Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-16
WING CONVENTION.

A. NJ. ana resumed tne CONSiueTdtlOu Ol tuHu
resolution offered the day before by Mr.. Scott of
Fauquier. Mr.. mcfarland of Richmond City
moved an amendment to the effect that the APP
poiutment of delegates to the National Wing
Convention be made by the people OF the several
Coperessional districts through local conventions.
Mr. Macfarland said that by renting the ap-
pointment of those delegates to district con-
ventions, a fuller and more faithful re-
Election of the Wing sentiment of the State
would be obtained than was then practicable, In
asmuch as many counties were wholly unrepre-
sented in that body. But there was another
son why this course should be adopted. He
thought it was all important that the people
should be brought to feel personal and lively in
terest in the subject, and this could only be eff
fected by frequent discussions in their county and
district meetings. The object and tendency OF
the plan he suggested was to the Wing peo-
| pie of the State and kinde anew their enthusiasm
in the Wing cause.
Mr.. Imboden opposed the amendment. 1t
might be easy, he said, draw together the peo-
pie of cities to consult and act upon political sub
jects but it matter of very great difficulty IN
the country. and if the district system was adop-
ted, he did not believe that the people would be
as fully represented as they in the Conv en-
ton there assembled. Moreover the very resou-
ton which had called that body into existence,
had for its object the appointment of delegates to
the National Convention. They had been charg
ed by the people with the performance of this
duty. Had they, he asked, the right under such
circumstances to neglect it 1t was the long es
tabshed custom of the Wing party of this State
to appoint their delegates in general convention,
and he was opposed to departing from that Gus
tom. The people of the several congressional
districts, might instruct the delegates appointed
for them, if they saw fit to do so. Mr. Imboden
argued in conclusion, that there was not sufficient
time, for the people to hold county and district
meetings, the National Convention would in
all probability be held early in June.
Mr. Maupn, of Rockingham, supported the
amendment of Mr.. Mcfarland He thought
there was no force in the argument drawn from
the long established custom of the Wing party of
the State. The Convention had a perfect right
to change that custom, and he thought it necessa-
ry to their success that they should do so. He
not afraid of putting the people to trouble and
inconvenience. The people must be prevailed on
to bestir themselves and work. or the Wings
could never carry the State. He believed that
the cause of our past defeats to be found in
the very policy to which gentlemen were now so
pertinaciously adhering. He was willing so far
as this matter concerned to initiate the exam
pie of his political opponents. The fact that the
plan of District Conventions would: give the peo-
pie trouble, constituted the very best reason why
it should be adopted. His county had given on
ly four hundred Wing votes at the last election,
but it would give six hundred if the people could
be made to work.
Mr. Scott, of Fauquier opposed the amendment.
The plan of operations it proposed would be at
tended with great difficulties owing to the wide
area embraced by most ofthe Congressional dis
tricts, and nothing like a fair and full expression
of public sentiment could be obtained before the
meeting of the National Convention. But he had
still stronger objection. 1t had been the inva-
riable practice of the Wings of Virginia, on SIM
liar occasions, to charge their State Convention
with the performance of this duty of appointing
Delegates to the National Convention. Was
there any reason to believe that the people were
dissatisfied with this practice. Had it been repro
bated by them! If not, what pretext had they
for adopting another scheme? The example of
the Democratic party had been held up before them
for imitation but Mr.. Scott thought it was an
example to be Stunned not fol LEVIED. If we imi-
tate them in respect to this matter why not imi-
tate them in the ingenious construction Of their po
itical PLATFORM platform in which the abolition
ist and the disunionist, the prctectionst and the
anti protectionist, the internal improvement man
and the anti-internal improvement each
find plank to stand upon. This exam
pie for the Wings to follow. As he loved truth,
as he loved candor he loved fairness, he Stunned
and scorned it. Mr.. Scott argued that the Con-
vention had, by the unanimous adoption of his I'd
resolution announced its competency to de-
declare the principles of the Wing party of the
State But, if the Convention could declare the
leading principles of the Wing party, why, he
asked, was it incapacitated from appointing those
who were to carry out those principles
Mr.. Scott dwelt upon several other points, but
we have neither time nor space for further
sketch of the debate. Mr. S. was followed by
Messrs. Scott of Powhatan Patrick of Kanawha,
and Macfarland of Richmond in support of the
amendment, and by Mr. Witcher of Pittsylvana,
in op ostion The vote was then taken and the
amendment was rejected by decisive majority.
The original resolution then modified at the
suggestion OF It's mover, Alf. ocOtt ana adopted
unanimously in the following shape:
8. Resolved. That the several delegations from
the said congressional districts recommend to the
Convention suitable persons for electors and asss-
tant electors in their respective districts and
for assistant electors in the counties comprising
the same; and that they further recommend three
delegates, and three aternates from each district
torepresent the Wings Of this State in the Wing
National Convention.
The Convention then adjourned to meet again
at O'Clock P. NJ The number of counties rep