The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-13
THE WING PARTY IN VIRGINIA.
The Cuba and Presidential Questions Before
the State Conventions Opposition to the
Acquisition Of the Gem Of the Antilles.
Virginia Wing State Convention.
OUR RICHMOND CORRESPONDENCE.

RIsH MOND, FeO No. 1905.
The Virginia Wing State Convention assembled in the
African church in this City day There about one
thousand delegates present among whom some men
Of distinction and talent At twelve O'Clock the Conven
ton was called to order BY Francis B Deane, ESQ., of
Lynchburg who moved that the Hon. Alexander Rves,
of Albemarle, be appointed temporary Chairman The
motion agreed to-whereupon
Mr. RIvFs assembled the platform and said:-We,
gentlemen, do not come here with a base or mad
dcnng lust for places we are not attracted hlther
by the glow Of the gttering spos, which the voice
Of the past admonishes us may not clutch no
assurances of majorities in behalf emboden us to
follow suit vulgar scramble for the Offices Of the State
(Applause We, gentlemen, here as the vanqushed
True it is that in many hard fought field i has never
yet happened that honor has been furnished or our
positions compromised (Applause) We appear here
day in the lists, "esger for the Fray where duty and
struck (applause) but ready hang out glorious ban
ner which and disoouragements tempta
lions have led us to desert. (Appause) We are
minoriiy-a minority prescribed by sort of oriental
excusvenoss that have been made TO appear in the
eyes of others the very outcasts OF the State But in
spite OF all OF these dscouragements we ready again
at the summons Of our party and co lnty, minority
though we be- TO appear in our place and 10 assert and
maintain the principles which we avow. (Applause.)
May not then gentlemen, challenge for YOU from
partial and discriminating public the merit Of being actuaed
IN this step by honest and simple convictions of public
duty undsmayed by the exgences Of our peculiar cond
ton? But may be asked, what these convictions of
duty that thus summon from homes through the
of opinion which constitute Us the vote and the influence
OF one man, with the power of this serred pha
anxS May ] not undertake in my poor way, to be
come the interpreter in your behalf OF these senii
mentss l would enumerae as among these convic.
tons the thorough and intimate persuasion part
that from the commencement OF that useless agitation of
the slavery question down 10 the present day the history
of democratic agency has been but tissue of plumbers
and errors (Appause You cannot have forgotten tina.
this exciting theme had been for party pur
poses many years ago. the two conflicting parties of
The country were agreed upon platform that henceforh
al at a cnh Vln npapa
repeated in the inaugural of Pierce; but he
scarcely warm in his seat when politicians and public
looking out for the promotion of their individual and
party schemes, opened this sensitive subject to public
discussion and that discussion issued in the Kansas Ne
braska bill. At that tme gentlemen, the bold warriors
in behalf who could be frowned down by perse
oution discouraged by adversely took the ground that
fatal blow TO the best interests of the South What
experience provedy Srs, those who have been the
martyrs for these principles exalted by their
lnies for the correctness of their views (Applause)
Without charging upon this subject may not assume
this. do not mpeach the loyalty fidelity to Southern
interests of democratic politicians from the South but
do most emphaticaly and distinctly impeach their wis
originated and pressed upon the adoption of the country
resulted in the virtual overthrow of Southern interests
applause Gentlemen tell me how does the Kansas
Nebraska act stand by the confession of its advo
catess The embodiment Of that odous doctrine of '.squat
ter sovereignty and of that still more odous heresy OF
mon intervention and If the Interpretation put upon this
by its author Douglas to accepted have the poor
privilege Of carrying our property into the Territories
be liberated by legislative body representing the
squaers who may have settled in the Territories. say
that in humble belief allies of the aboltonsts have
more build party than the bunders and errors
Of the democrats themselves. (Applause) But permit
to congratulate you that the day of retbuton has
rived and the injuries have upon their heads,
Tor understand from authentic that the demo-
cratic party has been exploded (Applause) Yes, gen
temen and not only exploded and dispersed but out of
the smoke Of that explosion not the nation appalled, by
the shadowy outlines of black republican party bulk
huge as whom the tabled name of monstrous ita
man. or GARTH long that warred on Jove (Applause)
there be party more responsible than another for
the success Of this republican party, charge 1t home
upon the leaders of the democratic party. (Appause.)
But gentlemen, when the crisis OF the battle has come
upon us-when the stoutest heart begins quail for the
integrity CT the Unonhey descend from the arena of
federal politics and come to our beloved State And who
IS they have chosen TO marshal the democracy the
battle OF Southern rights? Is he that you
cept the exclusive guardian of Southern rights and
Southern nterest He the gentleman who has endorsed
the doctrine of dividing the State and abolonzng the
western portion OF it, and who came, three four years
afterwards, INTO the Constitutional Convention this
State and tainted eastern men with their oiogy'
and negro ocracy." Applause and laughter.) We
told that the fat OF party has gone forth that this stand
ard bearer (aludiDg TO Letcher is to become the Gov
erDor OF this state 1t may be so; but gentlemen, let
be true TO ourselves and il he is elected let not be
without manly rernonstrance against injustice and
honest appeal to the people of this Sta.e
from mountain to valley, and from the west
to the east !Applausel Let defeat come after
Let the battle end as II may If we do duty have
nothing to fear from this defeat (Appiause Ipass on
motives to before the people and challenge their
camer consideration Is il not pride when point to
the history OF our country to show the truth of prn
cps But the other day the country almost on the
eve of bankruptcy. Productive interests were dis
tur bed by excessive mportatons stimulated by free trade
And bow has the President proposed to remedy III What
does he dof he comes back to our own principles and
recommends tariff with incidental protection specific
duties would ask for no other weapon TO NEE, the de-
mocracy than that furnished in the President
But gentlemen, able President has, former years
been wonderfully shocked with the extravaganza
government which he then deemed sufficient cause for
a change in the administration He could not stomach
such an expense as fifty millions, and ventured predc
ton that few years would make II one hundred millions
He verhes bis prediction and the report Of the Sc
creay of the Treasury shows that the present expenses
cannot be under eighty millions. (Appause) Aud yet
gentlemen, with these things staring in the face what
is the proposition we made in Congressi leading
democratic politicians are extremely astute in party tao
tics and we find them orginzing com ntees az
rerenchment and reform TO bring down the expenditures
They wish 10 take the lead and but the article Of the
thief who cries "stop thief to escape detection ZAP
piause and iaughter) Gentlemen, have not another
incentive TO action in this contest the acknowledgment
that has been made ia high democratic quarters tina, sour
government is the most corrupt under the suns' be-
lieve that rank corruption testers every depart.
ment OF our federal government (Applonse
Let us, then, gentlemen, begin to apply the
correcuves SO far as may be IN power and LET US
tell those gentlemen who would begin the work of re-
enchment by organizing committees the subject they
had better begin like charity at home and rrcncb Their
liked salaries VI SO 900 year. (AppauseD One word
more, gentlemen depend upon that the great charac
ierisc OF modern democracy is its monarcbca lonong
It's decided love of the power Why. gentlemen
what s the beau IDEAL of democratic Administrations
Presicent Of iron rule, and subserveni Congress
~,
you TO the proposition now pending before Cougrcss
In my retirement, gentlemen, when tina. an effort
was made in Congress TO give to the President almost
limited powers began TO fear lest the fires of liberty
had been smotered by the corruptons of the day But
find in this meeting proof that that So and that
still advocates to be found resist the granting OF
this power proposition made TO abandon the war
making power and give TO the President that he may
employ the army and navy IN any project And again.
II that was not enough, TO take from empty and beg
CARED treasury $50 000 TO be appropriated a, the ex
pense Oh ,ae people IN order to enable the President
carry out the brilliant doctrines Of the Osend manifesto
(Appmuse Is there man here In whose bosom the fire
oi noery burns that Is not willing struggle in vain and
without hope for the comfort of believing that he does his
au.y N resisting this encroachmentS applause Gen.
eien, the Theme Is fruitful one. cannot recount all
the sins or the democratic party in a brief adj.
dress such as should limit myself to- Permit
me now 70 call upon You TO go vigorously work and
organize, not only for the Gubcrnatoral election but IN
place ourselves In position where can command in
huence IN other quarters OF the Union reform and re-
store the government TO its ancient basis Of constitutional
liberty. (Appause.)
Col BorDNAuT, on behalf of the committee report