“a decided politician”
After a controversial performance at Gettysburg, General William “Extra Billy” Smith, Virginia’s governor-elect arrived in Richmond on July 23, 1863 for a five month interregnum.
From the Richmond Daily Dispatch July 29, 1863:
The New State Administration.
General William Smith, the Governor elect of Virginia has arrived in the city. It is understood that he will now resign his office of Brigadier General in the Confederate army and proceed to prepare himself for the assumption of the very responsible duties of Chief Executive officer of the State whose position and magnitude places her most prominently in the struggle now pending between the North and the South. Gov. Smith has already filled the office of Governor of Virginia. He has had a long and very active career as a public man, and has always been a decided politician. He has been distinguished for energy and enterprise. A man of talents, he ought, with his large experience, to be a man of wisdom. He is most assuredly a brave man and a true patriot, as his course in the present struggle and his honorable service in the field incontestably establish. Governor Smith having been always a decided party man, and Democratic at that, and having been ultra in his views upon the issues of the high party times of the last thirty years–especially on the currency question — had bitter opponents, and was generally one of the best denounced of his political associate. But times have changed. The old issues no longer divide Southern statesmen. They forget all in the common devotion to their country and fight side by side in her defence. Governor Smith will take the chair of State in a period of trial that demands of every man the exertion of his best energies for the public good and the public safely. That he will be true, and that he has the courage and energy demanded by the times, none can doubt.
Samuel Price
It has been officially announced that Samuel Price, of Greenbrier, has been elected Lieutenant Governor by a handsome majority. Mr. P., who is a plain, sincere gentleman, after the pattern of men of other days is a prominent member of the Western Virginia bar. He is moderate yet firm, and though cautious and prudent, decided in his views. He was a strong Union man until the State determined to secede, and then gave himself entirely to her cause. He represented a district in the Convention which was strongly opposed to secession, and had he followed the example of George W. Summers he might have carried a large number of his constituents away from their true allegiance. But he acted the part of a true patriot, and not only told his people what their duty was, but led the way by his own example, and has been active in the measures for military defence in his own part of the State. He was in Lewisburg when the first Yankee force entered the place. The Federal commander proclaimed to the people that they were citizens of the United States and owed allegiance to the Government at Washington, and that at Wheeling, which was lawfully organized. Mr. Price replied to him, and informed his neighbors, from the stand, that their allegiance was due to Virginia, whose Government was at Richmond, –that at Wheeling being established in defiance of law and the Constitution; and he implored them to make no concessions — commit no act incompatible with their obligations to Virginia and the South. He was arrested in the midst of his harangue by the Federal officer, and was sent to Charleston, Kanawha, where he was detained a prisoner until our own troops last year drove out the Yankees and set him at liberty. In his election, an office which, in an emergency may become the most important in the State, is conferred upon one who is every way trustworthy. Being a prominent Western man, too, his selection by Eastern votes is an expression of confidence and good feeling sectionally that should have a good effect.
