Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1851-09-30
STATE ~CoNvENTIoN

bstIuC ILC PIOPOSGN N:s'EA
ion convened on Wednesday, and there was pre-
sent from four to five hundred Delegates. from
every region OF The State. In POlnt 81 nu!''oe'S
no less than rcspectat:i!iiy OF appearance 'Hl9hl'
fed demeunor and b~e.nming d~eFoFEInehf' th's
Convention has never tren uPProH'm4ted ay any
similar political gatIleEing inthe commonwealth:
The town OF StauntorT as ali hustle aud Fontn7
sion--the hotels a p~er'eft jam, and the l'o%P'tat'.
~ of the kind hearted citizens ofthe place pretty
severely taxed, 50 as ii atFjrd accommodations
for The numbcr of Delegates and strangers in at
tendance. !:
The following Delegates we're present frou:
this Congressional District, u:
Lglrson-Hierome f.. Opie, George Nancy,
Dr.. ]. J. Williams, Rrht. w. Baylor, Jam&s w:
DeIlcr, Geo. w. Chamters, r. v. Lewis
Frederick-Wm Ntcd, john Bruce, George
Mason.
Bcrkehy-Dr. Dennis Murphy.
H1mpSkire.-Asa lfiett.
Pgge-Messrs. Buat}e!I, Mcpherson, Schuyl.
er and Booton.
Warren-Messrs. Bowen, Boyd and S~paagler:'
MoEGan-Geo. E. bsneaIc and J. w. .Beller:
C1arke.-Np Delegates.
Tie Convention WaGtemPprariIy organized on
Wednesday, by calling The Hon. joins S. Bar
BoUR, TO the Chair. and a ppointing MI. WIN. II.
Richie and ]. NJ. Daniel Of Richmond Secreta-
ries. On motion, a committee of l5:-one from
each Congressional District in the, State, on
which was K. w. Baylor OF Jefferson-w9s APP
pointed by the Chair, to report permanent officers
for the Convention. This committee reported,
in a short time, the following gentlemen 10 fill
the different Offices oflln, Convention fermanent-
ly: President, ANDEEw STEVENSON, of AlbcFaarle;
80. .=. . -. .-
Vice Presidents, Col. Iehn Rutherford Of Rich
monI, Hon John S. Barbour, OF CnIpePer, Wm.
Wood of Frederick, &C., and Messr5. Richie,
Daniel, and all the othe. Democratic dditorS pre-.
sent, Secretaries. On taking the Chair Mr..
Stevenson addressed The Convention, jim an en-
thusiastic aud eloquent strain, urging the party
to harmony and concert Of action.
The mode ofvoting recommended b. the Com
mittee 10 consider the matter was, that The popular
Democratic vote of each county ,shouldbe dl#ided
by the number of Delegates III attendancct and
that each Delegate should thus cast u. 'r0ce,his
numerical strength.
These preliminary proceedings being had, The
convention proceeded TO the nominations fog Go
vernon. John Bruce, Esq presented the name
OF the Hon: JosETH JOHSs0N OF Harrison, the old
wheel horse ofthe Democratic party and the Go
vernon elect Of the Commonwealth OF Virginia.
The nam of the Hon, GREER B. SAMUEIs OF
Shenandoah, was presented in u speech of some
considerable length, by Mr.. SchoefieId of Norfolk,
and seconded in a most animated and stirring ap-
peal by the immediate constituents of Mr., s.,
John 4. Harris and George T.. DeneaIe Of Rock
inglam. Tie present Governor, Hon. JoHs D.
FFLoYD, was nominated by tie venerable and dis
tinguished Delegate Ell in attendance from the coun-
~ Of Culpcper, John S. Harbour, in one Of the
most eloquent and beautiful %eulogiuuns that the
genius of man could conceive. The nomination
of AIR. Floyd was seconded in very pertinent
speeches, by Gen. Chapman Of Monroe, and Mr..
Aylett of King William. Without any, further
n6mIDHuIUrs. tnUugH uncomfortable speeches, The
Convention proceeded to ballot, which consumed
the entire day, with nearly the following result (:
Johnson, 1882
Floyd, 9,92+
Samuels, 1876
Wise, 3,8l3
The President announced that no choice had
been made, and the Convention adjourned until
Thursday.
On the assembling OF lhe Convention the Sc
cond day, Mr.. Barbour announced at the instance
Of the friends Of Gov. Floyd, that his name was
withdrawn from the list of candidates. After
considerable discussion, and many warm eulO-
gums upon Messrs. Johnson and Samueis, Mr..
Kenner, OF Kanawha, in a very delicious speech
presented the name of the Hon. HENRY ~. WISE
of Accomac, as the brilliant statesman, and the
answering defender OF the rights of man. The
domination Of NIr. Wise was opposed with con.
siderable bitterness by many of the Delegates
from Eastern virginia, aud as strenuousIy advo.
Gated by his friends rrom, both East and West
The Convention at length proceeded To a second
ballot, and the following was proclaimed as the
result:
johnson, 10000
Sampets, $4,000
Wise, 5000
AT this stage Of the proceedings, a letter was
received from Mr.. SamuG;ls, desiring his name to
be Withdrawn, and declaring under no circum.
stances could he accept The nomination offender.
ed him. lie felt grateful for the unexpected
honor which had been conferred, by tile presen-
iation of his name, conscious that the Convention
could ~harmonize upon a leader more lwortl,y of
its distinction, and most certainly upon one 10
whom the position would be more congenial Than
to himself. After this withdrawal of NJ r.}Samuels,
The Convention nominated by reclamation the
Hon. JosErn Johnson OF Harrison, as the Demo,
cratic candidate for Gove:nor at the first election
under the new Constitution.
The nomination for Lieut.. Governor; was con-
4erredE with almost entire u%nanimity upon the
lion. SHELTON FsLEAS2 OF Madison, formerly
Tie Representative in Congress from the Abe.
,alarle District the Presidential electorsin 1914
add 1913, aud one oftbe most powerful deba,ers
in the Commonwealth.
For the office of Attorney General, the name of
RoBF, g. scorr of R edmond was first present.
cd, but at his own request Withdrawn by Gen.
Patterson of Augusta. The name of NlI1rE p.
i3ocoek of Afpomattoxsa sand Gko. RAsponru of
AlbemqFle, was also presented in most %eIoqaent.
aud sPpFopriate nominatibg speeches. THE name
-hfMr. Randnlnhl. hnneves.h e Enre TIC C..n.s,,1; So.