Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1856-04-09
J.: .t.sg For the Star,
The American Convention Of Eanawha.

The. American Convention OF Eanlwha.
MEssRs. EDrroRs-As one Of the dele.
gates to the Convention held in Charles.
Ton on the 25th Of March, feel it my
duty. from the circumstances that occur.
red then and since then, to give to my
constituents . fair and impartial state
ment Of the proceedings of the Conyen-
ton up TO tho time that I withdrew. and
also the reason why ] did withdraw.
will first, however, briefly give my req.
sons for Withdrawing from the Conven.
ton, however much I may incur the dis.
pleasure Of some Of the delegates as well
as some of the aspirants before that
clique-yes, clique, capable Of partlality
of ne small magnitude. Mr., 4. B.
Sw ann, my very worthy colleague. who
was sent 70 the Convention by the very
same power that / was, was excluded By
o vote Of the Convention. The facts in
the case are these: Mr.. Swami was cleo
ted by primary council as an alternate,
in case that Mr.. j. w. Williams should
fail to attend the Convention. Mr.. w.
failed to meet in Convention. ! went to
Mr., Swann's office and informed him that
he was an alternate from my electoral
district. lie went to the hall, and con-
tend, was duly received into the Conven-
ton; however, lat that be as it may, so
soon as he expressed himself opposed to
q Convention, but favorable To the re-
election. Of Mr.. Slack, Mr.. r. H. Farley,
brother to the worthy nominee for SHEER.
i'll, objected to Mr.. Swami as being a le.
gitimste delegate, and gave as bis reasons
that he (Swann had expressed himself
favorable for Slack on the streetsl WHY,
gentlemen, if belonging to the American
party deprives US Of the freedom of
speech and tho freedom Of vote, it is
wor SO than Romanism, foreignism, or any
other ism that | am acquainted with. =
! will, however, remark here that, un-
der the revised Constitution of the Amer.
lean party, its members are not under any
obligations to support the nominees Of
the order. And good thing it is, that
it is not left to those cliques to, saw far
whom we shall vote. Others Withdrew
from the fact that they were opposed to a
Convention. Il is said that there are
from 500 to 1900 American voters in
Ranawha, which would entitle her TO a
delegation Of SO or Sc members in any
County Convention. Now, gentlemen,
look for moment and see what q one
sided business il was; look, and YOU will
see that 1t is like q jug -handle--ail on one
side. There were only Is delegates in
the Convention. and if l am not wrong
eight Of us withdrew before the nomina.
ton were made. which left only ten.-
And they would take upon themselves
the right to dictate for nearly two
thousand intelligent voters who are com
potent to decide for themselves rs these
ten worthless are to decide for them. How
very inconsistent for a handful of picked
men to presume 10 think that they will
dictate for and WELD some 100 intelli.
gent voters. |, for, one, would renounce
my party before ! would vote for any one
who is not my choice. If the party for
ces man to vote against his own con.
science merely to crafty others / am no
longer one Of the party. =
Gentlemen, my statements in regard
to the manner in which the American
Convention was conducted are facts that
cannot be successfully contradictsd.-
However, some Of the aspirants before
the Convention Tor at least, one Of them
has accused me Of betraying my trust;
let that be as il my, one thing do know,
! did not betrays my conscience. That
gentleman would have me 10 act against
my own feelings, and perhaps The feel.
ings Of some sixty.three others.
TO the voters of my electoral district,
will say that, out Of some sixty.six
mernbersof the American party. AFTER a
general notice for district Convention
bad been posted at some two or three
doors for more than week, three or four
members met at the school house for Tho
purpose Of taking into consideration the
proPriety Of holding a County Conyen-
ton The vote was taken, and I contend
i was tie. This being the fact, / must
% damned and double damned because /
would not actin harmony with two and
and against sixty-four. This same gen-
tleman knew that / was opposed to .
County Convention, from the very fact
that had so expressed myself to him.
But, gentlemen, neither the curses or
prayers Of the wicked availeth anything,
neither do Icare for his curses.
THOMAS A.. VECKERS.