Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-08-29
rr..., .ho Richmond ~. J Index. |

IFrom the Richmond (va y Index.l -
THE STAJJNTON CONTEMPORARIES PEG
Pile VERSUS THE POLITICIANS--ROLL
ON THE BALL! ~;
After an enthusiastic session, characterized thro-
out by the utmost harmony, good feeling and unan,
unity of sentiment the Convention OF the Nat'onai
Democracy of Virginia concluded its abors last SAT
urday, and with mutual pledges to earnest enore ~
the good cause the members have returned to their
homes. No Convention save the Richmond Con-
vention, which nominated Breckenridge and Lane,
ever assembled in Virginia under such circumstances
of disadvantage. Under the influence of vaulting
ambition, or infirmity of WILL or desire OF dssoiu
ton of the Union, the politicians OF virginia, oeha-
tors Representatives, editors, local leaders, DESERT
ed in body the standard of Democracy, ana tnelr
own repeated assertions of principle, and under the
lead of "bold, bad men" grasped the helm OF vir-
ginia to set the good old ship the dangerous tack
of disunion A half century Of willing Obedience
of quiet acquescence by the people Of the Old Com
monwealth in the arrangement" of these gentle
men constituted, it was thought an abundant guar
anty against popular resistance, and the lame SUD-
mission of 10000 reemen to the orders of ther he
reditary Chiefs was anticipated with confident assu-
rance 1t mattered nor that their Chiefs by this act
renowned all their previous professons it mattered
not that they stood convicted of the most garng IN
consistency that illustrated the sommersaults OF
politicians; it mattered not that the victim demand
ed was the truest friends of the South that adorn the
field of national politics. it mattered not that the
pretence of "principle" was demonstrably without
foundation; it mattered not that the cause which
they asked the Democracy to desert, was sanctiied
by the unanimous support of two. generations of
Virginians it mattered not that the principle now
denounced was carried in Virginia four years since
by 80 900 majority Such had been the willing sup
port of the Democracy to all the measures of these
guides, in ygone days, that these worthy gentle
-, :,oS ,,Sosov
of revolution. They placed too low an estimate
on the intelligence and independence of the Virginia
people, as the Staunton Convention proves beyond
a peradventure With all the ppe-layers against
them, with scarce corpora's guard Of presses ia
vorng their cause, with fve.sxths of their own del
egation flying FROM their duty, in spite of every ef
fort to argue and to rdicue them out of their re-
solve, they met in solemn council, repudated the
acts of the deserters nailed the banner of National
Democracy to the masthead, and bound themselves
to earnest endevor for the redemption of the State
Between three and four hundred delegates were
in attendance, representing all quarters and maugre
the politicians all classes of the Commonwealth !;
and although the fact of the holding of the Conven-
ton, and the fact of public responses to the CALL
were studiously concealed although personal in1u-
ence was everywhere strained, and sectional pride
everywhere appealed to, the Convention was deci-
ded SUGGESTIVE members were determined-the
OTSdtllZdllOH duOptcu-tuc dClIOH regular anu
monious, and the plan Of action matured and tho
roughly effective. 1t was emphatically Democrat
&c Conventon-as euphatically peoples Conven-
ton. Men were present who had taken no part
in politics in score of years, who felt, however,
that the presence of the threatening demon Of dis
union was a summons to the field which no patriot
could resist and the spirit which brought them
from their homes animated all. To this end, no
sacrifice that could honorably be made was deemed
too great, and even their just indignation at the
treatment received at the hands of their delegates
and leaders, did not for moment blind then to the
paramount considerations of large patriotism thus
proposition for conference the subject of COM
promise by the Seceders was treated with as much
consideration as If 1t had been made in good faith
and after the members had been deceived, tri-
fled with and insulted by the most contemptuous
sights the part Of the Seceders they vndicated
their love for the South and the Union, by a resolu-
ton Utmost unanimously passed, to WELD their
strength, in any event. against the most prominent
of the two enemies of both.
In this spirit, let us enter the campaign with right
justice, consistency, democracy, and the incalcuable
blessings of the Union, to arm for the struggle