Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND eossIP.
EDITORIAL Co,,.spondere, of tn. Sta,.1

RICHMOND, Va. Thursday, Feb. 16-3 p. m.
There were perhaps six hundred delegates in
attendance at the Democratic State Convention
here this forenoon, for the floor Of the hall (Afr-
can church) was covered with them. Perhaps a
hundred more are looked for to arrive by the con-
veyances reaching Richmond this afternoon
Winter w. Payne was made the temporary chair.
man, and empowered to make i committee of one
from each electoral district in the State TO nomi-
nate ito the Convention) permanent officers
Great confusion existed, owing to the want of
| rules and the extent Of the crowd. So far, there
has been no contest between the Wise and Hunter
interests; nothing having been before the Conven-
tion on which any such contest could be hinged
While the Secretary was calling the roll of the
Convention by counties, a telegraphic dispatch
announcing the sudden death of the Hon Benz.
Rush Floyd at w ashington, "a delegate was re-
ceived, and an adjournment until p. m. was at
once moved and carried, in respect to his memory
My intercourse with the delegates from all quar-
tiers of the State leads to believe that the Wise
interest will find serious obstacles In the way Of
the success Of their scheme to obtain expression
Of preference for his nomination by the Charleston
Convention. Mats, nous rerrons
W. ID. VII
RICHMOND, VA, Feb 16-lI D. m.
it has been in the African Church Of this renowned
city this afternoon and to highland all, too it,
orally about nothing. Ere the Convention met,
anticipated that 1t would consist of some five hun
dred members. This morning, as wrote in my
last, at least six hundred were present Ere they
adjourned tonight 1t was clear from the names
reported to tho secretaries. that nine hundred
delegates are on the ground. The church will
probably seat six hundred; so, with two or three
hundred outsiders in it, we'll as the nine hum
dred delegates, the intensity Of the pressure of
human flesh may be imagined, and also the utter
impossbility Of transacting business intelligently
with at least twenty or thirty orators believing
for hearing upon every incidental question or
motion arising Nevertheless. the mper Of the
body las so far been good. But two or three
triiing jars Of words have occurred and those
were settled upon the spot with great good hu-
NOR. the turn Of the body being decidedly In
rePrObaton Of personalities.
The Convention can hardly be said to have vet
fairly organized, owing to the difficulty of get
ting decision on any question, however insig-
nifcant in importance to their future action |
left them at ~ p. m, to write this letter in the
midst Of yea and nay vote upon a question
whether Democratic citizens Of counties not for
maly represented should be permitted to cast the
Its result will be Of little Importance as but few
counties are unrepresented. Nevertheless to de-
eide II by roll call will occupy in all at least three
hours of the Conventions time-and that after
spending some four hours in its discussion
mention these facts only by wav Of illustrating
the Importance OF change in the manner in
which Virginia State Conventions of all parties
are now composed. Thus, they are little else
except mammoth State mass meetings. Ere rail-
roads facilitated the easy collection Of large num-
beers Oh such occasions, 1t may have been well to
nominate, as is yet done, twenty, thirty FORTY
fifty, or every Democrat who may fancy to 90
from every county; because 4 lack Of those facil,
ties rendered it certain that comparatively few
would attend. Now, however the case is yerv
different; and giving all Democrats permiss on
equally to participate in the proceeding. of Viz
glnia State Conventions renders 1t certain that
they will be little else than very noisy tumultI-
GUS, and utterly unbusiness-like assemblages as
in this case
The voting OF to-day and tonight upon various
Incidental questions shows that 81 far there Is
clearly no concert OF action among either the
Hunter or Wise men, and that each member Of
the Convention votes :; upon his own hook -
This is 1t should be; tending to the dec ision of
all Questions upon their respective merits rather
than TO strengthen the Presidential prospects ofany
aspirant
II was clear when left the church that the vote
on the pending question could not be declared by
the chair before midnight; and therefore that no
question could arise tonight upon that point,
concerning which all of all parties and clioues
now in Richmond talk, and talk Of little else.
That Is, whether the Convention shall express a
preference for the nomination of any particular
gentleman by the Charleston Convention, and if
so-fOr whom, Tomorrow such an expression
will doubtless be asked; for the Wise mass meet
ing of last night voted that such a proposition
shall be made. The signs in the body of the
church to-day have indicated that 1t will be
voted down, as trust it may; the weight of in
huence In shaping the action Of the body being
evidently, so far, with those known to he opposed
to it. W.D w
COMPLETION OF THE GEoRGETowS WATER
WORKS. Captain Meigs has presented to the
W ater Board Of Georgetown his final report
upon the distribution of water through that city
The work has been substantially COMPLETED the
last water pipe having been laid down ON the 7tb
december last 7el miles of pipe have been
laid. and portion Of the Washington aoued,ct
mains having been used in the distribution. there
are - miles OF distributing pipe in use in the
CITY
AT every street crossing, except on Bridge
street, ire-Plug and stop-cock combined has
been placed, In box covered by a cast iron plate
at the level Of the roadway. These fre-plugs
have each attachments for four fre-engines, and
thus every house has within a half blocks dis.
lance provision in case Of fire for eight fre-en-
gines.
One hundred free public drinking fountains or
service hydrants have been provided of which
IA ne on V had heep e.,f,
arrested this work. The remainder will be Set I'M
in the spring. one at every street corner In the
city Thus the thirsty and the poor will find
water flowing free of charge on every corner.
How much this will tend to the promotion Of
temperance and the comfort Of the people it is
not necessary {" point ont. The poor even more
than the rich Of Georgetown will owe lastin..