Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-10-01
A sc&Ag IN yHls STATE CosvnN71oN.
a chiefs amang you taking notes
And, faith he'll prem, it,"

We occupied spare corner in the Meth
odist Church during the session of the late
Locoioco Convention, and profess to have
been much edited by the political exercises
Of that sanctuary. We did not 60 there as
careless spectators to stare their celebrities
out Of countcnance and when wearied with
continual gazing, to nod during the progress
of the services; but with open ear and
sleepless eye to hear the preachers patient
" and mark well the doctrines they adj
vanced. 1t is not surprising then that we
were wide awake during the session OF
Thursday night, when an announcement
was made, which fell upon the body, to use
the eloquent and original language of Mr.,
CLEMENS, OF Wheeling, "like clap OF
thunder from clear sky"
The sacrifice Of HENRY A. WISE having
been completed, and SAMUELs withdrawn
from the contest, "Old JOE JOHNSON" as
he is democratically termed by his friends,
was of course nominated without dissent
After wrangling for two days, without
prospect Of harmony, every body voted for
Old JOE when there was nobody else to
vote for. This happy state of affairs so ella
ted the presiding officer, that it was deemed
appropriate to preface the announcement
OF the nomination with few congrat-
ulatory remarks. MI. STEVENSON arose
and gazcd with full heart upon the mass
ofLocofocoism before him. The honorable
gentleman's admiration boiled over, and the
moral sublimity of the scene threw him into
extacies. He regarded the unanimity with
which Old JOE had been sclecteda as grand
and imposing spectacle, and congratulated
himself that the Wings were disgruntled
and the Democracy still harmonious"
The President having concluded his az
dres, the Convention proceeded to the nom
ination of candidate for the Office Of Lieu
tenant Governor. Gen. AUGUSTUS AZURE
LIUs CHAPMAN, of Monroe,-he whom the
lameuted PEASANTS was wont to style the
'thundergustical orator'-presented the
name Of SuELToN F. LEAKE, and proposed
that he should be declared the nominee by
reclamation. Gen. AUGUSTUS AURELIUs
was witty, and stated, by way Of argument,
the weighty fact, that many mothers Of Mon
zoe had named their babies after his candi
date. Indeed the General thought If he
was the nominee, of the Convention, there
would soon be more leaks than onions. We
wondered at the time who Gen. AUGUSTUS
AURELIUs was named after. No one was
brought forwardin opposition to Mr.. LEAXE,
and the remarks Of Gen. AUGUSTUS AZURE
LIUs were favorably responded to from all
parts of the house. His candidate was a.
bout to go it with rush, and the Hon. the
Ex-Minister at the Court Of st. James, smil-
ing appreciation upon the harmonious de-
mocracy, was about to put the vote, when
little incident occurred which may not be
unworthy of mention. Mr.. JOHN M. GREG
DRY, a distinguished Democrat of Richmond,
and formerly Lieutenant Governor Of Vir-
gina, than whom we believe no man stands
higher in the party, arose and remarked IN
substance That he hoped the Convention
would not go precipitately into the nomina-
ton. He was reluctant to say that charges
affecting the moral character Of Mr.. LEAKE,
were ahoat, and he had heard them alluded
to since he had entered the house. He wish
ed no Speckled ticket, and thought it prop
er to warn the Convention before they
proceeded too far for retreat. And this
distinguished gentleman was Kissed by the
Democratic State Convention for the bare
allusion, and one voice suggested "put him
oat" Repeated calls were made for the
charges and the proof, which brought to the
floor gentleman whom we take to be an
"unterrifed Democrat" FRANK G. RUFFIN,
Esq, of Albemarle arose, and with cool
ness we have never seen equalled met the
repeated Kisses of the multitude. Mr.. RUF-
FIN said the charges had been called for.
If gentlemen wished them they could get
them from the fountain head and he was
prepared to prove them by five respectable
Democrats of Albemarle County. Mr.. R.
disclaimed any intention Of thrusting private
matters upon public bodies; but if gentle
men insisted upon further developments he
was ready to make them. The bold and
unAinching stand taken by this gentleman
turned the tide no further calls were made,
and it being deemed prudent under the cir
cumstances the Convention adjourned till
morning. Previous to the adjournment,
however, Mr.. RANDOLPH, of Albemarle, be-
inc called to the floor, endeavored to throw
a little oil on the troubled waters, and pro-
claimed his intention to support Mr.. LEAKE,
acquainted as he was with the facts alluded
to by Mr.. RUrFIN. He thought the matter
should be buried in oblivion, as did Mr..
BARBOUR, Of Culpepper, who stated in the
morning that he had investigated the
charge, and found his kinsman guiltless.
What was done on Friday morning, may
be seen in another column. In the face Of
the declaration of FRANK G.. RUFFlN, that |
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