Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-12-11
From he Richmond Daily Dispatch.
THE VIRGINIA
STATE DEMOCRATIC co INVENTION.

l
THE VIRGINIA
| STATE DEMOCRATIC co INVENTION.
| PETERSBURG, Dec. 2, 1858.
The hotels here were filed last night, an
the trains arrived this morning, brough
strangers, who literally had no where TO Ia
their heads. Until o'clock, night travel
lers have been seen walking through street
carpet bags in hand, and making frultles
applications at the hotels. The mornln!
was chilly and aisagreeable, and the situa
ton was BY no tneaus pleasant one Du
ring the day, however, the wanderers, ..
unceasing efforts, procured lodgings, IRON
private hospitality, or were crammed IN q
some of the principal houses.
I A caucus Of Letcher men was held at tn
Bollingbrook- their headquarters-last night
and the majority rule decided upon
Among the arrivals here are O. Jenning
Wise, Roger A. Pryor, Hon. VIM. 0
Goode, Hon. JOHN S. Caskie, and mum
Der prominent in politics. There are a
least 1000 delegates present.
Before IL o'clock, a gentleman nomina
ted Hon. John S. Caskie for Chairman
which was negatived with a loud sNo."
Loud cries Of ssnot IL o'clock YETI
''The clock isn't right."] A glance at thu
clock showed that it wanted minute or two
and silence ensued.
Another gentleman rose and crfd, AT
tention, Democracy! it is now ] , lock. )"
A Toice-"Not by a mir a. v.oue
cheers. p,
John Seldom, of Stafford, arose, anu-nr,,'
we'd that COL A. G. Butts, Of Petersburg
be the choice of the meeting for temporary
chairman. This was cried down.
A gentleman nominated, as a compro.
mise man, Col. Braxton Davenport fol
temporary chairman.
Loud cries of ''No," drowned this nomi
nation.
Mr.. Seldom again nominated COL Butts,
of Petersburg. The nom ination was this
time accepted, and Gen. Butts mounted the
platform amid great cheering
Gen. Butts, (who is President Of the
Petersburg Democratic Association, } in a
short address, thanked the meeting, and
said, he thought the compliment was inten-
ded for the little city Of Petersburg, and
not himself. He thanked them for their
kindness, and rendered the hospitality Of
the "Cockade" city.
Col. Hubbard. of Buckingham. moved
to appoint committee Of one member from
each Congressional district, to select Off
GERS. [The speaker was interrupted BY
cries, but claimed the floor, and proceeded
to speak Of his long standing Democracy
and attachment to the party.
| Mr.. Chastain White-M Chairman
loud cries of "question, and ''White."
COL Scott of Petersburg, said the ap-
pointment of Secretary came next
Mr.. White proceeded to describe the
method of organization, and moved that
w. r. Richie. 0. Jennings Wise, r. A.
Pryor and all the Democratic Editors
throughout the State, be appointed secreta-
ries Of the convention.
A member took occasion to announce
that John Letcher was the choice of the
people. In reply to an interruption, he
said 'All persons who said John Letchel
was the nominee Of corrupt persons, were
| liars"
A member stated he had canyassed The
Pan Handle, and found Letcher was The
favorite.
! IA Toice-Boo-o o-oo.l
The motion to make the Democratic Ed
itors Of the State temporary Secretaries o.
the convention was then adopted with loud
cheers, and the appearance Of the Editors
! was applauded.
A suggestion was niadc that the counties
be called alphabetically, and a motion K
this effect was unanimously adopted.
In. calling Marshall county, it was stated
that at county meeting, Roger A Pryor
aad been appointed alternate, and that at sub
seouent precinct meetings, Messrs. Ritchie,
Wise and Lyons, had been appointed alter
mates. A gentleman rose and further stat
ed that Wallace D. Newman, of Madison
had been appointed one Of the alternates fol
Marshall county. The question was no
discussed but referred to the committee or
credentials.
After the reading of the list, motion tt
appoint two members from each COMPRESSION
al district as committee on permanent or
Iganization, was made. Amotion to appoint
one from each district was maue and adopted
instead of the first.
The Chairman announced his inability tt
appoint the committee at once.
A motion was made to adjourn immedi.
ately. A food of adjournment motions
were made having different hours.
A motion was made for a short recess.
Mr.. White moved that the delegations
appoint the members of the committee.
Cries of emo mop
4 Voice-s'The dinner hour in Peters
burg is o'clock, and know you all want
to eat as we'll as vote.
Another Toice-''We came here to vote,
not to eat. Let us vote first"
Mr.. White moved that recess of 20 min.
utes be taken.
The Chair-If the convention will permit
the chair to retire fifteen minutes he thinks
he can appoint the committee.
A motion, carrying out the suggestion,
was adopted, and the chair vacated.
Gen. Banks, Of Madison, occupied the
chair during the temporary absence of Gen.
Butts.
The Secretaries, in response to motion
Of enquiry, stated that there was unquestion-
ably large majority ofthe Democratic vote
cast at the last Presidential election, repre-
scented in the Convention.
The Chairman returned at 2 o'clock, and