Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-09-22


Baltimore, and district elector, / was
proposed as the elector, l publicly decli-
ned it, stating that l feared, from the
signs around mo, the result of the nominal
tion' and would not take any place in.
voiying trust and responsibility, because
i would not pledge myself to support the
nominee at Baltimore, From that NEE.
ting went to the African Church, and
found the Secretary reading the "plat,
form, y reported by the committee, and !
stood in the aisle, near the gallery, until
he was done. While standing there q
member of tho Convention came to me
and said, "several of the delegations wish
you to act as elector at large, but L UNI
derstaud you will not pledge yourself to
support the nominee TO which L repli-
ed: "I suppose any man may support the
nominee who is fairly on the platform;
but / prefer not to be the elector appoint
some one else; take it YOURSELF" and he
left me, and went into the house and
took my seat near the table. BY the time
was seated, Mr., Thomas and Mr.. Bur-
dette made the nomination, and l said,
Immediately to an intimate friend near
me, who was prominent member of the
Convention, that did not wish to be
appointed, aud would decline. He urged
mo not to do SO, saying that Gen Scott
would not be nominated, but if he was,
and could not support him, it would be
better to resign then, than to decline now;
and wishing to avoid all embarrassment,
TO the party, and hoping 10 the last, ac-
Quiesced,
When the nomination was made, look
ing to all the circumstances attending it,
determined not to support the nominee,
and instantly and quietly resigned all pub
lie connection with the party, and deter
mined not to take any part in the canvass,
every where, publicly, if l were to vote, l
would vote for Pierce.
Now, beg leave to ask, what any
frank and fair man would nave me to do
under these circumstances, other than
what l have done? Would he have me
go out, and in public speeches advise and
urge the people to what l thought they
ought not to do? Would he advise me
to hold the placeof speaker to the exclusion
of another who could speak consistently
with his opinions? Or would he not adj
vised me to do precisely what | did do,
viz: resign everything as quietly as l
could, and give place to men who could
work where L could not? Yet some of
my assailants talk of treason to their
party. The man who does SO with these
facts before him, is either a silly block
head, who does not know the meaning of
the words, or a corrupt knave who has
no regard for truth. No, fellow citizens,
they don't any of them believe that l
have in truth, done anything wrong, in
this respect, if they have any honor them
selves; but they are enraged because |
will not support their candidate, against
the convictions of my heart and head,
and abandon my country for the applause
of Party-and knowing the power of
the press, and the enormous odds when it
arrays itself against Il single man, even
with the right on his side, they have de.
tcrmined, by my immolation, which they
declare is complete, to establish reign
of terror, and deter all others who may
be disposed to take similar ground with
that which occupy, from doing SO, and
tear the party banner to tatters, when it
is arrayed against as now in my humble
judgement it is, the flag of the nation
ana peace ofthe South AS far us am
concerned | shall test their power, and
on my return from Hampton, lay before
you all the reasons, why l shall stand
with Gentry, Jcnifcr, Cubell, Williams
Toombs and Stephens, and q host of 9th,
Crs in opposition to the Seward Scott par
ty. JAMES LYONS,