Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-07
For Convention,
against Convention;
Majority for Convention,

Majority for Convention. 51gel
), Here; then; we find majority of s156
Democrats for d Convention. But suppose
that All mistaken il thinkihg that one. half
Of Shenandoah was in favor, and that, in
fact, only one-third of the Democrats Of that
county favored Convention; even after
correcting this mistafe, there would still
be majority Of 1913 Democrats III Tie
District for a Convection. Thus you per-
ccive THAT upon the most liberal estimates
against a Convention, there was very
decided majority Of Democratic votes in ia
vor of one. and that Mr.. Harris calculations
to the contrary are utterly upset UPON Che
Slightest scrutiny.
But it has been urged thai The Convention
was gotten up for the purpose Of Killing
OFF, Mr.. Harris and it has thus been sou.g ht
to awaken interest in his behalf. What
are the facts? In the same issue Of the
Valley Democrat in which Mr.. Harris
was first announced, the editor, who is a
friend and supporter of Mr.. Harris, after sta
ting that there we're three candidates in the
field, asks, "Wbo is it that is clamoring so
much for Convention Are they men
who have the interest of the Democratic
party at heart" &C., showing conclusively
that there was clamor, and much clamor for
"a Convention before Mr.. Harris was an
nourced. But Mr.. Harris himself tells
you that 5efof5 he became caha'diidase "a
Contention meeting had bsea called in
Shenandoah for tie January Court, but
none YES held" Mr.. Williams fdfo5rms
you that in Judge Samuels death, and the
proceedings cofseqtent thereon, are TO be
found the reason why that meeting was not
held. In Kockbridge, too. there had been
a call for Convention meeting before Mr.
HaFtis Became candidate and the reason
#hy the meeting was not then held in that
county, was, that though the Democracy
were in favor of Convention, they pre-
ferred waiting till they could gather more
Of the general sentiment Of the District,
Before they acted. Thus it seeinss tEEiaat t1here
was r6soaly mitch clainor for Convention,
bit that Convention meetings. Had been call
Cd il, two counties, containing more than
one Third Of the Democratic vote of the Dis
taict, before Mr.. Harris was announced
and that it was for good and sufficient rea-
sons that said meetings were not held at the
time-reasons which did not contemplate
an abandonment of purpose, and which
we're III nto' way ccnhecsed with Mr. Harris
prospects,. !. ,,
eat NOR" 5han this 81 Il; Harris Il s shin
self claimed that Of the 1870 delegates APP
pointed by the Rockingham Convention
meeting, only some 50 or 60 attended, and
that the rest, namely some 100, remained
at home, "and were doing Yeoman's service
for him" 1t thus appears that t,oo-tAirds
Of the Rockingham Delegation appointed to
the CONVENTION were friends of Mr.. Harris,
and it will scarcely be contended that the
other Candidates in the field were not enti-
tled tofthe Remaining one third Of the vote Of
that county. II Shenandoah, under the
resolution favoringa Convention, every Dem
ocrat in the county who chose to attend, was
authorized to sit as a,dslegate, So that there
was no difficulty in the way Of a,fasif repre-
sentation for Mr.. Harris from that county.
In the other counties Of the District his
chances among the delegations were the
same as those Of the other candidates. But
the fact is that SO far as Mr.. Harris is con-
cefned the Convention was .'more sinned
against: thar SHINING" He used every
means ii his power to prevent the holding
If one. He rode against it, wrote against
it, spike against il, and finally, when the
Question: was pnt ii TIRE Rockingham county
meeting Of Convention or no Contention, )"
he did not confne himself to the single vote
to which he was entitled, but voted in rap
id succession four Of Eve times, ''No no |!
no! nc no p
I have thus stated how 1 came Before the
people, and that at no time did I exert
myself to bring about or prevent a Conven-
ton. l have shown. that the, Con zentfbn
was held in conformity with the tims hon.
ored usage Of the Democratic party, that it
was desired by large majority Of the par
~ in the District, that it cannot be copsid-
cred to have been gotten up to 'kiil off !"
Mr.. Harris, and that in fine the grounds
upon which lie rests himself in opposition
to It are utterly unfounded I leave it to
disoriimaihating public in view both Of our
positions and qualifications, to say which of
us shall'repfescnt them in the next Congress
Of the United States III. haste.
Respectfully your Fellow citizen,
JAMES II. SKINNER.
EB Papers of the district please copy.
R We are requested by Mr.. Harris to
r.. l. - H. r. II I,,c& +bo n;wo,,,k Ho,,r4