Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-05-09

kEtui July JtHpOSeu upon US. may IlOW-
ever, remark, that public opinion, which
is omnipotent here, has anticipated our Sc.
lection, 10 the first station, ia designat-
ing an individual pre-eminent as patriot
and a statesman, whose name has confer
red honor on his country, and whose coun.
sells and voice in our Cabinet and our
Legislative Halls, have had potency in
favor OF liberty, the honor of the country
and its best interests, which no other name
has attained since our immortal Washing.
ton.
Averse as am in general to the bind
ing efficacy Of Instructions, in this case
cheerfully yield my hearty assent to the
instructions imposed on me as regards
the selection of candidate for the Pres
idency. | need not name the man, for
there is but one name that thrills our bo-
SONS, and arouses and fixes our hopes as
the savior Of our country from the misrule
which has distracted and disgraced it, and
brought reprouch upon Representative
governments.
Gentlemen, it is not to be expected that
we came here tn any thing like unanim.
i,y IN the selection OF candidate for the
Vice Presidency. The first difficulty to
be met and overcome is tho fact that ma
ny persons OF high attainments and distn.
guished craftsmanship, and withal of lofty
and unsupported integrity, have been
named in various sections OF the Union,
having equal or nearly equal pretensions.
These Gentlemen have their personal
friends, and admirers; and it may be that
TO somo extent, there may exist sectional
feelings.
What course, then, gentlemen, shall we
pursue 10 reconcile these personal and
sectional predictions If my advise is
Of any value, it is, that we initiate the ex.
ample Of the sages and patriots who form
ed and fashioned the glorious Constitu-
ton under which this nation has enjoyed
lnestimable blessings, and rises to its pre-
sent high and proud distinction among the
nations Of the earth-give place to COM
promise and cancellation. Let us select
some eminent citizen, conversant in pub.
lie affairs, Of an integrity of character
well tried and Of whom we can believe
he would die the death rather than be-
tray his friends, or change or abandon
the great principles which unite and an.
innate the wings Of this union. If we en-
ter upon this selection IN tho spirit of con.
citation and compromise. yielding our in
diyidual preference, we cannot fail finally
IN selecting person having all the quail.
tiles have mentioned, who will unite us
all and terminate our duties most satisfac-
torily.
forbear, Gentlemen, TO dwell on the
distinctive principles of the Wing party;
this will be done in the progress OF our
deliberations and proclaimed TO the world.
| may say | hope without arrogance or
offence, that they are vital principles, all
tending to the honor OF the country and
the prosperity and happiness of the masses
of our people, alike beneficial TO all clas-
SEES and sections of the nation, and such
as have ever cherished and maintained.
We have, Gentlemen, been sorely af-
aicted as party. The lamented Harri-
son by an inscrutable Providence was soon
after his accession removed by death from
the high station to which we had elevated
him, and but for this grievous and un,ow.
ard event, the principles Of our party
would have been carried out and estab.
lshed trlumphanty. But alas what has
happened since! Here Gentlemen allow
me to draw veil. need not say a word
as to the course pursued by the man chos-
en- by US to succeed him in the event that
took place.
The power placed in his hands for the
most beneficial purposes has been used TO
subvert some OF our declared and cherish.
ed principles, and what is equally to be
Iamentej, to prosecute and prescribe the
very m. n by whose exertions he obtained
that power.
Gen.lemcn, Notwithstanding these ad-
verse circumstances our principles have
survived, and so commended themselves
to tho people that we meet together I'M
der tie most happy auspices. The Wings
tho for time dormant and discouraged,
have arisen with renovated strength and
vigor, ready for the contest, more enthu.
sastic than ever, and under the leading
of ,heir illuslrious chief determined to
conquer.
] congratulate you gentlemen on the
auspicous prospects before US. Let us
do our duties well, and success will crown
our efforts, and our country will! be re.
deemed and regenerated.
Mr.. Watkins Leigh, Of Virginia, in
brief terms stated the occasion under
which the Convention had met. The
great object was to nominate candidates
Tor President and Vice President. For
the first office there was a hearty una
nmity for HENRY CLAY-a word that ex-
pressed more enthusiasm--thath had in it
more eloquence than the name of Chat
ham, Burke, Patrick Henry, and to us
than any other and all other men togeth-
err. Mr. Leigh proposed the following
resolution:
RESOLVED, THAT THIS CON-
VENTlON UNANIMOUSLY NOMI-
NATE AND RECOMMEND TO THE
PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
HENRY CLAY, OF KENTUCKY, AS
PRESIDENT OF THESE UNITED
STATES.
A thousand voices sounded almost a
thousand times "AMEN" and "AMEN," ac-
companied by such cheers and claPping
Of hands as the world never heard before.
| Tho chaerc vera nrolonnad FIR minutes