Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-06-12
The Virginia EIentions.


Col. William Smith has been elected Governor Of
Virginia by about 900 majority over Thomas STAN
hope Flournoy and George W. Munford. Colonel
Smith has been heretofore Governor of Virginia, and
has served several terms in the old and one
IN the new Congress. He was an original Sc
cesslonist but unlike many of that class he
entered the arHy and has fought CALAMITY, though
probably sxty-fVe to seventy years of age lie was
no "peGcea6Ie secessionist in practice, whatever
he may have been in theory before the war. We
honor the old man for his consistency and courage
The Conservatives of the State numbering three to
one of the people, divided their votes between Col.
Smith and Mr.. Flournoy, the latter receiving
majority Of them The honest fighting secession
sts generally voted for Smith, together with many
Conservatives in and out of the army who were anx-
;ous to honor him for his services in the field; the
majority of the Conservatives voted for Mr.. Flour
aoy; and the stay-at home Office holding secession
lists and the dregs of the Yanceyites all of them be-
ing camorous and interested supporters of the Con-
federate administration, voted for Mr.. Munford--
fhe vote of the latter is quite small. Col Smiths
election is, therefore, not secession and admins.
tration triumph 1t is the result of peculiar circum
stances, and to some extent accidental If the Con-
Servatves proper had been organized as they should
have been and they were in this State last year.
and If the Richmond Whig and other Conservative
journals had given to Mr.. Flournoy vigorous sup
port, he. would have been elected by handsome
majority, notwithstanding Col. Smiths military
popularity.
The Examiner Of the 9th says it is imp ossible to
say when the names of the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, members of the Legislature; and of Con-
gress will be known with ciciaL certainty but that
paper compliments the people of Virginia on the re-
suit of the elections in the following strain
"The candidates elect are of all hues and shades
Of opinion and character 1t has been confused
scrub race, and the winners such as might have
been expected The ELECTION has been decided not
only without regard 20 party, but without the as
slstance of a principle. Wings and Democrats, old
submissonists and staunch supporters of State
Rights have been elected defeated where they
least expected If any general idea is to be gather
ed from the action of the people it is that they
strongly disposed to vote against every candidate
rendered prominent by position, character or talent
1t has been the apotheoss of the obscure the bless
ing of those who might have, and should have ex
pected nothing Most of the members of the last
Congress and the Legislature are defeated where
they have been re elected, with perhaps single ex
ceptlon they were opposed by men more prominent
in late political action than themselves. The expla
nation of this popularity is not, we hope, to be
found in an increasing disposition of the State to
mobocracy, but to the fact that the people are un.
happy and distressed, and therefore disposed to be
dissatisfied with all those whom they have hitherto
habtually trusted Nearly every voter has lost
son, brother, or seen them come home cripples
and is glad to crafty his humor in vote against
the public man to whom he has been accustomed to
commit his share of public power"
The above extract furnishes pretty good evidence
that the Conservatives have carried the Legislature
and Congress, and have thereby rebuked the selfish
ness and partyism Of the Confederate administration
New men-that is, "obscure /" men, in the Ian
guage of the Erdminsr-have been put in, and the
old hacks, who have disappointed and dspleascd the
people, have been turned out That is good The
people still rule, even in Virginia.