Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-10-12

! tory, much enveop6d the minds ofou. faith
crS. and along with the efforts Of the Wash
lngtons. Adams, Jetlersons and other patr-
OTIS, led them into the revolution and TO free.
! dom. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of In
dependence, ana WAS one OF The chief archi-
ttcis who iraCncd the government. Perhaps
OF all the statesmen Of the Republic, he has
most cnduri"ely stamped his ideas and
ih"tl:hts into The national mind
Que ol them dis:la violent death. George
W. Smlth WAS burnt in tie Richmond The
aire IN ISL. Since the time Of Wyniham
Robertson have known personally nearly
all OF them. All were men .ot much more
than ordinary ability. and some Of them had
high order oi talent. Elnuud Randolph
| William II. Cuhell, !. w Tazewel and
John NJ. Patton we've perhaps men of the
creates: regulations as lawyers Barbour
Giles. lAttGn, Tyler, Smith, John L. Floyd
| and Henry y. Wise wore perhaps the best
| public speakers. al! who reco'lect the
kno"nothius campaign of 1876 will remem-
her how Wise's fenunciatory clcguence de-
| stroyed the majority Of that party. Had
tlournoy and Patton. who were candi-
dates Tor governor and encouragement
Oh the knownCthirg ticket, brought 10
bear the powerful battery of their
logical and eloquent speeches against him,
the result mi ght have been different. The
campaign between VIM l.. Goggin and John
Letcher vas also memorable one, and the
mere mention Of it will stir the hearts Of
many an old whig and democrat all over
the State. Tradition has handed down the
following story, tho truth Of whick do no.
youch. seRS al the Governors had planta.
ton in one Of the western counties, on
which he raised large number OF hogs. He
bad Lc-C Il 49,, Il II. II
| aud wien they arrived they were kept for
time III the enclosure around his hous..
The Governor had formed q partnership
with an Old citizen Of that day, who was
butcher. He had the hogs driven to his
sauShteling pen, where they were killed
and tho meat prepared for market. Some
OF lie people Of Richmond became inCensed
al the Governor CT the State pursuing the
business OF butcher, thinking he was lower
iGg the dignity OF his high oce by so doing
and they gave expression 10 their indigna.
ton III the following manner: One night,
alter large drove Of hogs had Leen slaugh-
tered, they went out to the pens and gath
cred together large quantity Of hoy en-
trails, which they brought bac; to the Gov
errors houee and iratooued his doors,
prrchcS and trees with them. The next
morning, when the Governor went out he
found hrs house and yard adorned with the
refuse Of his own hogs. Doubtless he was
not pleased at The sight but the Legislature
took il rs Il downright insult, which reflect
ell in some degree upon the county mem
bcls, the Governu; himself being from one
Of tho r'unies. They, therefore, in re-
imiiaion, passed an act ordering that an
iron fence shou;'! he placed around the
Capitol square. Thus, the fence which
II n nd I,is sboJ In -
and for many years ai, erwards, at 9 O'Clock
every night, ii waa padocked to keep out
the people. Modern Ideas and fashion are
now demanding that il shall be removed
must not conclude without referring
eSpt cinIiy TO Governor William Smith, in
the boo rt who's" stages ] have stolen rnanv
ride many years ago, Whcn little hey,
uhl!" ne was driving them. John Hamr-
den piensnnls, who bitterly hated him, po-
Iitirally. coinplmrniui him hy The arpcl
!atInu al smith, OF the " YneiN nllern cee-
hraird c:saraCIt: in onn of Waller SCOTS
novels. He MAS truly tribune of the
people, and of all the public mtn | nave
known welded more influence with the
masses. IL has ou'lved the rnncor Ci 30.
| Utica! atrite, and SOW, at the ripe old age
| oi ei%hty.nlne years, we'll preserved, men.
tally and physically, he enjoys Tho respect.
honor, aud esteem of all his countrymen
Tie other survivors are Wyndhnm Robert
sou, plrrpont, Wells. kcmper, Holiday,
Cameron, and loe. The history oi these
governors is the history Of Virginia,
and indeed oG the whole nation. Let
our youth study il and relltc. upon the all.
mirahle characteristics which most of them
possessed f,r the discharge OF tho high du-
ties which the people entrusted to them,
and they will he benefited. IL has been
said that Nirginians we're a'ways self.
coml lasNn. hca';Iui people. but truly
lhey have right TO he prond of their gov
ernor::. j.. ID. W.