Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-05
THE WING AND AMERICAN CoNvEN.
TION IN ALEXANDRIA

purpose Of nominating Congressional candidate
for the May election, re-assembled at o'clock p.
m, yesterday the President Hon H. w. Thorn
as, in the chair
Mr. Massey, Of Alexandria county, stated that
he had been authorized to withdraw from the
convention the name of gentleman who had
been prominently mentioned in connection with
the nomination He alluded TO Edward c. Mar
shall, Esq who had desired him to state that bust
ness Interests would preclude the propriety Of his
nking SO active d part in the approaching canvass
as the exigencies of the would require should
he be selected as a candidate. The speaker offered
the following resolution, which was unanimously
adopted
Resolved, That a committee of two delegates
from each county be appointed by the chair to
present for the consideration of this Convention
for its nomination, the name of some gentleman
whom they consider the best candidate to secure
the votes of this District.
The chair appointed in accordance with the
resolution, Messrs. w. ID. Massey and W. b.
Taylor, OF Alexandria county; w. ii. Dulany and
Daniel w. Lewis, of Fairfax county; J. Walden
and r.. Scruggs, of Fauquier county; NJ. b.
Sinclair and Allen Howison of Prince William
county; James +. Strother, Of Cupeper county;
Gibson, of Rappahannock county; \. w Ford, of
Stafford county; j. p. Brown and A. \ Little. Of
Spottsylvana county.
The committee. after retiring to an adjoining
room Tor few moments returned. and through
their chairman Mr.. Massey. of Alexandria county.
reported that the committee had unanimously
agreed upon the name of Mai. Henry w. Thomas,
of Fairfax county. whom they presented to the
Convention i lit and proper candidate to bear
the standard of the Whig and American voters of
this District, in the cunning campaign. TThis an
nounceinent was received with vociferous and
long continued cheers from all parts of the Hall
Mr.. Thomas left the chair, which was imm, di-
ately occupied by l.. Il. TAYLOR. of Alexandria
county. After the tunult consequent upon the
announcement Of the committee had somewhat
abated, Mr. Thomas addressed the meeting
lie said that he had heard the announcement
which had placed his name before the Convention
as their candidate with considerable embarrass-
nent All present knew how great had ALWAYS
been his anxiety. at all times manifested, to see
this Congressional district, which had been cut
out and curtlied by the Democratic party for the
express purpose of smothering the voices Of the
people, so changed as to give fair majority Of
them voice in the affairs Of the State and the
country. There were gentlemen, whom the Con
vention might have chosen TO represent them in
the coming struggle, who Were much more capa-
BILE aud worthy of producing this result than the
humble individual now addressing thein but
while he had declined to many friends personally
to accept this charge should it be rendered to him.
yet, When the united voice of the committee had
resolved to bring his name before them and when
the announcement had been well received by
the assembled Convention, duty to himself. TO his
principles, his country, and the Constitution,
CURED that he should make the effort (Cheers)
II was unnecessary for him to 20 into u detail
here of those principles which he had ALWAYS and
On all occasions held to be the true basis on which
q
this great Confederacy. He should 20 into the
field upholding the banner of the American svs-
TEN, and he now challenged the Americans Of the
district 10 its support. In saying thus much, the
speaker did not desire to he understood inter
pTcted too strictly in a political sense for he held
that there could be no true Whig who was not
true American, and no true American who was
not true Wing. ICheers. lie should invite the
support OF his owu party, and at the Same time
Should hold himself equally entitled to the votes
OF the party now in power. He should challenge
those of the other side before the tribunal of the
people, TO come forward and show who had been
most careful of the interests of this great Con-
federacy. lie should ask them TO examine into
bis public record and determine for themselves
whether his political course had not at all times
been such DIS they could approve Of.
He desired, of all things, to see the coming can
vass conducted fairly and courteously on both
sides as far as he was concerned it should be so
conducted, and he should expect the same treat
ent from the other side. Ii, the contrary, the
contest should be conducted other grounds
than these, he should be prepared to meet the en-
envy halfway. If he should lie elected he should
endeavor to discharge the duties faithfully; and
in that event. he hoped he should not forfeit the
confidence which had been reposed in him. Ii
defeat should follow il was of no moment to the
heart which was moved and elevated by high and
true principles.
Mr.. Zimmerman of Alexandria county, moved
that the Convention ratify the nomination. by
rising. This WAS done; and, all standing. gave
three hearty cheers for Major II w. Thonls, of
Fairfax county.
Col. Strother. of Culpeper, was then called to
the stand. and addressed the Convention briefly.
pedging himself heartily TO support the nomna-
ton. lie thought this Il propitious time for the
WING party Ia present 4 candidate to the people
of this District. There had never before been a
time when the evils of mismanagemcnt, the ills Of
party strife, and all the bitter waters of contention
and unSound legislation had more emphatically
called for the Intervention of conservative power
than now. The Wing party had always been
united in ono sentiment and that was that their
Na--f Il
he h9d entire confidence in. That he could be
FL .cted, the speaker had no doubt He felt conf
dence in the virtue and intelligence of the people.
He did not desire ~ say anything unkind about
the present incumbent, Gov. Sinith.) IN his ab-
sence, but he believed he could say that gentle
man did not represent the Democratic purity Of
this District, according TO their views and their
principles. He believed that such was the dis
satisfaction felt by leading Democratic men with
respect TO Mr.. Smiths political course. that
they would not rally tn his support. Col. Strothcr
renewed his PROMISE to labor zealousy to accom-
plish the election of Mai. Thomas, and retired
Loud cries for Mr. Delaney, of Fairfax county
brought that gentleman to the stand. He would
make a speech with great pleasure if he thought
there was amy necessity for it. AS a member of
the committee, he would state that the nomina-
ton had been made without a single dissenting
voice. That fact of itself insured success to the
party: He had no more doubt that Mr.. Thomas
w Duld represent this district in the next Congress
than that he stood before this Convention In
fact the speaker knew Thomas would be elected
unless the Wings and Americans had grown won
derfully recreant (Which they were not apt to be-
He bound Ia be elected he had all the ele-
ens Of success in him; and also, all the elements
Of those good principles of which lac the portly
Loud laughter and cheers Mr..
Thomas need not feel at all embarrassed with re-
spect to the result IF the electiou-thc Democratic
party might not think il exactly right or honest
Tor tue Wings to slip in candidate between
their two Champions, (Smith and Shackleford.)
but he begged to differ with them; he Thought il
was perfectly honest aud Legitimate to do so, par
tculariy as il was the oniv chance they had If
Thomas should be elected the Speaker believed
he would represent upwards of IL, OO0 people of
the state of Virginia. who had been without any
representative for the last six years. Loud cries
Of that's SOL
There was somehow falling ont I'm the Demo
cratic ranks in this District. and all over the
country; that party didn't know exactly where
they stood. He had read recently in Northern
paper, that if Buchanan went on advocating the
measures of the Wing party, he would soon be
opposed to the Administration. Laughter The
present incumbent in Congress from this District
is free-trade man; his opponent, (Shackleford
is an advalorem duty man; and Buchanan is a
specific duty man. He goes even further than he,
(the speaker) would go; he goes for the Pacific
Railroad. The speaker thought that now was the
propitious moment; and he felt in strong hopes
that half of the Democrats would vote for Smith
the other half for Shac klefOrd, and that as his