Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-10-01
THE srAUNrox CONVENTION.

in Slann,un assembled IN line METHODIST Churcli.
At twelve o'cluck, on Wednesday last. About 400
delapa,es we're present. Having attended the de.
lberltions as an interested spectator, we propose
to give sketch Of the proceedings, and some the
"poinls" made by the speakers. The proceedings
throughout were highly interesting and The Church
was generally much crowded.
The Convention was called to order by Mr..
Brown. of Tazewel, and, On his motion, John S.
Barbour, Sen, of Cu peper was appointed President
pro tenn. After the enrnllment of members, a
committee offleen was appointed to nominate per-
minen, officers.
While the committee were out several members
were called upon for Speeches, all of whom declin,
ed except Mr.. r. G. Scott, of Richmond, and Mr..
Benoni Harrison, of Prince William. The latter
gentlemen went forward amidst The shouts of The
crowd, and commenced his remarks by thanking
those who had called upon him loF the opportunity
# displaying" himself. lie than proceeded to say
lha! he had come here to support Democracy, but
Democracy as he understood it. If any new doc
iII'SS HCIC luIOuuCtN, Iit NVuiu NOlcy do Ut Hdu
done before, solitary and aone' lie spoke of sour
opponents, whom call the Devil" and finally
resumed his seat, having discoursed tohis own ev-
ident satisfaction and the great amusement Of the
audience.
The President pro tenn, Mr.. Barbour. was call
ed upon, and commenced an address which was
cut short by the entrance of the Committee
The Committee nominated Mr.. Andrew Steven
son. of Albemarle, as President, and other persons
for the various other offices, all ofw nom were elect
ed, On taking the chair, Mr. Stevenson delivered
an address in his usual happy vein. He could
not agree with the gentlemen from Prince William
in calling the Wings "Devils"-Many of them,
he thought, were very good fellows and tWished
The country no more harm than to get the Dem
ccrdts out Of Office and 10 get themselves in" An
adjournment then took place ill after dinner.
When the Convention assembled again, the mode
Of voting was agreed upon, and they proceeded to
the election of = candidate for Governor.
Mr.. Bruce, of Winchester, nominated Col. JOS.
Johnson, of Harrison, and expressed the hope that
nominating speeches would not be made.
Mi, Of Norfolk county, nominated Judge
Green b. .Samucls, Of Shenandoah.
A delegate arose and said Judge S. would not &C
cept the nomination.
Mr.. Harris, Of Rockingham, took the floor and
declared that the Judge did not seek the nomina-
ton, but would accept if it was rendered 10 him.
lie dscanted at length upon the merits and quafi-
cations of the Judge and the claims Of The "Tenh
Legion" That section lie said had never had any
office State CT Federal conferred upon one Of lis ci
zens, except the Consulshp of Genoa, and no one
else would have that. He mentioned il as some
thing creditabe to the patriotism OF the delegate
present from Page, that as some one had 10 be ap-
pointed to the olicehe magnanimOusly accepted it.
Mr.. Jos. Samuels, of Shenandoah brother to the
Judge, said his position was embarrassing. The
the people in connection with the office land the del
egates from Shenandoah hsd come here to vote for
Col. johnson. But the Judge having been nomi
mated, Mr. S. would vote for him. He did not
seek the office. but he would not decline it. He
was democrat of the "right stripe" 81" said
Mr.. S. ''raised him from the time he was sixteen
years of age-he studied law with me-he and
Judge Pennebacker" Mr.. S. also knew Col. john
son to be true Democrat When they were young
men, they practiSed law together in the North
West, and had many battle with those old Fed
eraliss "Pindal and Doddridge." He bore ,esIi-
mony also to the character Of MI Summers. He
was very worthy gentleman, and at the same
time quite an intelligen, man, but he was wing.
Mr.. Kir,lsy, of Rockingham, got the floor, and
said there was no necessity for speaking. Every
member knew who he was FOR, before he came
here; if he did not! he was no. fit TO come. Mr..
K. came $50 do or die" 1t was necessary, how
ever, to allow gentlemen to lei Of heir gas.
Mr.. Barbour nominated Gov. John B. Floyd,
and spoke elcquently in his behalf.
Mr.. Brown, of TazewelI, supported the nomina-
ton of Gov. Floyd.
1t being then near supper time the Convention
took recess till7s o'clock P. NJ.
At the appointed hour, the President resumed
the Chair.
Mr. DeneaIe, of Rockingham, spoke in favor Of
Judge Samuels, and in laudatun Of the "Tenlh
Legion"
Mr. Lewis, of Harrison, advocated the claims
of Col johnson Mt considerable length.
The Convention then proceeded to vote. This
operation was very tedious, and when it was fin
ished, without waiting for The Secretaries TO ascer
tain the result the Convention adjourned ill next
morning.
THURsDAY.-The Convention assembled at an
early hour, and the vote of the previous eve ming
was announced. johnson had received the largest
number of votes, Floyd next, and Samuels next;
and Wise had received small number without
having been regularly in nomination. Some con-
versation eusued in reference to which of the gen
tlemen voted for should be dropped. Before the
question was decided, however, Mr.. Barbour arose,
and Withdrew the name of Governor Floyd, deliv-
erng at the same time handsome euiogy upon
his character and public services. MI. AyIett,
Of King William. then declared in favor Of Judge
S2mucis, and in short speech recommended him
to the support Of the Convention.
MIR. Claiborne, o, Franklin, and Mr. C'emens,of
Wheeling, delivered animated speeches in favor Of
Col. Johnson. The latter gentleman occupied a
position under the pulpit of the church, immedi-
ately in front of the audience, and played the ora
Tor in foe style. Ia concluding his speech, he re-
lated lore story about Lord Loyelace and his