Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-07-23
Whir State Convention.

Wing State Convention.
Thine Wing State Convention OF Virginia as
sembled in Metropolitan Hall, Richmond, OF
Wednesday last. On motion OF Mr.. Deane, o
Lynchburg, My. Mcfarland, of Richmond, wa
appointed temporary chairman, who on taking
the chair delivered an appropriate address.
MIR. Harper, of Augusta, offered the following
which WIS withdrawn for the present, aftel
some debate:
Resotued, That this Convention is exclusively
and emphatically Wing, being, called together
by those who, disclaiming all other pollnca
ties and atfinities, inhexibly adhere to their an
cient name and principles, and that none others
may fairly or properly be admitted to particl
pate in its deliberations.
The delegates then enrolled their names, anc
it was found that 146 were present. exclusive o
alternates. The delegates from Augusta were
Kenton Harper, H. NJ. Bell John McCue, Rob
ert Guy, W. NJ. Tate and Sam'l II. Bell.
On motion the Chairman appointed the FOL
lowing committee to report permanent offlcers
Marmaduke johnson, W. L. Goggin, Alexander
Rives, Kenton Harper, J. NJ. Speed, Wyndhan
Robertson and John S. Pendleton Capt. Harp
ers resolution was taken up and referred TO the
same committee
During the retirement of the committee, the
Convention was addressed in response 10 calls D!
Wood Bouldin, of Charlotte, and Y. L. Mosby
of Lynchburg.
The committee requesting further time, were
continued till the afternoon session.,
Alex. Rives being called upon, delivered ar
eloquent and effective speech in favor OF Fill
more Other gentlemen were called upon Du
declined speaking on account OF the lateness o.
the hour.
AFTERNooN.-The Convention re-assembled al
o'clock, and she committee reported; They
nominated as
President w yndham Robertson, of Wash
lngton county.
Vice Pesidents.-Wood Bouldin of Charlotte
E. R. Watson, of Albemarle, Chas l.. Mosby, Of
Lynchburg, Jno. McCue, of August, John. A
Carter, of Loudon, R. S. Lacy. of New Kent,
John P. Leigh, of Norfolk, DR.. Thomas Nelson
of Louisa.
tSecretaries.-Jas. Mcdonald, Of Lynchburg
J. Harrison Kelly, of Fredericksburg, Vim. Har'
per- of Hampshire, Stephen T. Peters, OF Lynch
burg, Robert Ridgway, of Richmond city.
Deeming the terms of the call for the Con-
yention precise enough, and sufficiently un-
derstood to exclude all who do not now claim
to be Wings, the committee thought it unneces-
olution referred to them than to express theii
opinion that this was exclusively a convention
Of the Wing party, and it was not to be presum-
ed that any persons, not included in the terms
of the call, would take seats in the body.
The report was unanimously adopted.
On motion of Mr. Mcfarland, committee OF
thirteen was appointed to prepare O preamble
and resolutions, expressive OF the sense OF this
Convention. -
Committee Vim. H. Mcfarland of Rich
mond Robert E. Scott of Fauqier, Charles l.
Mosby of Lynchburg, VIM. L. Goggin of Bed
ford, John S. Pendleton of Culpepper, Jas. b. Da'
wilson of Rockbridge, George Townes OF Pitts
sylvania, Kenton Harper of Augusta, Jeremiah
Morton of Orange, Alex. Riyes OF Albemarle
John P. Leigh Of Norfolk, D. Chalmers Of Hal
fax, Thos. B. Campbell of Frederick.
W. L. Goggin, of Bedford, by request, then
addressed the Convention. He delivered ar
enthusiastic Fillmore speech, declaring that he
should support Fillmore with the same determl
nation and desire for victory that animated him
in supporting Henry Clay in 1874.
The Convention adjourned till II O'Clock
Thursday. lo -a
THURspAY.-The Convention met in pursu
ance of adjournment. Sixteen additional dele
gates, including Col. J. B. Baldwin OF Augusta
appeared and took their seats. The committee
on resolutions not being ready to report, leave
was granted to them to retire again.. during
the interval enthusiastic Fillmore speeches were
made by DIR. Terrill, of Orange, NJ. johnson, o.
Richmond. J. r. Killey of Nansemond, j. A
Carter of Loudon, and J. NJ. Speed, of Lynch
burg The Convention then took recess until
5 o'clock.
AFTERNooN.-Mr mcfarland, from the com
mittee on resolutions, read the following report
, We who are here assembled, Wings and the
representatives of Wings, are painfully convlnc
ed of the necessity of consolidating the Nationa
Wing party, and of its unremitted vigilance ant
activity if the Union is to be perpetuated, anc
the Constitution and Laws upheld and preserv'
ed There has not been o time when the intiu
epce and exertions of the party were more need
ed, and never before has it appeared to hesitate
or waver. On all past occasions it has entered
the field eager to bear the heat and burden O
the day, on the slightest appeal to its sense O
public duty but now, when the country is con
yulsed by Incorporate sectional contentious, ant
violence and anarchy, vituperation and abuse
threaten the subversion of public order, for the
first time tie party is missed at the advanced
posts it has been accustomed to occupy and en-
: noble. 1t is the proud distinction OF the " az
party to have rendered invaluable services, a.
we'll to the country when out of power, as in
by the influence OF its sound, moderate and con
servative views in rebuking and restraining par
ty bigotry. 1t was the Wing party which com
, posed the agitation and restored the fraterna
relations of the Union in former instances o
civil feuds. exasperated to fierce intolerance Mo-
has the dominant party refused to seize upor
Wing propositions as its own, regardless of hav
l.. ~ ,uhan fhair o1nrtiOn yuOul(
have Injured to the credit of their authors Gen
erous and pure aims such as those which have
, characterized the Wing party, have power
over selfish and crooked counsels beyond the
Influence which is found in mere numbers.
The memories of the past, the hopes of thu
, future. and the obligations of the present, con
denim the thought of disbanding the Wing par
, tv and of any remission of its untiring exertions
: The strength of the party is in its principles
and as these depend not on acceptance for thei
truth. neither has the party faltered in its exer
tons through fear of disappointment or defeat
It's maxim has been that it was better to b,
right than to succeed.
The immediate and practical question now to b
, determined. respects the course or position o
the Wing party in the approaching election
In the decision of this question, there should no
! be. in our Judgment any hesitation or dissent
The prevailing distractions, the uneasiness per
vading the public mind, disaffection amounting
even to rebellion, unreclaimed after months o
insurgent defiance, the denunciation and intol
) erance which have invaded the deliberations 0
the national legislature, the feuds, strifes ant
, sectional hostilties which cast their appalling
shadows before them, indicate with nnerrinI
certainty the remedy which is required In
services of q national chief magistrate-o
one known for his moderation, his inaexible off
cial impartiality, his equal and mperturbable at
tachment to each and every section, his intrepid
ity in adhering to his convictions and patient Fl
deity in arriving at them, his veneration for tn
Constitution as the object which his love ant