American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1859-02-25
PROCEEDINGS OF THE com.
VEMTrON.

day last. The spacious cdifice was
packed TO its utmost capacity, the gal.
leries being occupied during the scs.
sions by ladies.
At Il o'clock the Convention was
called to order by L. Dcanc, ESQ.,,
OF Lynchburg, on whose motion Hon.
ALEXANDER RIvEs, of Albcmarle, was
invited to take the Chair, and RoDT.
RIpGwAY and JAMES MCDONALD, Esqs.,
Of Richmond were requested to act as
Secretaries.
Mr.. Rivce, on taking the Chair, de-
l'rered on eloquent and rousing address.
The Secretaries then commenced
calling the counties alphabetically to
ascertain which of them were repre-
sented; but the process being tedious
one, it was dispensed with and the de-
legates were requested to report them.
selves. - ..."'.
On motion Of Col. Bondurcnt, of
Buckingham, Committee of thirteen
was appointed to nominate permanent
officers. While the committee was out,
addresses were made, in response to
calls,by Mr.. Ridgway and \. j. Crane,
Esqs.
The committee returned and made
the following report, which was unani-
mously adopted: ~
For Presi0ent-WM. BALLARD Pre-
sToN, Of Montgomery. .r .. H.. -
Tice Presidents-- Richmond #. Lacy,
of New Kent Jas. G. White, of Nor
folk county; VIM. Townes, of Mecklcn-
burg; Vincent Witcher, of Pittsylva-
MIA; VIM. G. Scott, of Powhatan Jno.
A. Carter, Of Loudon; DR.. Terrell, of
Orange; Jno. Lewis, Of Rockingham;
Waller Il. Staples, of Montgomery;
B. Wysor, Of Pulaski; r. l.. Berk.
shire, of Monongala Jno. A. Hutch
eson, of Wood; Henry W. Thomas, of
Fairfax; DR.. McCorkcle, of Cabell;
and VIM. II. Macfarland, Of Richmond.
'Secretdr1cs-All the Wing editors
present.
The Chairman appointed Col. Bon
durant and Mr.. Witcher a committee
to escort the President elect to his seat.
Mr.. Preston, on taking the platform,
addressed the Convention for half an
hour, in his usually eloquent and hap
Ply strain, and was frequently inter.
rupted with loud and deafening cheers.
Mr.. Bolts excused himself from
speaking at this time.
Robt. L. Scott, Esq, was next call.
cd upon, but instead of addressing the
meeting, offered resolution, which
was adopted, requiring the President
to appoint a committee of one person
from each Senatorial District in the
State, to nominate suitable persons to
the Convention as candidates for Gov.
ernor, Lieut.. Governor and Attorney
General.
On motion, the Convention then took
recess until 4 o'clock, p. NJ.
AFTERNOON SEssIoN-.The Presiden,
announced the committee on nomina.
tons. Robert L. Scott, Of Fauquier,
was Chairman. John McCuc, Esq,
vas the member from the Augusta
Senatorial District, and C. II. Lewis.
Esq, from Rockingham.
The committee at once retired to the
basemcn: Of the church to perform the
duties assigned them.
Dr.. Wood, Of Albcmarlc, obtained
the floor, and announced that he had
been Informed that Mr.. Martin, of
Henry, had in his possession letter
from Hon. A. ii. II. Stuart, of Augusta,
which brcathed the truo Wing spirit,
and which he should like very much to
hear read.
The letter" -"read"- "read"-
was the cry all over the house.
The letter was thereupon furnished
to Mcdonald, who readit as follows:
STANTON, FEB. 0, 1859.
My DEAR SIR,-I regret very much
that circumstances over which | have
no control, Twill prevent me from attend.
ing the Convention on the 10th inst.
l was anxious to be present. desired
to witness another old fashioned "unon
of the Wings for the sake Of the Union"
Never was there more urgent reason
for such a mecting-ncver was tho
union of the States in more imminent
peril than at present--ncycr was great
CT occasion FOR the concert and CO opera
ton Of all national and conservative men
to resist the factious spirit and section
al tendencies, which are running riot
throughout the couDtry--ncver wac
there time which appealed more per.
suaslvcIy to the honest and patriotic
portion of the community, to stem the