The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-07-13
THE MECKLENBURG DEMOCRATIC
COUNTY CONVENTION.

CIR the LEGISLATURE. That Convention nominated
Vim. F. Davidson for the Senate, and Williamson
Wallace and Jas NJ Hutchinson for the Commons.
When we published the proceedings of the conven-
t;on we deemed it unnecessary to say more than
bo+ tho nominees were faithful and reliable demo-
Gratis and merited the support of the party. And
e;co that time We have not thought it necessary
to refer again to the subject, believing that the
LARGE majority Of the party satisfied with the
action of the convention and aware that it was
;,;yI0 constituted. But as we understand it is
charged that that Convention was a mere clique
and acted unfairly in the selection of its can-
dates We propose to review the whole matter, see
how was called, how organized, how it acted, and
ofwhom it composed. After making fair
and impartial statement of the facts we are willing
to leave it to the good Judgment of the people of
this county decide if the business was not fairly
transacted.
In the first place, call was published in this pa
per for several weeks requesting each Captains
District send delegates to convention to be held
in Charlotte the 9th of April to nominate dem
ocratic candidates to represent the county in the
next General Assembly. In pursuance of that call
the following gentlemen assembled:
Charlotte Djs'rict.-Jon Means, VIM Myers BENZ
Morrow W Phifer, Alex Kennedy. NJ Jamison W s
Normcnt, Brown, 5 Howell, Chas T Alexander
TrordsRce.-W Matthews, W Stitt. VIM Rca ESQ
Nj X Dunn VIM Rea, Jas Robinson, IL Ii Peoples
DR. Miller.
Steel Cresk.-ZcnaS y Grier, NJ Potts, NJ Strong
Lowrie 5 Garrison. Ncaly, p Millen, II Ii Swami
J Price, VI Swami, j Sterling.
HWs-D W Barnett, d I Thomason
Grab Decentralization Wallace, VIM Morris, VIM
McComb Jas Davis
B,r,yEirs.-G c Cathcy. G W Mcdonald, DIR T
Snndifer y Ii Brown, b + Brown
Maron.-Dr W Ross Hugh Kirkpatrick II Elliott
J & Flenniken.
Clear Creek-N y Harrison, c Flow, a Hood, r
II Wcddingtom, J c Dennis.
Par Creek.-John McCord Adam Todd, JOS Nc
Donald. John Cathey, G. L Campbell.
Morning. S'ar-J II Irwin, McEwan, Jas Norris
Pyron, VIM MAXWELL Peter lIarkey. Arthur Grier
John Mcleod, W Neal, Jas Orr, DR. 5 B Watson.
Now here is list of the names of those who
composed the convention. Could more respect
able body of men have been gathered together?
Are they not of age, intelligence and expert
ence? Look over the list again, and say if those
men would conuive at anything unfair treat any
man with injustice if they knew it. viii any one
pretend to say that they did not fairly represent
the democracy of Mccklenburg county? Did they
not know who they wanted to represent them, and
But let us see how the convention proceed
ed to business After appointing President and
Secretary, and having the names of delegates re-
corded, it WAS resolved Con motion of w. NJ. Mat
thews, Esq that in voting for candidates each
Captains District should have one votc-eacA Dis
trict rote. Is there anything wrong in that
pan-can any person object to it? No fairer mode
Of bo I'll tod no nl1 Ill,
We learn, Was to appoint committee to select the
candidates; to which, we confess, objections can
reasonably be raised, because the President of the
convention could appoint the particular friends Of
man and thus secure his nomination, while two
thirds of the delegates present were opposed to him.
But no such objection can be made to the plan of
the late convention for it was left with each dis
trict to say who they preferred-a majority of the
delegates in each district decided for whom the vote
of their district should be cast. Anything wrong
in that? If there is, we ask some to point it
out to us. To say that the friends of any partcu-
lar individual exercised undue influence in that
mode of voting is to say that the delegates of all
the other districts did not know what they were
about. and suffered themselves to be made mere
tools for others. The responsibility and intelli-
gence Of the delegates forbid any charge of that
kind.
With this explanation, take it for granted
that no gentleman can find fault with the manner
of voting adopted by the convention. Now let us
see how the vote stood. There were ten districts
represented, consequently there ten votes east
On the first ballot for Senator Davidson received
9 votes, Capt John Walker l. We will here
state that Capt. Walker refused to allow his name
to be used, and said he could not consent to be u
candidate.
The vote for two Commoners stood:
First baHot-Wallace 8, Hutchinson 3, Warning
3, Potts 2, Strong 2, Maxwell l, Davidson l.
Wallace was nominated on the first ballot, and
the ballotting continued for another.
% ba1{ot-Hutchson 4, Warning 3, Potts :,
Strong l.
DR. Strong here stated that he did not desire to have
his name before the convention
Sd JaHot-Hutchison 5, Potts 3, Waring2.
4h baHot-Hutchison 7, Potts 2, Warning L.
Hutchinson was selected on the 4th ballot, and
all the nominations were then declared unanimous
We make up this statement from the Original
minutes of the convention now In our possession
which any one can see who desires.
No one else than those above named received