The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-09-13
WHITE SULPHUR CONVENTION.

uuo rePofts IN this paper OF the proceedings
OF he Convcntion 1t the White Sulphur Springs,
tne writer was, from necessity, compelled to be
very brief and 10 omit much that under other cir
cu"s1ances, would have been fully reported. He
takes occasion to make some corrections and addi.
tions.
fending the disposition of the resolutions re-
ported oy the committee of t,ccnty one, on Friday
toe &otn OF August, General MEEM, the only rep
resentatve OF the county of Shenandoah, cast the
only negative vote upon the two resolutions in
favor OF the extension of the Canal, and in favor
OF the improvement of the Kanawha river. In
ooing 30, General M. took occasion to say that he
a.o no' wish to be understood as expressing for
nimseii or his constituents hostility to those i'm.
Proremenfs but it was his opinion that the objects
oi tue Convention did not include those improve.
ments, and therefore he did not feel at liberty to
commit his constituents with regard to them. As
sne cali was understood in his county, it was con-
nned to the Covington and Ohio Railroad.
IN tne report of the last days proceedings of the
convention, Mr.. LYONS is represented as having
spoken twice N opposition to Mr. RIvEs's proposf.
uon for another Convention. Mr. CLIFFORD made
the nrst speech in opposition to 1t, and the COM
posifor rnadsa mistake In putting Mr.. Lyonss name
for his
In brief reference to the scene between Messrs
RIvEs and LYONS, there was hardly, iustice done,
and it is therefore proper to refer to it again. The
oesgn OF the writer in noticing 1t at ALL was show
without going into details, the cause which led TO
il, and the happy conclusion by which it was ter.
minated. 1t was deemed proper to 20 thus far. as
great many rumors as to what had occurred
would likely be conveyed from the Springs. The
report was written In very great haste, lust before
the mail closed, and the writer has not overlooked
it until now.
The scene happened on the last day OF the Con-
vention the Goth of August) Mr. R1vEs, in the
course of his speech, had dwelt with great earnest
ness upon the importance of the Internal Imnrove.
ment cause in Virginia. He declared that he re-
garded 1t superior to all mere party questions of
the day. as in Its objects and effects "overrulne and
overriding your presidential elections, your Ne
braska and Kansas and Homestead Bills :. and
Mr.. R. elaborated his idea of the great ADVANTAGE
to result to the old Commonwealth by concentra.
ing the energies and abilities of her sons upon the
measures for the promotion of her own growth and
prosperity.
When Mr.. LYONS arose to speak In opposition to
a resolution proposed by Nr. RrvEs, he commenced
by saying that although warm friend of the Cen.
trail line and OF Improvements generally he could
not 20 as far as his friend from Albemarle. who
had uttered sentiment which he would not have
uttered or rather entertained, for the whole road
and MIR. l.: proceeded to say In substance that he
would prefer to see Virginia without single work
of Internal Improvement rather than submit to the
surrender of her political privileges and the prin.
ciplss involved In the Nebraska and Homestead
Bills, as he regarded them. Mr.. L. then proceed.
ed to oppose the resolution of Mr. Rives
When Mr.. LYONS concluded, Mr. RIyEs arose
evidently excited under his impression of the pur.
pose of Mr.. L. in his exceptions to his sentiment
He declared that the gentleman from Richmond,
who called himself his friend, and with whom he
had been On terms OF intimacy and friendship for
many years, had sought to bring odium upon a
sentiment of his, and to make political capital bv
an ad capitandum assault upon his fidelity to the
Institutions of the South.
Mr.. LYONS attempted to 1nterp0se, remarklng that
he could satisfy Mr.. R. that ne was mistaken
Mr.. R1vES requested not to be interrupted and
insisted upon his right to the floor averrnp that he
was not mistaken as to the language employed by
Mr. L., and complaining that friend should so at.
tempt to bring odium upon a sentiment of his BY
distortng its meaning and involving him in infidei
ty to Virginia and the South. With much energy
of expression, he declared 81 spurn the imputa-
tion."
Mr.. RIvEs again quoted the language of Mr. Ly-
ons. and commented upon it, and the inference
which he though. 1t bore upon its face He declar-
ed himself man of peace; but ready at all times
for peace or war; To which Mr.. Lyons respon.
ded, I" as you please, Mr.. Rives" "Then let it be
as it is," said Mr.. Rives. Mr.. R. then reiterated
bis sentiment of the superior claims upon the people
of Virginia, of their own State interests and of the
Improvement cause over the questions of the day in
Federal politics, mixed up with which he declared
there was great deal of humbug. He denied the
incompatibiity of his sentiment with loyalty to the
South, and protested in the most earnest manner
his devotion to the rights of Virginia and the South
After deploring the position he had been forced in
ments of personal character, relating to his own
hopes and aspirations for his future life, Mr.. Rives
concluded.
Mr.. Lyons, who had been standing in the aisle,
Immediately In rear of Mr.. RIvEs, spoke and said
that the gentleman had gone far to prevent him from
saving what he had intended to say when he refused
to weld him {Mr. L) the floor. But, nevertheless
while he did not retract word or syllable of what
he had said, he would not be driven to do Injustice
and place himself in the wrong. He never dreamed
of casting any imputaton upon the honor OF Mr.. R.
or upon his loyalty to the South. He never presu.
med that he was not as loyal to the South he Mr
L. was, and he expressed his regret and surprise
that he had not been allowed TO explain his mean.
ing Mr. L. objected to Mr.. RS sentiment not for the
spirit in which it had been uttered but for the con.
sequences to which he saw 1t would lead Besides
Mr.. r. was too old q debater, too skilful paria.
mentarian not to know that it was allowable for q
speaker to make his adversarys argument unpal
atable and overthrow it if possible by exposing
Its consequences. He, Mr.. L., would hold himself
to be unworthy of seat ON that foor If regarding
the former relations between him and Mr. Rives he
could without premonition have made an assau Il
upon the character and motives of the gentleman
from Albemarle.
Mr.. Rives very frankly expressed himself salts
fed with the ex xplanation-expressed his gratifica
tion at It, adding that he therefore still regarded
Mr. Lyons as his friend, and he hoped they would
never think of the scene again.
Their being cries of shake hands," Mr.. Lyon
rendered his hand to Mr.. Rives who grasped ano
shook it very cordially, much to the qualification
all present.
From VENEzuELA.-A letter, dated Caracas, Au
gust 10, says
On the 9th of last month bloody battle wal
fought near Valencia. The patriot troops are sale
to have mustered 2, 200, and the Government troop
,50O-that the latter were beaten, with tmmens,
slaughter on both sides; but General Silver arrived
with reinforcement of 900 troops. and the pa
triots retired. The Government bulletin simply
mentioned that the rebels were beaten by Genera
Silver and that General Rodriguez and other chiei
of the rebels were LEFT dead on the field.
The great body of the people throughout tne
country are opposed TO the Monagas Government
which has brought ruin and desolation on the coun'
try but they have no organic alton, no leader, nc
arms and therefore slumber over their misfortunes
Many of the principal Inhabitants OF tnls capda
1 sk- fakefx P{mpr1 nfrunfaf