Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-02-28
FEBRUARY IS, 1850.
The Democratic state Convention.

umfS, has CnaOllQ Us 10 luThiSH
report OF the proceedings of the late Demo
cratic Conventions. Nor do VIC now propose 10
weary onr readers with 4 minute detail OF inc
proceedings. 4 general account must suffice.
~AsSruDL,GE OF DELEGATES At coRlNTnlAS HALL.
On "Wednesday evening, the 18th inst, u
large number Of the friends of Gov. Wise. del
ecateS to the Convention, assembled in mass
meeting n; Corinthian Hall. The hall was
crowded, and a few of Mr.. Hunters friends
lein" found in attendance, a motion was made
to request all but the supporters OF Gov. Use
to retire from the Hall. This was vigorously
opposed. it bcirg announced that Nise's friends
had nothing to conceal. and the motion was
finally withdrawn. After a number Of eloquent
speeches were delivered, advocating Gov.
Wise's nomination for the Presidency, it was
determined to call the roll Of the counties and
ascertain the strength Of Wise before the Con
vention. Delegates were present from lo2
counties, aud each delegation announced the
number of delegates by which its county would
b. represented on the morrow-the number in
favor OF Il declaration of preference for Wise
the number opposed to such declaration, ana
the number Of doubtful men. Uniting the
two latter categorieS, and scaling the vote on
this basis, it was discovered that even out OF
the 100 counties represented on the floor, there
were more than + 200 votes "a clear majority
OF the Democratic vote Of the State) not emily
in favor Of Gov. Wi>c's nomination to the Pres
idercv, but in favor Of announcing such pre-
ference by a resolution in the State Convention.
This majority did rot include q number Of del
ecatcs who announced Wise as their preference,
but avowed that they would oppose a resolution
Of preference in Convention, as opposed 10 the
prevailing usage Of the party. 1t was then de.
,erminrd that a resolution Of preference should
be otfexcd. and Gen. A. y. Chapman, Of Mon
roe. was appointed to bring it forward in Con.
vcntion.
On the next day i, was aScertained, hat the
arrival of delegates from a number OF the cOuI-
ties not represented on the previous evening,
added more than -, 900 votes to Wisc'S
strength. thus giving him more than two-thirdS
Of the entire Democratic voice of the State.
ASSEMBLING OF TIE CONVENTION.
The delegates to the Convention assembled
at the African Church, on Thursday, 10th, a
little before noon. Ar IL o'clock, Mr.. j. ~.
Hartman, of Augusta, called the Convention to
order. and, On his motion, Col. W. W. Payne,
Of Fauqnier. was chosen temporary Chairman.
The Democratic editors present. and DR.. James
Dove, Of Richmond, were requested 10 act as
Secretaries.
Mr.. Hartman then moved for the appointment,
By the Chair, of n committee of permanent Or
canization. to be composed Of one delegate from
each electoral district; which motion was adopt
ed and the following committee appointed:
Isl District, W. Lamb, Norfolk; Cd, l. F.
Goode, Mecklcnburg; Sd, W. y. Edwards,
franklin; Eth, W. II. Perkins, Buckingham;
9Th, X. T. W. Duke, Aihemarlc: 9TH, K. lvanhoe
Cooke. Powhatan; Tth, R. \. Clayhronk, Nor
cumberland: Sth, Ii. T. Garnet, eStmore-
land: 9th. c. b. TchhS, Fauqu;er; 10th, }. Nc
pherSon, Page: 18th. r. G.. Sickcl. Augusta;
18th, \. Stevenson, Highland; 18th, W. Fl.
Cooke. Wythe; 1i,h. j. L. Carr, kanawha:
18th, Z. Kidwell, Marion.
After some discussion as to the proper mode
of verifying credentials, il was determined that
the Secretaries should call the roll of counties.
and register the names of delegates who an
announced themselves. d~efrrring contests, If
any should arise. for subsequent consideration.
The call Of the roll was delayed for some
time, BY disorder in several parts Of the House,
and was afterwards interrupted for the reading
of a tclegraphic despatch, announcing the
death Of Benz Rush Floyd, Esq, while on his
way to participate in the action Of the Conrcn-
ton.
As n mark Of respect to the mcmory Of the
deceased. The Convention then adtn!iucd until
i ~"'ci"cN. P. VI. on motion Of EN-Licutelaut
Governor Wn. L. jackson
During the recess, the Secretaries completed
the registering Of namcs
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention waS called 10 order at +
O'Clock.
Mr. r. II. Ayictt, Of Richmond. prefaced,
with a short address the following resolutions,
which were unanimously adopted, after addi-
tinral rcn.arkS were made by Judge Sinclair,
Of Prince William:
|. Re>oiv.d That the members Of the Fir.
einia State Democratic Convention have re-
ccived, with feelings of the most profound re-
eret, &c melancholy Intelligence Of the sudden
death of BENZ. Rush FI"!d, a mcmbcr Of this
body.
9. Resolved, That, in the death Of this nc.
co,npliShcd gentleman. brilliant orator, and able
lawyer. the State has sustained n serious loss.
5 Resolved, That, as u fearless, bold and
powerful ttldlIlI)IDil pI llS Stdk leiIlS
ples of the Dc,noc, attic party, the deceased was
widely and favorably known throughout this
Commonwealth, and in his early death the De.
mocracv have sustained an irrcparable loss.
4. Resolved, Tha, a copy Of these resolutions,
signed 10y the President and Secretaries Of the
Convention, he forwarded to the family of the
deceased, with the assurances Of the heartfelt
syInpathicS of the Convention.
Mr.. Nat. Tyler OF Richmond, then read a
Geographic despatch announcing tho following
resolution, unanimously adopted BY the Demo.
cratic State Convention at Hartford, Connect.
cut:
..Resolvcd, That the Democracy Of Connec,i-
cut send to Virginia. where Democratic dele
gates are to assemble in State Convention, to-
morrow, their f~ratcrnal regards, congratulating
the Old Dominion on the ~cffectual manner in
which she suppressed an abolition invasion of
her soil initiated to disturb her rights and to
shed the blood Of her citizens"
The Chair announced that action could not
be taken on this previous TO the PERMANENT or
ganization Of the Convention.
Somc discussion and much disorder then en-
sued on q motion made by Mr.. Stovall to re.
quest all Democratic members of the General
Assembly, from counties not represented in the
Convention. to take seats on the floor, and re.
present such counties.
This discussion was interrupted to admit the
report of the committee on permanent organiza-
ton. and the following report was presented by
the Chairman Of the committee, W. W. Lamb,
Esq, of Norfolk:
FOR PRESIDENT.
Gen. Robert \. Banks, Of Madison.
VICE PRESIDENTS.
Col. W. W. Payne. Of Fauquicr.
n. P. Young. Of Isle of Wight.
Col. William Baskcrvill, Of Mecklcnburg.
Col. Geo. W. Cabcll, Of Pittsylvania.
Col. +. W. Hubbard, of Buckingham.
Paulus Powell, Of Amherst.
James Lyons, of Richmond.
MierS w. Fisher, Of Northampton.
Col. II. 7. Garnett, OF Westmoreland.
Uvo- NJ I.Iou r. T,T.a