The North-Carolina standard., 1843-12-20
Democratic State convention.

This most enlightened and respectable body
the proceedings of which we publish today as
sembled in this city on Thursday the 18th instant
and adjourned sine die on Friday evening the
18th. Thirty-one counties were represented, and
one hundred and forty-six Delegates were in at
tendance
The address of the President of the Convention
the Hon. LOUIS D. HENRY. will long be remem-
bered, by those who had the good fortune to hear
it, as an effort of great eloquence and power.
For more than half an hour he analyzed and held
up to the gaze of the Convention the prominent
and leading measures of our opponents; define
ated the changeful and ever-varying course of Mr..
Clay; convicted him of " bargain and corruption"
not only on the authority of a certain Federal
leader in North Carolina, but by an arrayo strik-
ing and indisputable facts; showed the unjust and
onerous operation of the present Tariff of Duties
and concluded by heart-strring appeal to the
democracy to sink deep and forever all predlcc-
tions and partialties for men, and stand by the
cause, and sustain the candidate which that cause
shall designate in the National Convention. We
wish all the honest, log-cabin men in the State
could have been present. They would have gone
away armed with the truth, and glowing with the
patriotic fires of true democracy.
On Friday morning the Convention was open
ed with an eloquent and impressive prayer by the
Rev. Mr.. EDWARDS, of this city Soon after,
Mr.. SMITH, of Orange, was desired to address the
Convention, which he did, in an able and practi-
cal manner, and with great credit to himself Af-
ter modesty pleading his youth and inexperence,
he entered upon an investigation of the prominent
political principles of our opponents exposed their
dangerous Federal tendencies; alluded to the buf
foonery and mummery of 1910; and closed his
remarks by just and manly tribute to the demo
cracy Of Orange plcdging himself that, in the pres
ent contest, they would prove themselves worthy
descendants Of the Regulators.
Mr. McRAE, of Wake, was next called upon
1t has been the peculiar good fortune of this young
gentleman 10 attach to himself many ardent per-
sonal friends and, on this occasion, those who es-
TEEN him for his frankness in private, and his
boldness and enthusiasm in debate, had presented
to them additional motives for admiration and re-
gard. The greater portion of his remarks was
confined to review Of the late Wing Address,
put forth by midnight committee of the Whig
members of the last Legislature, and to vindica-
ton of the course pursued by the Democracy in
that body. The review was just, and as scorch-
ing as it was just; and his vindication was tri-
umphant and complete. He dwelt also upon the
unjust and ilhberal course manifested by the Fede-
ralists, in Withholding from Gcperal JACKSON the
fine imposed upon that llustrious veteran BY Judge
HALL; and in conclusion spoke in animating
strains of the certainty of victory in the present
contest. The figure with which he closed his re-
marks was peculiarly appropriate and beautiful
A small vessel was afoat upon the great popular
sea. Darkness had fallen around it. Its mastsI
we're shvered--its sails tattered and its banners
orn. One man (CLAY) and only one was seen,
and he was at the helm; and around him were
scattered the wrecks of the past contest, in the
shape of cider-barrels, coon-skns, and the last dim
fragments of insulting banners. When the dark |
ness was thickest, and the storm loudest, a light
dashed upon the deep; the gallant ship of Demo
'racy, with sails set and ensigns flying, bore up-
ollowed and preceded by the brightness of the
TRUTH; and the man at the helm essayed to spring
rom his sinking vessel into that gallant ship, but
he rode on and he sunk under the pillows. and the
asst "sign" made was the paw of that same old
Coon" floating to the shore; but the ship entered
he haven of victory-her crew planted her ban
ler 10 the soil and gathered around it: and the
7oice of her commander, Col HoKE, called for
heers loud and long, land they were given) not
or any man, not for any desperate faction but for
democracy, for truth, and for the country!
s In the afternoon, on Friday, as soon as the
nomination of Col. HoKE had been made q loud
md irresistible call was made for Mr.. AVERY Of
3urke Beng an intimate personal friend of.
;ol. HoKE, and a representative of the Western
emocracy, it was considered extremely nroner
nat he should respond to the nomination. and /
peak to his Eastern friends of their candidate and
the prospects that lie before us in the struooIe
This he did in an able and animated manner {
lie said he could venture to assure the Conven- Il
on that Col. HoKE would accept the nomina- q
on; would support any burdens the democratic s
arty might impose upon him; and would enter q
he contest with his accustomed enthusiasm and 6
bllty. Mr.. AVERY then alluded to the innort- /
nee OF the present crisis; reioiced at the pros