Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-10-08
"REMINISCENCES OEN TIL LATE DEMO
CRATIC CONVENTION.

than tour hundred men Just organiZeu ioi
business, we freely admit there was much
in the panorama striking and imposing
The solemnity of church building-the IN
vocation of divine blessing--the gray
heads occasionally seen, as remnants of a
class now rapidly passing away, of old Vir-
g,nia gentlcmen-all this during the short
reign of comparative silence, was not only
imposing, but impressive. The very nat
ural reflection was
a auiseless but noble ihrong."
Here endeth the first lesson, the only one
by the way, in which the audible responses
were fere and feeble.
The 'pomp and circumstance" of organ
ization being over, we anxiously looked out
for the actors in the political drama-the
leading spirits of the meeting. Here was
the great, the "unterri6ed Democracy" of
Virginia, by delegation, in Convention as
sembsed We had, in common with others,
natural curiosity to see the champions
For time we were completely at fault
Very soon, however, it was discovered that,
there was distinction between leading
spirits and master spirits. Some whom we
took to be "old siders" looked on with
a cold rpbukeful eye"
as though that eye had just opened upon the
young Democracy" Modest men, GER
tainly had no chance whatever. Few, who
had not previously stumped it with eifect, had
the courage to show themselves. Much
talent, no doubt remained buried. And
here it may not be amiss to refer to party
nomenclature, as both instructive in itself,
and in full accordance with these remInis-
cences but more especially, as evincing
the advancement OF this sclen &C IN the
school of progressive democracy.
FIRST then we have the great democra'
cy" as generic, and the ''unterrifed democ-
racyn as emphatic, with the cold democra-
cy and .'young democracy" as specific, be-
sides the progressive democracy" as SCI
entifc. If there is any other appellatlve
besides that of Locofoco, which is evidently
classic, We can only plead want of skill
| in the "word book" But to return
To constitute leadership, all that seemed
necessary, Judging from the loud and pro-
tracted applauses ofthe young progressives,
was either geSt,culdting oratory, an cpl
tkesica1 oratory, or oneedoiical oratory, or
punning oratory, the aspirant protesting
withal, entire submission to party behests
under all circumstances. The most unadul-
terated specimens in each of these depart
mepts of excellence, we're brought forth by
! the recent occasion.
A scene in the Convention, considerably
out of the common order in this latitude, and
Illustrative of these remarks, requires spe-
cial notice. 1t was highly rather than deep
~ impressive, because exciting rather than
edifying and affecting the imagination more
than ally other faculty. An orator had the
floor and most emphatically the ears Of the
Convention. He was the "big man me"
of the meeting-fought under "Gineral
Jackson" big in body-big in capacity
big in voice-big in party influence
"True as the dial to the sun
Although it be not showa upon"
Well, an enthusiastic young member rush
ed up and absolutely patied the orator. The
effect was electric; they joined hands a.
midst the applause of hundreds--we will not
say all. The stentorian tones of the speak
er, in the mean time, rose high above the
conioinod influence of voices, hands and feet,
which shook the building to its foundation.
1t was a great lubilee-a genuine revival OF
Locofocoism--a mighty stirring up of blood
and spirits-yea, furnishing of arms and
regular training for the big hunt in Decem-
Der next-the Wings are the game.
One orator denounced them as federal
Jacka1s,' against whom ne seemed ready to
let loose the very blood-hounds of party
Another went for stopping them up in
bic hole, where they would never be heard
of again. Another declared them to be the
DerH himself and but for his modesty,
would, no doubt have consigned them to the
:.bottornless pit" And this, thought we, is
s'progress." Yes, it is new start in pro-
gress, demanding the utmost care and pru-
dence to prevent the most embl'tered can
vass ever witnessed upon the soil Of Virgin
ia start and progress tending to the
severance of kindly feelings and social ties
"a progress in excited party fcuds and an
imositles, enkindled by partizans and dem
agogues as fatal to the harmony and good
order Of society as a hurricane of fire to the
broad prairies of the West. More hereafter,
{kS. The Petersburg Inteligencer, refer
ring to the late Staunton Convention, says /:
awe learn that the Convention adjourn
cd without passing any resolutions or issu-
inc any address If this be the case, we
can only account for their silence on the
ground that the party are too much divided
10 agree upon platform. They are split
widely about the Compromise and the at
tendant issue of Secession, and fan attempt
had been made TO agree upon resolutions or
an address, they must either have mann
tanned an ominous silence on this most prom