Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-02-15

The s.Cnnpentinn,, Question.

The SsConyention" Question.
The question of Convention to nominate
candidate for Congress in this District IS SUN Al
such fog that the keenest optics cannon Bee
through it with sufficient distinctness to fore1en
the result. The FIVE gentlemen who are an
nounced as candidates must be well nigh over
whelmed with the most painful anxiety ana suS'
pense, and we cannot conceive how they nave
the heart to be travelling about the District max
ing speeches, when it may be all toll LOT nausn'
They have our tenderest sympathies IN this 'ilne
of sore trial.
If we may Judge from the proceedings OF meet
mos in several counties ofthis District the frends
of a Convention are rather gaining ground
And first we notice that meeting was held IN
Rockbridge on the 7th inst, at which dele
gates were appointed to attend Convention to
be held in Harrisonburg on the SOth of March.
Seventy delegates were appointed, which
would seem to indicate that Rockbridge is pre-
pairing to flight the devil with fire" or, in other
words, is determined to meet the force OF num-
bers upon which Rockingham and Shenandoah
will rely with corresponding numerical strength
We are inclined to the opinion that although
Rockbridge has been wying low in regard 10
this contest, and has as yet brought forward 10
candidate, she is not prepared to admit that be-
cause her sons have represented the Dlstrict wen
in times past, none of them should ever aspire
to the position again. We are confirmed n this
opinion from what we have learned from prl'
yate and Democratic source, OF certain pro
ceedings in that meeting which do not appear IN
the published proceedings. We understand that
in addition to the resolutions adopted it was
proposed that the meeting should disoiaim any
desire on the part of Rockbridge to have the
nomination conferred upon one of her citizens
whereupon men popped up in all quarters ana
opposed it with such vehemence that 1t dled
without struggle. Truly, it must have been
an interesting scene to witness the pigeons Hut
tering over this proposition to clip their wings.
Next we have meeting in Shenandoah on
the same day, in which Convention Is recon-
meuded to be held at Hsrrisonburg on the Attn
Thursday in March. We might consider this &C.
tion of the Shenandoah Democrats as decisive
of the question, but for certain information in re
gard to the meeting which we gather from the
esprit of Democracy" published at New Mar
ket, in the words and figures following, to wit;
| To the surprise of every body, except those
who were to work the wires-without any init
nation whatever, through the papers OF the
Icounty-a meeting was called at the court House
on Monday last, for the purpose OF deciding
whether the peop pie of Shenandoah were in ia
vor of, or opposed to holding Convention 10
this District to nominal candidate for Congress
i We were not present, but have been informed
Iby gentlemen, that the efforts of those who go'
up the meeting, were fairly defeated, both upor
the vote for chairman, and upon the question
of Convention or no Convention. let tht
: meeting was organized, and resolutions adopted
; which are intended to blind the people of thu
county to subject to which at least two third
of them are opposed. Whether they will submit
or not, remains to be seen.
1t seems, then, that in exact accordance witt
our predictions, the wires are beginning to wori
and the fun to commence. The meetings can
not be considered as fair opponents OF popula
sentiment, and their action should not infuenc
other counties iu the decision OF the question:
The Convention, if gotten up by such means
will produce more dissatisfaction in the rank
: than would be brought about by fifty candidate
in the field. The nominee instead of securing
an undivided vote, will be looked upon as tn
candidate of q packed Convention originating il
bogus meetings in which the sentiments OF tn
people were shamefully misrepresented. Thu
we 60. Troubles stare our Democratic friend
in the face on every hand. Convention or IL
Convention-ou either horn ofthe dilemma hang
difficulty to be surmounted. For the life of u
we cannot make up oar mind to take sides wit
e either party to the controversy.