Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-03-26
poINGs ON MONDAY.

Monday being the first day Of our March Court,
the late Delegates from this County to the Gene
raj Assembly, Messrs. BALDWIN and MassIE, ad-
as candidates es<R-election. Their remarks
were confined mainly 10 an explanation of their
course on the Convention question, about which
some complaint or misunderstanding was known
to exist in the public mind.-They had 4
voted iorftho bill reported by the majority ..otS
Select Committee providing for the organization
OF the Convention, in case one should be called,
upon the basis Of the present House of Delegates,
in opposition to the one offered by the minority
OF the Committee, proposing al organization on
White population. The chief reason assigned
for this course on their part, was, that the one
was in accordance with the Representative prin-
cple of the Constitution, to which they felt them
selves necessarily confined as Delegates, while
| the other was unknown to and subversive Of it,
and involved power which could only be exer-
cised by the Convention itself. But it is hardly
worth our while, even if we had the space to do
so, to recaptulate their views here, as they will
be found pretty fully embodied in MIR. BALDwrN's
| Speech, made in the House of Delegates, which
ls given on the first page of this paper.
After these gentlemen had concluded their re-
marks, CHAPMAN JOHNSON, esq, jr., took the
stand, and announced himself candidate-de-
claring his opposition to the views of our late
Delegates, and his conviction that it was compe-
tent for the Legislature to have authorized Con-
vention on the basis of White population.
No other candidate presenting himself, the as
sembly then dispersed for dinner.
! Thus matters stood until the evening, after
Court adjourned, when meeting was held at
the Courthouse, which Gas will be seen from its
proceedings which folow,) nominated HUGH w.
SHEFFEy, esq, to be run u conjunction with
Mr.. JOHNSON, and, as we are bound to csnclude,
on the same principle.-So that we have now
two and two on side, and may look for some
thing like fair test of the judgment of the peo-
pie on the momentous issue which is made up
before them. AS il is confess. between polti-
cal friends, however, we must express the hope
that it will be conducted with becoming modera-
ton and courtesy.
1t is known that it is not our practice to mingle
ediorally in these local contests, and especially
when they occur among friends, unless there are
public considerations which seem to call
on which we deem ii proper to speak, we shall
take the earliest opportunity to declare the reasons
why we think the people of Augusta ought to sus-
tain their old Delegates. We have, we trust,
been too long consistent advocate Of the White
basis, to be doubted now on that question, and
therefore may claim for our views candid consi-
deraton.
Alta large and respectable meeting of the citizens of
Augusta county, held at the Court House Monday
Odd inst. March Court) for the purpose of nominating
candidate to represent the county in the House OF
Delegates in connection with CHAPMAN JOHNSON, Esq.
who had previously at the solicitation of number Of his
fellow citizens announced HIMSELF On motion, the
ing organized by calling COL A. r. GIvESs TO the
Chair and the appointment of WIN. WHiTMoRE as Sc
crctary. VIM. KINNEY, Esq. put in nomination,
which was unanimously sustained by the meeting, but
declined for reasons of private Observation-Disclosures
THos. j NICHE, Esq re-nomnated w KINNEY, and
IN an able eloquent and appropriate speech explained
the object OF the meeting and discussed fully the great
question at issue between the East and West being that
of white mixed basis OF representation urging and
demonstrating clearly the necessity o! selecting able and
efficient men 20 sustain the white basis Western in
tercst. MIR. KINNEY again declining, nominated HUGH
w. SBEFFEY, Esq, which nomination was unanimously
sustained. Whercupon committee was appointed TO
inform Mr. SHEFFEY and request his therein
The committee having performed their duty returned
! and reported his acceptance of the nomination.
On motion, Resolved, That the proceedings OF the
meeting be published in the Staunton Spectator and
Augusta Democrat
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
A. X. OVENS Chairman