Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-10-20
The Convention at Fairfield,

This soustirrinG has come nut IT'S circls nav
not gone. We could wish tina, every man III Virginia
had Ieeu present TO witness Tie JecoTun order and en-
thusiasm which reigned throughout The whole
single thing occurred 10 mar us pieasurcs-Ne met
we dcberaed, we parted-c0ch man M0ro"ghty arouse"
10 do his duty IN hc cOming contest
The Delegates began making their appearance on ''e
ground about clock, though the morning was some
What nauspicious for dry day-but heaven smiled,
| and no rain dsiurbed our deliberations About ~
clock the numbers attendance were TO say the easl
800 though others have computed them at cuV by
contract with Mr. Pickett the table provided with
the best meats Richmond afforded, and ~ plates
these plates were twice occupied ana otherS from an
unwillingness 10 be kept away ron the discussion,
took uncleons of and bread, and thus refreshed
themselves At the lowest calculation then, we had o
Dcleuatcs at the Fairfield Convention, emitting miners
and some Wing citizens of Richmond who had been m
yed to come parakc GU festivities ana witness our
deliberations. Some oiour good friends may undertake.
TO say the numbers less ana thal Wey cohsttuSu
n considerable portion Of those who were present De
il so-we will not quarrel with them on tins SUBJECT
Our motto is, "sense, not show We had no martial
music no procession flags, banners, coohsKis no
log cabin, or hard cidcr-wc made no calculation On
hnmbugging and de!udng the people from t"e'r pro-
pretv But we had, and that they dare not deny
popabc sreprcscntation, the eaSt OF reason
and the flow Of soul"-We had men Of sense, orators
patriots address on the important and agl'aS
lopics of the times We had Holiday OF Louisa, who
addressed the Convention before dinner for the space
Of two hours in eloquent and mastery Style he re-
viewed with point, clearness and precision, Tic Two
candidates before the people, OH the leading questions OF
constitutional nerpretaton-llc exposed by severe
criticism and ridcule the pretcnsons oil Zen Harrison
TO the support of the people, whilst he either refused TO
give them their opinions gave opinions on both sides
of every question
We had Gallagher of Baltimore, the seftaught me-
chanic man who by his own cxertons, from the
humbles walks Of life, to occupy space OF such con-
side ration in aryand to have induced the people
Ia ell
ago He like Van Buren,, is another beautiful Illus
traton of the power of Democratic principles lie ad.
dressed the Convention after dinner from the Judges
stand, in one of the most effective and imprisoned
strains of eoouence we have listened to this many
day. Being mechanic, laborer, who made his bread
nv the sweat OF his brow he bestowed the most OF his
time upon the reiutaon of the fasehoods and mIsrep-
about the effect of the Sub Treasury system
said, SO far from injuring the aborng man, 1t was
indispensable TO his prosperity and comfort NC.
After Gallagher next came Smith OF CulpePcr. lie
continued the discussion of the day. in his usual varied
and handsome style of eoquence-aternately cracking
the sides ohs auditors with laughter and arousing their
patriotic emotions BY either grave appeals TO their udg
mens or mastery cuts Of wit and satire, at the ex-
pensc of the "Neiled Prophet OF North Bend.-lhe
speakers of the day apturously appanded by re-
peaed clipping and sometimes an enthusiastic hnrrA
Last Of all, MIR. William II. Roane, the Senator of
VIRGINIA in the Congress of the United States, was
loudly called tor bv the President and the Convention.
He addressed ;hcI with great force and iervor He
expatiatcd on ;hc high claims which Mr.. Van Buren,
had 10 The support al the whole Union and especially
of the South he pointed out the immense consc-
uurncrs wnicl "vrc involved in the issue before
the county lc called upon Virginia to rush TO
the rescue Of her lllustrous principles OF 80 His
address was received with hunders Of applause.
The day went off well-n0 disturbancc-no ntoNlca
tion-no rcvenp-all soberness-all argument-all
patriotic fervor for the triumphant success of Martin
Van Buren, and Democratic principles i'll November
next The Convention adjourned from Fairfield TO
meet in the Hall of the Democratic Association OF tins
City, at half past seven. The Hall was crowded to
OVERLOOKING, and there had the pleasure of hearing
the most cheering intelligence from various parts of
the State. Mr. Atkinson, from the Isle Of Wight Sena-
oral District (and State Scnntor) addressed the ASso
citation for hour more IN handsome, appropriate
STYLE and said that Old Democratic Isle OF Wight
would give Martin Van Buren, in November next,
majority of $50 800 votes and that he would get the
vote of that District.
The Messrs Scots of Caroline, both addressed the
association with their usual eloquencf and effect they
spoke of many changes within their knowledge in favor
of Mr. Van Buren,; all seemed 10 be confident of Vrg
MIA in the ensuing contest hy at least 1000 votes
The orators who had spoken at Fairfield with so much
satisfaction to all who heard them, being present at the
Democratic Hail. then called tor from all parts
Of the ROOM and amid immense cheering and clapping
MIR Gaagber first arose and here he surpassed himself
he gave vent under the enthusiasm Of The moment TO
speech which, in point of truth and effective eloquence
surpassed anything of the kind we almost ever heard
Then came Holiday ana oHl'lh, edcH OF WHOM spoke
in manner worthy of the reputation they have justly
earned in the lists with VIM. c. Rives, and the Federal
orators who have been inundating our State like the
locusts of Egypt
Our Senator, Mr.. Roane happened to be present for
the first time since his return from Washington. He
was loudly called for and when the unierrifed Demo
cra arose. for the purpose of approaching the rosrum
the clipping immense, loud and long-It was deaf
enng-slence was restored, TO hear him, above all
Others speak who had, in her most trying hour ofneed
rendered the State service. Every sentiment he utter
ed, every truth he proclaimed, struck upon his audi
ence with magic power something akin to Oracular
revelation-he made happy and eloquent appeal to
the Association in behalf Of mother Virginia. and
sat down amid shouts and paudls from all present
Thus has ended the Fairfield Convention-in point Of
enthusiasm unsurpassed even by the great Wing hum
bug here on the 9th inst Could Virginia. all Virginia,
have been here present TO witness enthusiasm, our
deliberations, the orderly manner in which the whole
proceeding was conducted venture not whit too
much to say, that should be able to carry this good
old State by 10000 for Van Buren, in November.
STATE OF OHIO.
We look elsewhere for the salvation of our country.
But if her local feelings have swerved the Buckeye