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

State of Virginia met in the African Church at
Richmond, on Thursday last The spacious ed
itice was packed to its utmost capacity, the gal
ieries being occupied during the sessions by la
dies.
at ID O'Clock the Convention was called to
order by F. B. Deane, Esq, of LyDcnburg, on
whose motion Hon. ALRxANDER RIvEs, OF AIDE
marie, was invited to take the Chair, and RoBT.
RIDawAY and JAMES MCDONALD, Esqs, OF Rich
mond, were requested to act as Secretaries.
Mr.. Rives, on taking the Chair, delivered an
eloquent and rousing address.
The Secretaries then commenced calling the
counties alphabetically to ascertain when OF
them were represented; but the process oe'ng
tedious one, it was dispensed with ana the aeie-
gates were requested to report themselves.
On motion of Col. Bondurant, OF buckingham,
Committee of thirteen was appointed to nolnl-
nate permanent officers. While the committee
was out, addresses were made in response To
calls, by Mr.. Ridgway and A. }. Crane, Es9s.
The committee returned aud made the follow
ing report, which was unanimously adopted: !,
For Prssident-WM. BALLARD PRESTON, OF
Montgomery.
Wee Presidents Richmond 7. Lacy, of New
Kent; Jas. O. White, of Norfolk county, VIM.
Townes, of Mecklenburg; Vincent Witcher, OF
Pittsylvania; VIM. O. Scott, OF Powhatan; Jno.
A. Garter, of Loudoun; DR.. Terrell, OF Orange;
Jno. Lewis, of Rockingham; Waller 4. Staples,
of Montgomery; B. F. Wysor, OF Pulaski ; II. L.
Berkshire, of Monongalia; Jno. A. Hutcbeson,
of Wood; Henry W. Thomas of Fairfax; Dr.
McCorkcle, of Cabell; and VIM. ID. Macfarland,
of Richmond.
Secretaries-All the Wing editors present.
The Chairman appointed Col. Bondurant and
Mr.. Witcher committee to escort the President
elect to his seat.
Mr.. Preston, on taking the platform, addressed
the Convention for half an hour, in his usually
eloquent and happy strain, and was frequently
interrupted with loud and deatening cheers.
Mr. Bolts excused himself from speaking at
this time.
Robert E. Scott, Esq, was next called upon,
but instead of addressing the meeting, offered
resolution, which was adopted, requiring the
President to appoint committee of one person
from each Senatorial District in the State, to
nominate suitable persons to the Convention as
candidates Tor Governor, Lieut.. Governor and
Attorney General.
On motion, the Convention then took recess
until 4 o'clock, P. II.
AFTERNOON SEssIoN.-The President announc-
ed the committee on nominations. Robert E..
Scott. of Fauquier was Chairman. John Nc.
Que. ESQ.,, was the member from the Augusta
senatorial District, and @. 81. Lewis, Esq, from
Rockingham.
The committee at once retired to the base
ment of the church to perform the duties assign
led them.
DR.. Wood, of Albemarle, obtained the floor,
and announced that he had been informed that
Mr.. VIM. Martin, of Henry, had in his possession
a letter from Hon. A. Fl. II. Stuart, OF Augusta,
which breathed the true Wing spirit, and which
he should like very much to hear read.
ssThe letter"-"readn -'read"-was the cry
all over the house.
The letter was thereupon furnished to Mr..
Mcdonald, who read it as follows:
STANTON, Fee. 9, 1859.
Ny DEAR SRI regret very much that cir
lcumstances, over which have no control, will
( prevent me from attending the Convention on
. the 10Th inst. was anxious to be present.
, desired to witness another old fashioned "union
) of the Wings for the sake of the Union" New
er was there more urgent reason tor such meet
, Iine-neyer was the union of the States in more
Imminent peril than at present-never was there
greater occasion for the concert and CO operation
of all national and conservative men to resist the
faotious spirit and sectional tendencies, which
are running riot throughout the country-never
was there time which appealed more persua.
sivey to the honest and patriotic portion OF the
community, to stem the tide Of waSteful extrav-
agance and political corruption, which pervade
the administration of the Federal Government.
Surely the people of Virginia must awake
from their lethargy ere long When they see
doctrines preached by the executive, for the reg
ulation of our intercourse with foreign nations
, which could be tolerated only in code of free
hooters; when they see all frsternal feelings be-
, tween the North and South destroyed by the
| Vaccinations of the federal government; when
they witness the monstrous demand Of thirty
millions of dollars, to be withdrawn from the pub
lie treasury and placed at the control of the ex-
ecutive; when they see a Democratic Senate q.
hardening its executive functions; and willing,
in advance, to ratify any treaty the President
may negotiate for the acquisition OF Cuba
when they perceive that one line of conduct is
/ prescribed for our dealings with strong nations
and another for those that are weak and defence
less when they discover that the golden rule OF
asking of other countries nothing but what is
right, and submitting to nothing that is wrong,
is utterly Ignored; when they find that, in time
of profound peace, the expenses of the govern
, ment are swelled from fifty millions of dollars
|
surplus of seventy millions, which was in the
treasury when Mr.. Buchanan came into power,
has been squandered, and all the current reve.
lnues are gone, and debt of sixty or seventy
millions has been created in two years; when
they see that American industry has been pros
trated, to foster the labor and reward the CAPT.
tai of foreign nations; when they are told that
we tax the productions of foreign nations only
taoenty per cent, on an average, when they tax
our productions, Except cotton, which they can.
not do without on an avearge, three hundred
per cent, and Virginia tobacco about one thou
sand per cent! surely, say, the people must
awake to a Just sense OF their wrongs surely
thew must rise in the majesty of their strength
and hurl from power the party that has so shame
fully abused their confidence! Must the earth
louakeY Must the earth quake before the peo-
lple can be aroused2 think not think, wien
the Democracy staads condemned, as it does,
|out of the mouths of its own organs, the people
must see and feel the necessity of change!
| Let then the noble Wings and Americans go
on in the work which they have so nobly begun |!
Let them Put in nomination a strong ticket of
good men and true! Let them speak to the peo-
Die face to face Let them expose the iniquities
and misdeeds of the party in power! Let them
unveil its treachery to the South! Let them
shew up the wasteful extravaganza and proh-
gacy of the present Administration, and cannot
doubt that they will find responsive chords in
the popular heart
l am with your movement heart and soul !
AS private in the ranks, will cheerfully con.
tribute my mite; and sincerely regret that
cannot be present with the glorious Wings and
Americans of Virginia, to blend my voice with
theirs in q loud and earnest appeal 10 the people
to come to the rescue of the Constitution and
country! May God speed the good work
Your friend and fellow Wing,
ALEX. II. Il. STUART.