Richmond Daily Times

SOUTHWESTERN
VIRGINIA.

The late elections for members of the Legislature in that portion of the State known as "Little Tennessee" have resulted in a decided gain for the Whigs. This circumstance, when viewed in connection with the fact that the people of the Southwest have also repudiated the regular Democratic nominee for the Board of Public Works by a majority of 7000 votes, is well calculated to alarm our Locofoco managers. Indeed, the signs in the Southwest for several years past have indicated unmistakably that Democracy is on the wane in that region. Ten years ago, Little Tennessee was scarcely less Democratic than the Tenth Legion, and the Democratic leaders in Richmond could rely with as much confidence on Washington, Wythe, Tazewell, &c., as they could on Rockingham and Shenandoah.

But the case is very different now. In the Presidential election of 1848 the people of the Southwest for the first time exhibited a disposition to spurn the shackles of party discipline, and resist the dictation of their leaders. On that occasion they gave Gen. Taylor a vote, the magnitude of which amazed and astounded the Democracy in other parts of the State. In the Gubernatorial election of 1851, they again disappointed the calculations of their leaders by the very large vote which they gave for the Whig candidate, Mr. Summers. On both of these occasions the Democratic majority in Little Tennessee was reduced to a very low figure. But the overwhelming majority given for Col. Boyd at the late election for Board of Public Works, is the heaviest blow which the Democratic organization of this State has ever yet received at the hands of the Southwest, and demonstrates conclusively that the people of that section cannot be controlled by self-constituted leaders. The thunders of the entire Democratic press of the Commonwealth were invoked to annihilate Boyd, and the whole strength of what was deemed an omnipotent party organization, was exerted to force his competitor down the throats of the people. But all in vain. The Little Tennesseans obstinately refused to heed the admonitions even of ex-Governor Floyd, and turned a deaf ear to all the old war cries of their chiefs, great and small. These repeated manifestations of a disposition to throw off the party yoke, bode no good to the Democratic cause in the Southwest, and we hail them as gratifying evidences of a progressive change in the political sentiment of that section. The people there are evidently getting tired of Democratic rule, and we have very little doubt that Little Tennessee will at no distant day be completely revolutionized.