Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-09-29

WING STATE CONVENTIONS.
THURSDAY, Sept. %, 1851.
EVENING SESSION.

Mr. ". w GrLMER suggested that during the alb
sence OF the committee, some suitable man should br
called upon Tor Speech and the suggestion was re-
celyed with great applause.
There were loud cries for oCinet fran, oil r,rs #
the hall, and great laughter, " hereupon,
Mr.. GILMER mounted the stand, and said that he had
no intention OF speaking himself. He wanted 10 hear
some one elss. He proposed that Mr. Preston shorjJ
be called fora speech rCheers and loud cries for
"Preson" 40
Mr. w. PRESTON, of Abingdon, then took The stand aud
sooke as follows This is certainly unexpected
call On me, and really am at loss what to say or
now to respond to the call that has been made Ger
tanly had not expected that should be called upon to
Iake any part In the speaking upon this occasion But
come from region OF country where there are some
w hi9s and what there of them are emphaticallv
some Cheers and laughterl We have fought. and
We nave fought with spirit for many years. and though
disaster has always been the result it has never Affect
ed our spirits We have fought we will FIGHT. we will
continue to hight for The principles OF the Wing party
cheers-for those principles which, within the last few
years nave, IN my opinion and in the opinion of the
w hles OF south western Virginia, become essentially
necessary to the salvation and perpeuation of the
Constitution and Union OF these United States [Creat
cheering We have no secessionsts there. Renewed
cheers. That is banner under whose dark shade. m
our opinion, no verdure guckens where nothing heal
thy grows fCheersl We see in it nothing but
hnal ruinnothing but final disaster TGreat cheers
we are In part descendants OF those men fwhom our
llustfious chief, the great the Incompatible the go-
rous Washington spoke. In the terrible campaign OF
l176 when his army was bleeding, naked, despondino
he turned round them ard exclaimed dGiye me bnr
standard and the means eli planting that standard
upon the mountains OF West Augusta, and l will yet
call around me men who shall lift their bleeding coun-
try from the DUST" Enthusiastic applausel Sir. il il
the same patriotism stilh The principle which
then actuated our foreathers is the principle which
still acuates We have, il our opinion-as the Pre-.
sident remarked few moments ago-a great Captain
We are, one and ALL for the support Of that man. and
ior the support OF the principles which that man e.
pies are neither restricted by the narrow limits OF n
State nor bounded by sectional divisions but flowing
out IN full, tree eryent current, like the great Father
Of Waters to lrgate ncty and enrich the continent
LIQUID and prolonged cheerng.l This is my first ap-
pearance IN any deberave body. had not expect
ed to be called upon now, and must beg to be excused
from making any further remarks. TCheers1
Mr. e. w. JOHNSTON, OF Richmond, ibeinp loudly
called tor came forward, and after few preliminary
remarks, which the reporter was unable eaten said
Let u.s. II your please, consider of what have to do
And, In the first place. nearly being called to NV
feet awhile ago, by the expression Of some mpatence
by member of this Convention, to see ita Iabors
brought to a close. Now, beg leave to say, that
hope no one present will permit the sober and neces.
sary counses OF this Convention in any degree to be
guided by personal impatience. trust that we NAV
shape out oflong and careful deliberations here much
that's important for the Wing party of the State of
Virginia Although we may TOR the moment be satjs-
ned with what we may to have DONE it BELTS us
TO lookmost carefully at all that do, hurry through
nothing, but to give to every question which is 10 be
settled 10 this Convention, our calmest aeberaton.
trust therefore, that gentlemen above all things will be
deliberate, and as the second great point. that they viii
pioSLiSol.
y TO means. We all know what the ends are which
are to be accomplished OF thenl it is hardly necessa
ry to speak. But we have undoubtedly to survey
most closely TO serutinze with the utmost possible care
all those means perhaps for the first time to be-
employed by the Wing party in the State of Virginia.
BY which we shall give to it that ascendency towards
which it has so long been tending, and which |
am now firmly persuaded is within its reach [Cheersl
This depends, gentlemen, upon the present condi-
ton OF affairs. 1t depends in small degree upon The
comprehensveness ofthe couEses which we shall now
the nj he
If we ara possessed in any degree with the spirit of i'm
PATIENCE and In our haste to return home, neglect our
work here--he work so important and dear to us all
we had better not to have assembled trust we
will not do anything hurredy which ought to be done
deliberately.
There are some questions, however connected with
the general policy OF the whlg party which cannot
be broached perhaps too soon; and all suggestions ia
regard 10 those points should be carefully considered
The sooner, for instance, we settle upon plan pro-
ydlng Tor united operation in every quarter OF the
State-a plan which has yet been fully agreed up
on in the Statehe better for the prospects of the party
Then we should have great national platform aud not
sandupon those ancient, ridiculous things which, in
their time were called principles, but so no longer
refer to the resolutions OF '93. IT there was time
when those resolutions meant anything, it has passed
We want now 10 TX upon something just, appropriate
and tangible Indefinite principles and the shadows of
ancient opinions may answer tor political uggers and
treksters; but they will not do in the wing party.
This party has ever devoted itself to advance the
prosperity and to augment the glory of this republic
The development OF the clear, the practical good has
been, az it ever should be, the aim of their
ship. Then why regard the resolutions of '9S with
such veneraton and the just opponents of
in regard to the questions OF internal Improvements,
education, &C.. at the present dayto which subjects
they had any Just application Ii does be-
hooye who learned and experienced, thus to
act Such may serve to advance the purposes
OF the political aspirant and office seeker, but tho
aims OF the lover OF his country. Nor IS it in accord
ance with the spirit of the age Ii those gentlemen
who, in this State at least, after wandering long in
these ogs of doctrine desire to return to point
which they can tina principles that just and wise,
and in accordance with the spirit the age, they
aband on ancient preiudces, formulas and feelings. |
trust that the current of the awakened intelligence of
this State which is setting in the direction OF the
wing cause, will carry before it ever obstacle that an
Gent preudces and Misunderstanding have created and
that the end will be the successful uhmeu OF the high
desnies OF Virginia. trust that the people have within
their conception something more practical and wise
than many OF these ancient and miserable theories
which have been rghtfuly called Virginia distractions.
State Astounding in resources ofevery description,
and lcemng with population vrtuoua, intelligent and
industrious, Virginia offers 10 the real statesman wide
and noble field of usefulness Yet what has been
history For fifty years we have stood here absoute-
y refusing to engage in anything which makes States
prosperous, happy, renowned.
We have done nothing for the State, save that
which necessity and log-rolng, to advance the inter-
ess OF democracy, obliged us 10 do, The improve
mens made have been mainly the results oil the eIorA
OF those men, who TO carry out their designs and
when they could not help. it, became to limited de-
gree the conrvers of good their States and in these
improvements manitestly, Virginia has been bidding
agains, herself.
What, in view ofthese facts, is to be done Wemust
adopt anoher-a system of things. 1t is time that
system was broached and in operation and that can
never be the case, except under the auspices of the
Wing party. AS Tor anything TO be hoped from de-
mocracy that is an illusion which l trust is rapidly
dying away in all parts Of the country [Great APP
pausei There is nothing that he effected by de
mocary, the multiplication OF offences against the
public good nothing except the extension OF the sys-
ten OF rotation and bookkeeping, which have known
to be kept by merchants whose operations were largo
and mutimdinous under the ancient administration OF
General Jackson, They charged him with tbs amount
OF each loss, resulting from the removal OF deposits
and in other injurious acts oihis administration and
think there has been good cause tor keeping up similar
accounts ever sinceroun nd charges for instance could
be made against Mr.. Polk for losses resulting from the
Mexican war
| There is another great question to consiie the
question of the mode in which, throughout the Stat =,
the campaign should be conducted. 1t seems to ne