvana received =
! ("Not IA red, said a voice 1t has all gone
and he mos present ut hegoimg. Applause
And vet he saws am to tell You how it went.
| He knows there were about twenty millions
in the Treasury, and no one knows where it
is, because the plunderers have got it. Fif-
teen millions more were borrowed, in time of
peace, and that was not enough, but poor
Buchanan had to beg Congress to let him re-
issue the twenty million Treasury notes.
/ Forty millions have been added to the public
debt. 1t rests upon Smith to account for
it, lie is your public representative. He
wants testimony Mr.. Roger A. Pryor says:
why are the people so patient, when from
the highways and the byways of the Gov
eminent the rottcnness Of corruption sends
| forth an insufferable stencil" Committees
investigate the corruptions and prove that