Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-12
THE STATE CONVENTION.

THE STATE CONVENTION,
RICHMOND, Feb. 10, iSj?.-The delegates
to the Opposition Convention, representing
every portion of the Commonwealth Of Vir-
ginia, assembled, in great numbers, to-day,
in the African Church. at II o'clock, VI.
The Convention was called to order by
Francis b. Dcanc, esq, of lynchburs. on
whose motion. Hon. ALEXANDER RIvE> was
appointed temporary Chairman.
Mr.. Rives returned his thanks to tho Con-
vcntion for the unexpected honor conferred
upon him, and proceeded to deliver an ad-
dress, in which he cloquently reviewed and
exposed the shortcomings of the Democratic
party. In the outset of his remarks, he said,
that it would be unnecessary to employ the
phrases common upon such occasions, as he
had been called upon to preside over those
whose instructive and distinctive character
istic was the observance of order and dccurum.
Upon short notice he had been called on
to preside over an assemblagc which had
rarely been surpassed i'll numbers or charac-
ter. Its presence here, under the circum-
stances, afforded most hopeful augury for
the best interests of the State. We had not
been brought together by the lust for place.
or by the geam of the gittcring spoils which
we may not clutch. We are here as the
vanqushed. but true it is that though we
have been defeated upon many hard fought
field, our honor has not been furnished. We
re-appear in the lists eager for the fray"
ready and willing to follow where duty calls
us, and determined to assert and maintain the
principles which we avow.
On motion of Mr.. Deane, Messrs. Robt.
Ridgway and Jas. Mcdonald, of the Rich
mond Wing, were appointed temporary Sec
retaries.
COL Thos NJ. Bondurant. of Buckingham,
moved the appointment of committee of
thirteen, to nominate permanent officers OF
the Convention. Carried.
The Chairman appointed the following
Committee, who forthwith retired:
Col. T. NJ. Bondurant, of Buckingham !;
Col ID. Barrett, of Montgomery; Il. f. Scott,
of Fauquier; p. II. Daughtry, of Norfolk :;
David Chalmers. of Halifax Jacob b. Blair,
of Wood: John VI. McCue, of Augusta; Col.
Jas. L. Ransom, of jefferson ii. X. Ellyson,
of Richmond: W. b. Caldwell. of Green
brier; VIM. Price, of MononSalia; Richard
Baylor, of Essex and Dr. q. Mcdonnell. of
Allegheny
Loud calls were then made successfully for
Bolts, Gilmer, Crane, Tazewell, Preston,
Ridgway, and others.
When the calls for Mr.. Bolts were the loud
est, a delegate arose and advised the Conven-
ton to wait until everybody had come. Eve
rvbodv, he said. wants to hear Mr.. Bolts.
Mr.. Ridgway, i'll response to the repeated
calls, arose and addressed the meeting. He
said that he hardly knew 10y what right he
appeared in the Convention at all. or even
upon this earth. Great laughter and ap-
plausr.) According to high Democratic nu.
thority, this world was not his home. Re-
newcd mrrrimrnt.l In common with all
other members Of the Convention he belong
ed to another sphere-to the realms ot the
gha>tly dead lie stood before them II, Il
ghost '--us an erring spirit from the land of
dreamS--and, therefore, had not the faculty
of speech. (Applausc.) But, all Of us had
the faculty of loeomotion. as will be demon
stratcd by our unremitting pursuit OF honest
John Lctcher, in the ensuing campaign. MIR.
II. reioiced that there Was no law in Virginia
for the apprehension of the fugitive dead, for
Judging from the scene before him. his neigh
Dor, the TO, ernor. ii he had the power. would
call out the army and navy Of Virginia. in
GLIDING the .tccomac militia and the oyster
fundum squadron. and have us all arrested.
Laughter and cheers Dir, Il. closed his
remarks with an appeal to the Hhlgs to rally
around their old banner. and with the srlec-
ton of proper men as our standard bearers,
we will not only run Mr.. I.etcher to the neck
but may triumph gloriously in the coming
election,
At the conclusion Of Mr., Ridgway's re-
marks. Mr.. \. j. Crane, Of Richmond, in
response to repeated calls came forward,
and addressed the Convention for half an
hour,
When he closnd, Gol. Rondurant, from the
committee appointed to nominate permanent
officers. presented the following report, which
was unanimously adopted:
WV. BALLARD Preston, Montgomery,
VICE PRESIDENTS
Richmond ]. Lacy. New Kent,
James C.. White. Norfolk County.
VIM Townes, Mecklenburg.
Vincent Witcher, Pittsylvania.
Vim. c. Scott Powhatan.
John 4. Garter, Ioudoun.
I,r. Terrell, Orange.
John Lewis Rockingham.
Walter i. Staples, Montgomery.
B.F. Wysor, Pulaski,
a. l.. Berkshire. Monongali".
John 4. Hutchinson. Wood
Henry W. Thomas. Fairfax.
Dr. McCorkle. Cabell.
Vim. II. Macfarland, Richmond.
SECRETARIES.
B. Rilgway and J. Mcdonald, Richmond
j B. Bingham. Wheeling.