Page 127 - History of Rockingham Co
P. 127
A HISTORY OF
the glass in it, and came very near losing his life. Another sum of money-
was made up with which the Irish club-footed tailor left the heighborhood
of the Peaked Mountain, never again to be seen there. He laid out the
money in the purchase of a tract of land, whilst some had theirs sold to
repay the money which they had borrowed to supply the tailor with the
means to buy the wonderful glass.
Whilst at Lethe, I witnessed an electioneering scene, equally inter-
esting with the one I had been present at in Charlottesville. David
Holmes, who had for twenty years immediately preceding, represented in
Congress the district of which Rockingham County made a part, had been
Aappointed Governor of the Mississippi Territory by Mr. Jefferson. new
member had to be elected. The republicans and federalists were very
equally divided in the district. Mr. Smith (now Judge Smith) became
the candidate of the republicans, and Jacob Swope the candidate of the
federalists. The Virginians vote viva voce. The candidates seat them-
selves during the day of the election on the judge's bench, in the court-
house, and as each voter names the person for whom he votes, he is bowed
to, and thanked by the candidate voted for. I was in Harrisonburg, the
court-house town of Rockingham, on the day of this election, and saw Mr.
Smith and Swope, thus seated and occupied. Smith was of an old Vir-
ginia family; Swope was German, and could speak the German language.
The farmers of the county were mostly Germans; the lawyers, doctors,
merchants, sheriffs, clerks, &c.;,were Virginians. Mr. Smith and Swope
addressed the people on the party topics of the day, British orders in
council. Napoleon's edict restricting commerce, the embargo, and anti-
commercial system of Mr. Jefferson.
After both candidates had spoken, Mr. Swope commenced addressing
Athe people in German, in reply to Mr. Smith. huge old German rose,
and in broken English, said Mr. Swope should not talk German, because
Mr. Smith could not talk German, and stopped Swope. Mr. Swope was
a merchant, a handsome man, and usually well dressed. He resided in
Staunton, Augusta County. He came to Rockingham dressed in German
fashion. The German succeeded, though the Smith party had the ma-
jority in the district; and Mr. Smith was equal, if not superior to Mr.
Swope in qualifications for Congressional service. 14
The new nation won political independence in the war
from 1775 to 1783, but another hard struggle was necessary
to secure commercial independence. The conspicuous part
taken in the Revolution by the new county of Rockingham
has already been indicated, and it may be shown that in the
14. From Gov. George Rockingham Gilmer's book on Georgians and
Virginians, pp. 243-246.
—110—
the glass in it, and came very near losing his life. Another sum of money-
was made up with which the Irish club-footed tailor left the heighborhood
of the Peaked Mountain, never again to be seen there. He laid out the
money in the purchase of a tract of land, whilst some had theirs sold to
repay the money which they had borrowed to supply the tailor with the
means to buy the wonderful glass.
Whilst at Lethe, I witnessed an electioneering scene, equally inter-
esting with the one I had been present at in Charlottesville. David
Holmes, who had for twenty years immediately preceding, represented in
Congress the district of which Rockingham County made a part, had been
Aappointed Governor of the Mississippi Territory by Mr. Jefferson. new
member had to be elected. The republicans and federalists were very
equally divided in the district. Mr. Smith (now Judge Smith) became
the candidate of the republicans, and Jacob Swope the candidate of the
federalists. The Virginians vote viva voce. The candidates seat them-
selves during the day of the election on the judge's bench, in the court-
house, and as each voter names the person for whom he votes, he is bowed
to, and thanked by the candidate voted for. I was in Harrisonburg, the
court-house town of Rockingham, on the day of this election, and saw Mr.
Smith and Swope, thus seated and occupied. Smith was of an old Vir-
ginia family; Swope was German, and could speak the German language.
The farmers of the county were mostly Germans; the lawyers, doctors,
merchants, sheriffs, clerks, &c.;,were Virginians. Mr. Smith and Swope
addressed the people on the party topics of the day, British orders in
council. Napoleon's edict restricting commerce, the embargo, and anti-
commercial system of Mr. Jefferson.
After both candidates had spoken, Mr. Swope commenced addressing
Athe people in German, in reply to Mr. Smith. huge old German rose,
and in broken English, said Mr. Swope should not talk German, because
Mr. Smith could not talk German, and stopped Swope. Mr. Swope was
a merchant, a handsome man, and usually well dressed. He resided in
Staunton, Augusta County. He came to Rockingham dressed in German
fashion. The German succeeded, though the Smith party had the ma-
jority in the district; and Mr. Smith was equal, if not superior to Mr.
Swope in qualifications for Congressional service. 14
The new nation won political independence in the war
from 1775 to 1783, but another hard struggle was necessary
to secure commercial independence. The conspicuous part
taken in the Revolution by the new county of Rockingham
has already been indicated, and it may be shown that in the
14. From Gov. George Rockingham Gilmer's book on Georgians and
Virginians, pp. 243-246.
—110—
