Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-04-26
From the Tenth Legion, by request
To the Democratic Voters Of the Ninth Con.
gressionaI District.

CGUcuS OuTt6T, Ou tuo otuer, dDu tno O"ttte w Oo
fought to the bitter end. Will the unity and
harmony of the Democratic party be promoted
by such coDhct3 or rather, will not the con-
servative usages of the party be obliterated =
To avoid the present state of affairs, and looking
to the effects of free fights upon the future, ad'
dress note of warning to the Democratic party /;
and my excuse for now obtrudng myself upon
you is not to repeat what l then said, but to
leave the opponents of e Convention no excuse
for misrepresenting the facts which occurred in
1s41, respecting the canvass for Congress in that
year. in which was Appointment actor. l do not
suppose the occurrences of that day are wilfully
misrepresented; but that owing to the length of
time, they are forgotten or Inexperienced, yet
the anti.caucus party have resorted to them to
sustain their cause. A plain statement will suf-
flee to convince every unprejudiced mind that
the two contests are entirely dssimlar.
The District was then composed of the coun-
ties of Rockingham, Pendleton, Bath, Page,
Shenandoah, Hardy, and Warren, and my posi-
tion will be seen from the following extract from
an address published in the Rockingham Regis
ter about the lst of April of that year:
The result of the Convention which met at
New Market on Monday last, makes it necessary
that | should explain the position now occupy
before the people. The intention ofthe Conven'
ton was to obtain an expression of opinion from
the whole District, to reconcile the sectional
preferences, and to unite upon some suitible in
dividual likely to preserve the harmony of the
Democratic party. The object was laudable
one, and, after the enunciation of so many can
didates, met with my appreciation. 1t was for
some days past generally believed that an atten-
dance of delegates from all the counties in the
n;otr;nt nnp1A not ho ho6 hnt 90 cnnb QUpnt
was possible, delegates were appointed at my re-
quest, by a meeting in Woodstock, to attend at
New Market. The persons composing said meet.
ing saw bit to accompany the appointment with
instructions, that unless there was general at
tendance, they should not consent to acquiesce
in nomination by the Convention. The meet
ing was organized, and committee appointed to
consider and report upon the propriety of resolv-
ing into Convention, against which majority
of the Shenandoah delegation and perhaps sever
al delegates from Rockingh ham, demonstrated, up
on the ground that but three out of the seven
counties in the District were represented. The
committee reported in favor of the Convention,
it was confirmed by majority of the meeting,
and thereupon the Shenandoah delegation, ex-
cept those from the New Market precinct, with.
drew, leaving in the Convention delegates from
two entire counties only, buckingham and Page)
and small portion of Shenandoah.
A portion of the proceedings Of the New Mar
ket Convention, and of meeting in Page, are
also given:
The committee reported the following resolu-
ton: Resolued, AS the sense of this Committee,
that it is expedient at this time to 60 into
Convention.
Whereupon, Mr. John Sibert arose and an
nounced the withdrawal of that portion OF the
delegation of Shenandoah which was appointed
at a meeting held in Woodstock, in accordance
with the following resolution, adopted by the
meeting which appointed them:
"Hssolved, That the said delegates be instruct
ed not to vote 10 favor of the nomination of any
individual, unless this Congressional District be
fully represented in said Convention"
Whereas, Convention was held s. New Mar
lket, for the purpose OF nominating candidate tc
represent this Congressional District, in the next
Congress of the United States,-And whereas
in that Convention, only two counties, and parl
of another, of the seven composing this Oon
| gressional District, were represented
Therefore, 1st, Resol0ed, That we disapprove
the conduct of our delegates, in consenting, un'
der the circumstances to go into Convention.
end. Rese1ped, That we do not approve OF the
proceedings Of that Convention and that in oul
opinion, they are not approved by this portion
OF the District.
Srd. ResOguea, That in the opinion of this
meeting, the decision of that Convention, ought
not to be binding on any of the candidates hereto
| fore announced.
l have been thus particular, because of the
fact that what occurred after that Convention
is now plead in justification, and in comdemna
ton of my position now.
| 10 N . Mr. uorrie1 lata ad0rpas
which calls for an answer from me, because o.
the prominent part took in the Shenandoah
county meeting He says:
i In the latter county Convention meeting hat
been called for the January Court, but none wa:
held. At the February Court DR.. Newman anc
myself addressed the people at Woodstock. I'm.
medatey after took my seat, Capt. Williams
rose and made warm appeal in favor of Q
! Convention. A motion was then made to cal
a gentleman to the Chair to organize meeting
which motion was submitted to the people anc
voted down. The mover then appealed to the
people as matter Of courtesy, to permit the es
teemed and venerable gentleman TO take the
CHAIR, and that they could afterwards, If they
wished, vote down a Convention. Again he
moved that the gentleman before referred TO-
take the Chair, which carried without objection
After q discussion on the resolutions they were
submitted, and by very close vote decided tc
have been carried. The mover in tho meeting
expressly stated that the action OF that meeting
was not intended to bind the Districts. Ihere
upon four District meetings. Mt. jackson, Edln
burg, New Market, and Forestvlle, declared a.
gainst Convention.
1t seems to me that Mr.. Harris should have
ascertained the reason why the meeting called
for January Court was not held, and not left the
inference that the people were opposed to Con
! vention. The facts were, that the sudden death
of Judge Samues cast gloom over our whole
| community, and the Court and Bar adopted res
| olutions suitable to the occasion, and the two
proceedings would not have been reconcilable
with each other MIR. Harris asserts that the
proposition to appoint Chairman for that meet
ing was voted down; in this we differ, and
am sustained by many persons who had fair
opportunity to judge. In regard to the adop'
ton of the resolutions, he is entirely mistaken
when he says they s0ere 6y close 0ote dec'aed
to bs Carried. | assert, without the fear OF sue
cessful contradiction, that the noes against the
resolution approving Convention did not num-
ber ten, and that the majority in favor was very
large instead of being very close. He is in err
ror again, when be says that four district meet
;nqs0Mt jackson, Edinburg New Market, and
Forestyille- declared against Convention
Thew were Precinct, aud not District meetings
There are six Districts and twelve Precincts in
the county, and take the most favorable view
for Mr.. Harris, and one District and one Precinct
in each of two other Districts opposed Conven-
tion-leaving three entire Districts and one Pre-.
cnct in each of two other Districts, or 8 of II
Precincts who acquiesced in the expression of o.
pinion by the county meeting.
But there is another fact which settles the
l fact nnnolnsipelv. The meeting, which was un.