Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-11
sTAUNToN AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA. DECEMBER H. 1858

Mr. Tim Rives, of Prince George, being
loudly called for, appeared on the platform
He commenced by abiding to the success
Of the country under the DemocracY-the
necessity of their preserving that rule, and
the necessity Of having candidates for Office
who were spotless and unobjectionable.
AFTERNOON SESSION
| After a few closing remarks from Mr
Rives, which were loudly applauded-
Mr. Pryor rose to reply. He spoke of
the political position Of Mr. Rives. be being
famous for opposing prominent Democratic
gentlemen. He lad opposed Gov. Wise in
1855.
Mr. Pryor quoted from the Richmond En-
quirer Of June, 1858, an article disclaim-
ing on the part Of that paper any doubt of
Mr. Leteher's faaslity to The South
If, the speaker said, we were to sacrifice
every man in the party who had had doubts
on the economical value Of slavery, we would
not have enough left to save Sodom. jeff
erson, Thomas Mason, and even the great
George Washington, had declared slavery
to be a political evil, and shall we puny
creatures of more modern days sacrifice men
for having once entertained opinions which
had found place in their minds. By nomi-
mating John Letcher we are not endorsing
his former opinions. Let resolutions be in
troduced here on the subject of slavery
which will satisfy the strictest- them be
adopted, and | pledge that Mr.. Letcher will
either endorse them or reject the nomina-
ton.
4 Voice, Will you introduce them?
Mr. Pryor. help me God,I will. Mr..
P. alluded to the nomination Of Gov Wise,
who had differed from the party, and he
made bold to say that the nominee in that
case proved himself worthy of the nomina-
ton. Why, then, should the Convention
refuse to extend to Mr. Letcher the conf
dence which had been extended to 9th ers F?
He would have it known that in a con-
vention of the Democracy, it sshad been ur-
ged against Mr. Letcher that he was too yea
lous for the interests of the western part of
the State. He would ask western members
if they dared return to their constituents
and give that as reason for opposing Mr..
Letcher
Loud cries of No! mol
Mr. Pryor stopped speaking, very much
exhausted, and the Convention adjourned
to meet at y o'clock, Mr. P retaining the
floor to finish his remarks.
NIGHT SESSION.
At the appointed hour the Convention
re-assembled
A member from Augusta moved the pre-
vious question He said he, and others,
thought enough speaking had been done.
Another member moved that, BY general
consent, balloting commence at 10 o'clock.
Mr. Stovall said he was friend of Mr.
Letcher but if the previous question was
called, he would vote against his nomina-
ton.
The motion for the previous question was
withdrawn, and it was understood that the
to commence balloting at 10
o'clock was accepted unanimously.
The Chair took occasion to announce that
Mr. Pryor had not appeared, in consequence
Of being too unwell to continue his remarks.
Mr. Treadway, of Pittsylvania, rose, and
said he wac not sent as delegare, either to
a Letcher or anti Letcher Convention, but
to Democratic Convention; and he was
sorry to find himself in the wrong box.
The Chair read the following notice
''The delegates to this Convention OPP
posed to the nomination of John Letcher,
are requested to meet at No. 20, Boiling
broke Hotel, tonight, Immediately after
Gen. Cabell, Of Pittsylvania, the col
league Of Mr. Tredway, entirely dissented
from the views Of that gentleman.
Mr. Newman of Kanawha, opposed the
nomination of Mr.. fletcher.
Mr. Flournoy Of Prince Edward, moved
to proceed with the nominations.
Mr. 0. J. Wise said if he was not per-
mitted to state his protest against the nom-
nation of MFR Letcher, and his reason for
it, before the nomination was gone into, he
would leave TIE Convention.
Cries Of ''go," ego"
Here a hot discussion on the fact Of the
for the balloting at 10 o'clock be-
ing adopted took place, inasmuch as it
would cut the speaker off, if in force.
The Chair, however, declined to put the
rule in force, and Mr. Wise obtained the
floor.
He said he would not deta;n them long.
He would first proceed to perform what he
always considered his first duty-meeting
every assault, intentional or unintentional,
against Henry A. Wise. A speaker, though
without unkindness, had referred to some
of Gov. Wise's political errors having been
pardoned. He had never asked pardon
from any political party, Wing or Demo- |
crat, for political error. He had never
gone, as Mr. Letcher, if nominated, would
have to do, and, with head bowed, cry out,
''pecaui pecavi; have sinned, and ask to
be forgiven" He had no recantations to
make, no matter what the consequences. -
Mr. Wise then went on to defend Gov W.
from the charge Of political errors, and at
tackled Mr. Letcher on the Ruffner pam
phlet, and his subsequent course in Con-
gress, which did not show very strong
Southern feeling. He would say however,
that he did not believe Mr. L. was unsound
on the question Of slavery now, but his
course in Congress was dictated by selfish
motives. He then charged Mr. l.. with
having been affiliated with the Know Moth
ing party, and having written a letter to
Gov. Smith in 1858, urging him to become
an independent candidate for Governor.
Gen, Stands said he had heard this ra-
M ar IN; ,,r;vo4a and had. 0ivay,e thu o,rc.