Martinsburg Gazette And Public Advertiser

The Apocalypse.—Gen. Alexander Smyth, a Representative from Virginia, lately addressed a memorial to the Virginia Convention, remonstrating against a provision then contemplated, and since adopted, as a part of the new Constitution of that State, declaring any man ineligible to the office of Governor who is not a native citizen of the U. States. The conqueror of Canada avers that he has no desire to fill the office of Governor of Virginia, but protests against being restrained from accepting it, which would be the effect of the provision upon him, as he was born in a small European Island "called on maps Rathlin, by some writers Ratherin, and celebrated as the asylum of Robert Bruce."

—The Convention have not deemed it either "essential" or "useful," to adopt an ingenious distinction taken by Mr. Smyth in the case of Mr. Arnold, to the Commonwealth, that Mr. S. should be made eligible to its Executive Chair. The "surprise and pleasure" expressed by the Political Arena of Fredericksburg, at learning the fact "revealed" by Mr. S., though not "upon honor," that he was not born in this country, appears to be felt in other quarters of the State of Virginia, and will probably receive general concurrence throughout the Union.