Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-10
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.
The Democratic State Convention of Virgil
mia, assembled in the city OF Petersburg, OH
Thursday. December Sd, 1873. The following
is a summary Of the proceedings:
Some time before noon PhnniX Hall was
filled with the members OF the Convention.
Fifteen minutes before noon, a delegate pro-
posed the election of the Hon. John :. CaSkle,
Of Richmond. as temporary chairman oil the
Convention. Attention was Immediately called
to the fact, that the time appointed for the
meeting Of the Convention had not yet arrived.
and the motion was voted down
Then followed a contest between the sup
porters of Gen. R. \. Banks, Of Madison. and
Col. Augustine c.. Butts, Chairman OF the
Democratic Association Of Petersburg. Votes
were taken on the nomination OF each OF these
gentlemen, both before and after the hour OF
noon. The ayes and noes were both loud. in
favor of and against each Of the nominees. in
tho midst Of much confusion and demonStra-
tions Of approval and dissent, Mr.. John Scd-
don, of Stafford, announced that Col. Butts
had been chosen to the office of temporary
Chairman of the Convention. Col. Butts WAS
immediately conducted to the stand, and on
taking the Chair, was greeted with applause.
interrupted by some calls for Gen. Banks.
Col. Butts delivered n short and appropriate
address, describing the honor which had been
conferred on him as an intentional compliment
from the Convention to the city of Petersburg.
and welcomed the delegates TO the "CocSade
of Virginia and of the Democracy,
On motion of Mr.. Chastain White, of Hano-
l.,,,. ,oottnrs 70 ~
der and harmony as soon as possible. it was
Resolved, That the Democratic Editors pre-
sent, of the State of Virginia, be appointed to
act as temporary Secretaries OF the Conven'
ton.
The following editors took their position As
Secretaries: Messrs. 0. j. Wise and Tyler. of
the Enquirer" K. A. Pryor. late of the
South" William LLOYD. of the Examiner,
Samuel B. Paul. of the Petersburg Press
r. II. Glass. of the L~ynchburg "Rcpublican,'
II. NJ. Garland. OF the Blue Ridge Rcpubli-
can" Mr.. Smith, of the Alexandria "Sentl-
mel" and r. b. Alexander. of the FrcderickS-
burg Recorder.
1t was then moved and carried that the list
of the delegates in attendance ut the Conven-
ton. from the various counties in the State, be
called off, to ascertain the numbers present.
This took up about an hours time.
Col. E. W. Hubbard, of Buckingham, moved
that the Chairman appoint one member from
each Congressional District in the State to
compose a committee to report on the perma-
nent organization of the Convention. This
motion was adopted.
On motion, also, it was resolved, that the
Chairman vacate his seat for fifteen minutes,
to enable him to select the said committee
on organization. Col. Butts then vacated
the chair, which was temporarily taken du-
ring his absence By Gen. r. \. Banks, OF
Madison
In response to q motion. the Secretaries All
nounced for the qualification OF the meeting,
that a large majority of the Democratic votes
cast at the last Presidential election were rep
resented at this Convention.
After the appointed time, Col. Butts return
ed to the meeting, and reported the following
gentlemen as composing the committee on or
ganization:
LIST Distric,-CoL II. F. Garnet, Of Wes.morel"nd.
Cd District-wm. h. Stands, southampton.
Cd D~Istic.-Roger A. Pryor, Richmond.
4th Distric,-Thos. II. Campbell, OF Soi:o"ay.
9Th Distdct-C. II. Lynch. OF Lyneheurg
9th D~is,rict-Gen. X. 4. Banks. OF Madison.
Tth District-John Seldom, OF Stafford.
sth Dlstric.-coi. Jas; Minor, Of LoGdogn:
lOh Di,tric,-Mr. Hall. of wes.ei
1ith Districi-B. W. Jackson, Of Wood.
l2ih Dis;rict-Colin Bass, Of Roanoke.
18Th Dis,rict-Mr. Ernest, Of Washington.
After the list Of the committee on organlza-
ton was adopted, it was moved that the Con
vention take a recess till half-paSt " o'clock,
and that the committee meet At the Boiling
brook Hotel, to prepare their rcport-mca'-
while the Secretaries proceeded to make ont Il
regular list Of the delegates and altcrnatcS at
the Convention, which will be found below in
the record Of the ballot for Governor.
The Chairman Of the Committee on Organi-
cation reported the following officers for the
Convention:
For PREsrpESr-Wm. NJ. .lmblcr, of Loui-
Fop VICE PREsrDESTs-Gen. \. \. Chap,
man of Monroe, Col. f. W. HUBBARD Of Buck
ingham, Oh. Mason of King George. W. F.
Gordon. Jr., Of AlbcmaIlc, j. b. Stoyall Of Hal
ifax. Col. VIM. II. Hartman Of Augusta, Col. J.
W. Minor Of Loudoun, Rob. Parke of Jackson.
j. S. Hall of Wetzel, Col. S. +. Goodson Of
Washington, n. P. Young of Isle Of Wight,
J. W. c. Catlett Of Gloucester, Col W. y.
Baskervill Of Mecklenburg.
Fox SEcRErARIEs.-All the Democratic Edi-
tors Of Virginia, who are Delegates to the Con
vention.
Also. the Committee of Organization made
the following report for the regulation OF the
Convention
Resolved, That the rules Of the House of
Delegates in the General Assembly of Virginia,
be adopted as the parliamentary law OF tins
Convention-that all questions in the Cohycn'
ton shall be decided by 4 rira roce vote. unless
a "scaled vote" be called for, which shall be
taken whenever demanded bv any member OF
this Convention, representing 10000 votes OF
the Democratic vote polled in the Presidential
election in 1856.
Resolved. That when q scale vote shall be
called. the vote shall be given by counties,
each delegate casting his relative proportion of
the vote Of the county by him represented.
This report gave rise to n considerable de-
bate. for and against its adoption especially
between Mr.. Benjamin W. Jackson. Of Wood
county and Mr.. j. Sedden Of Stafford. y good
deal Of confusion, from different gentlemen try
ing to get the floor for a speech, ensued in a
half serio-comic style, especially during the pc
Rod while calls were being made for speeches
from S. F. Leakc. and Mr.. Gilmer. OF Abe
marie.
The disorder, at last. became 80 prevalent,
that the Chairman found it impossible to pro-
coed with the business before the Convention
and on his suggestion, it was moved and car
ried that the Convention adjourn for a few
hours recess.
AFTERNOON SEss1oN>rA motion was made
to adopt the report ofthe committee.
Mr.. Campbell, of Nottoway, proposed to
read again the report Of the committee.
A good deal Of confusion ensued, members
attempting to get the floor; but the Chair re-
fused to recognize any of them until the read
inc of the report was finished. Upon finish