Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-05-11
For the Standard
OPPOSITION CONVENTION IN GRAHAM.

For the Standard
OPPOSITION CONVENTION IN GRAHAM.
MEssRs EDITORS: A Convention of the opposition
party or rather combination of all factions enter
tanning common hostility to the Democratic party,
held their Convention in Graham on Tuesday, the
Sd inst, for the purpose of nominating candidate
to represent the 9Th Congressional District in the
next Congress of the United States They met at
II o'clock; and organized by the election of VIM P.
Taylor of Chatham, President. and Albert Patillo
and James A. Long Secretaries
A committee was appointed to draft series OF
resolutions for the adoption of the Convention.
The Convention took recess until o'clock in
the afternoon.
Upon its re-assembling, Caldwell of Guilford be-
ing loudly called for responded in one of his pccu-
liar chaste, eloquent, and characteristic speeches.
lie denounced Democracy, the administration, and
any and all influences calculated to hold in check
and curb the rising spirit of his peculiar faction.
His holy horror over the political sins of the present
administration, was really sufficient to melt the
sympathizing hearts of his audience. In his pccu-
liar eloquent manner, he characterized every Demo-
cratic official as 'either defauter to the general
government, or an aidor and abettor to swindle it
for the benefit of personal friends" He appealed to
the Henry Clay Wings, that glorious galaxy of pa
riOtic spirits who fought the political battles of
1910, to re-kindle their watch-fres, elevate their
standard and fight again those gallant achieve
ments. He was, however, specially oblivious to
everything connected with Know Nothingism-did
not even seem to know they ever had an existence
was specially solicitous that those Wings who had
gone over to Democracy should now return to their
first love and he rebaptised in the Wing faith His
party according to his consistency, were pure and
immaculate and were merely uniting to save the
country oh conSiStency' thOu n ipwp1-One
might we'll exclam who heard this characteristic
harangue. He mourned over the destiny of North
Carolina. Her progress was downward and her pol
icy runous; her resources crippled and her public
credit impaired and one would really have sup
posed that we were in gloomy, almost a bankrupt
condition.
A stranger, profoundly ignorant of the social and
financial prosperity of our good old State might
have entertained serious apprehensions to our flu
ture destiny But one who could penetrate the
scenes, could see in all this idle ravng but the I'M
pleasant truth that the speaker felt that the glory
had indeed departed from Judah-that Guilford
Whiggery was lost in the food-tide of Democratic
progress and this Magnus Apollo of her oss-road
politicians engaged in the peurile effort of hurl
ing anathemas at an ascendant party, which did not
recognize Guilford county the centre of the world
and his own favorite Greensboro the nucleus of in
telligence and refinement in North Carolina. He,
however, was brought to quietus by the entrance
Of the committee, who reported through their chair
man. Mr.. Foster series consisting of resolu-
tons, as they termed it, platform on which to
place their candidate. They were the same old
song The prosperity, ah! the permanency itself of
this Union could alone be hoped for by the down.
fall of Democracy and the success of their party.
They pitched in generally to Mr.. Buchanan and the
administration-the 80 million appropriation for
Cuba-the Presidents veto of the agricultural COL
lege appropriation bl-endeavored to dig up the
fossil remains of the old tariff issue, and were espe-
cally indignant at the want of unanimity between
the President and Congress.
The resolutions were read once by the chairman,
and then passed collectively, not word spoken up
on their merits, either collectively or seriatim.
Hence my inability from memory, to give you more
particularly their merits. suppose they had been
carefully prepared, and maturely considered by the
leaders, before they were submitted to the Conven-
ton. Hence their hasty and careless passage.
We next heard from NJ. Mcdonald, of Moore,
who introduced resolution endorsing all that Hon.
John A. Gilmer had ever said or done, and nomina-
ting him for reelection This was, of course adop-
ted, and the nominee placed upon their socalled
platform.
But Mcssrs. Editors, this honorable Convention
must bear in mind that every plank of this platform
must be sustained by the intelligent voters of the
full or some of them not so securely fastened but
they may slip out and let him fall through the crack
on the first Thursday in August
But you may well inquire what became of Mr.
Waddell? None were found so poor as to do him
reverence believe one gentleman estimated that
on an accurate count, he might obtain sixty votes
IN the District Whether or not he comedies him.
self with this estimate, is yet to determine
was not aware until to-day that YOU with other
Democratic journals, were responsible for Mr. Gill
mers nomination. The fact was, however, boldly
proclaimed that special recommendation for him 70
their aectionate regard was the fact that his poljti
cal enormites had brought down the censure of the
Democratic newspapers. This may act as salvo to
the wirepulers, but ADLER efforts to reconcile his in
consstencies must be made than we heard TODAY to
satisfy the people that he is reliable representative
OF their interests. We had good many speeches.
and many jealous efforts to rouse former enthusiasm
but it was failure. That Mr.. Gilmer will accent.
is OF course certainty; but he will find it trouble.
some task before he satisfies his constituents of his
consistency as Southern representative in his afil.
iations with Northern sectionalism. His course is
mt characteristic of his party; from the spirit mani
Tested in their Convention, they would pander to
any influence or affiliate with any party to defeat
and crush Democracy
be assured Mcssrs. Editors, Democracy is all right
here her patriotic fires burned brighter than
they 90 at present in this District We are in the
minority, but not hopeless one; animated by the
proper spirit with suitable standard bearer to guide
us through the canvass, VIE will make even Guiford
hemble on the first Thursday IN August We ex
pect to put the ball in motion on the 31st of the pre
s'nt month. We will place an able and efficient
candidate upon our platform, and will concentrat,
our forces and make united and hearty effort t.
carry him triumphantly through the canvass.
Yours,
DEMOCRAT.