The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-04-17
srscfAL CORRESPONDENCE OF TIE DIsrA lll['.
LETTER FROM CHARLESTON.
THE CONVENTION.

committee on resolutions made a partial re-
port, but contrary to the usual course pur
sued BY deliberative bodies, the matter which
was ready for the action of the Convention
Was not considered; but that which was no,
rasdy was discussed with great warmth
Combs. Pike and Jones. the representatives
ofthe three different Pacific railroad schemes,
were allowed to address the Convention in
speeches Of considerable length
Leslie Combs, the notorious stump orator
Of Kentucky famous for many years as an
itinerant political stuInper. was the first Of
the botch to harangue the Convention. He
is now about sixty years of age, well pre-
served, hair black, good carriage, and moves
with that profoundly springy gait, which ven
well to assume. He appeared upon the stage,
with theatrical bow to the ladies right and
left, and regretted in the first sentence of his
speech that he held no boquet to offer them,
whereupon large nosegay was cast to him,
by some charitable member Of the fair sex
This Leslie grinned and bowed over, placed
upon the table before him, and having spread
alarge map before tue eyes of his admiring
auditory. upon which the line of his Pacific
railroad route was marked, detained for a
hour or two, without enlightenipg his hearers,
to any considerable extent, upon the question
which he attempted to discuss. His speech
contained nothing either interesting or valua-
BILE, and was inferior in interest to those
stump oratiOns with which he used to enter
tain promiscuous crowds, North and South,
in ls40-'44-'4e-'5 So. - &ys
The next speaker was Albert Pike of Ar
kansas. The first appearance of this gentle
man in the Convention, produced an untavo-
rable impression which his unquestionable
talents soon removed. He certainly is the
most extensive looking human being have
ouo coon HiG no nlo and husbv with u
beard usually broad and flaming, and slightly
Rfizzled, gives him the appearance OF a lion,
dressed in broad cloth. He decorates his fin
gers with multitudinous rings, OF the form, II
not the dimensions, of old Roman Shields
Yet in spite of this wonderful exhl bition of
hair and jewelry, Albert soon convinced the
Convention that he is one of first men in the
body. He is in Arkansas regarded as sort
of western admirable CricktOn, for he is
said to be a good lawyers good poet, a sue
cessful editor, a witty stump orator, a popular
novelist, sound practical statesman, and
respectable artist. Besides all this, he is re-
nowned as Gordon Cummings among hun
tiers. having slain many bears, buffalo, and
wild cats.
His speech on the Pacific railroad, was
sound, logical, practical argument and his
plan for its construction evidently pleased the
Convention. He proposes that the hcitic
railroad shall be constructed by the Southern
States, without soliciting the aid of the gene
raj government This idea was perfectly ac
ceptable to the States Rights party, and Pixies
speech was loudly applauded.
Next in order, was Senator Jones Of Ten
nessee, known in his own State as "Lean
Jimmy" in consequence of that gentleman
having not an ounce of superfuous flesh any
where about his long, lank body. He is a
keen, rather gentlemanly looking man, about
ifuy clsrhf1u pra nd
lithely as grey hound. Hehas good man
ner, a full deep voice, and is a capital stump
orator. But he is shallow and superficial in
the extreme, and incapable of graspng any
great and important question. His speech in
favor of the construction of Pacific railroad
by the General Government, was well deliv-
ered and made up for the most part of the
odds and ends Of the speeches which have
been delivered so often upon that subject in
= Congress. Jones has not single element of
greatness about him, and his speech disap
pointed every body 80,
Lieut. Maury followed Senator Jones in
short, telling speech in favor of the Pacific
railroad, in which there was more original
matter packed carefully away than in the
speeches of Combs and Jones together. In.
deed in the discussion of the Pacific railroad
question, Pike and Maury appeared to have
been assigned all the ideas, and the other gen
tlemen the more unmeaning words and
phrases of speech. 10
The delegates to the Convention last night
attended the ball at the Military Hall There
were perhaps thousand persons present and
the scene was one of remarkable interest, as
representatives from eight or nine States were
present, exhibiting striking contrasts in man
ners and costume. The well dressed Virgin.
ians, the swarthy descendants of the Hueue-
nots, the rough Kentuckian, the unsopbisti.
Gated Tennessean, the sun burnt Alabamian.
and the sharp yankee looking Georgian, were
70 beseen mlngling together in the crowd
1here was unfortunately present but small
number OF ladies' as this is Passion Week. y
and the Charleston ladies respected the usa.
ges of the Episcopal Church too closely to
attend. ~
The entertainment music and the decar,.
lions Of the ball and supper rooms. were al,
upon scale of prineely magnifcence that
had never seen equailed upon any previous
occasion. This ball cost the CITY of Charles.
ton more than 5000 dollars.
Inc convention on yesterday elected fbe
reporters far the Tribune, Herald, and ~.
press, honorary members of the Conceut;ou ,,
Considering that these men were sent here bv
the abolition and unprincipled papers to
which they are attached, exclusively for the
roneous reports of the proceedings OF the
convention, its influence and Importance,
the proceeding was remarkable. The dele
CATION from Virginia alone sent up loud and
unanimous mo-" when these foul birds were
admitted to the honors of Southern Con.
Inns morning, however, returning sense
VI Proprlety induced Mr. CLAY of Afabama
10 move their expulsion, which was done ac.
zcoroingiy There was no feeling towards the
poor devils, but they were made to suffer for
Ine suns OF their employers. The Convex.
non TINS morning having thus purged itself
euer some debate. proceeded to the d;sens'
Non OF the resolutions reported by the oens.
rai committee. To this committed abonSt 1--WE 1--WE
bushels OF resolutions have been referred
relating to every conceivable subject Ths
resolutions do not conceive it NECESSARY n
send yon until they have been finally amend.
ed 70 meet the wishes of the Convention. $
The morning was consumed by long dis
csission Of resolution providing for the re-.
moval Of all duties on raiiroai iron. The NO.
udcal parties, present in the Convention.
wsre equally divided ON this resolution. An
amendment Of the resolution, providing sim.
ply for - reduction OF the duty was at last
adopted sg =, IS :