Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-05-16
Fer the Standard.

Fer the Standard.
..s..... GRAHAM. n. c., May /, 1860.
DEAR STANDARD: 1 hope you will pardon me for
requesting you to insert within your columns the
following hasty sketch of the proceedings Of Know
Nothing Convention which met in this village on
Saturday evening last apparently for the purpose of
nominating candidate to represent this District in
the Senate of the next Legislature. - ......
At the ringing of the bell, went into the Court
House, expecting to see large and Jealous meeting;
but imagine my surprise when, within the widest
range of my optics, was unable to discover more
than twenty-five or thirty men, who were straying
about the court room like lost sheep with that pc
cuar vacancy Of rdepcted in their countenances
Characteristic of the aforesaid animal in the aforesaid
condition Notwithstanding these gentlemen wore
lamb-lMe appearance and even to good judge of
human nature, might seem to be r..
GAS mild hammered men ....
AS ever scuttled ship or'cut throat"
Yet before chapter winds up, We shall discover
little pcrtinacity and foresightedness in their
nature, though their sagacity did not prove suf-
fcienty penetrating to bring about successful con-
| summation Of their designs. 3D..
| short time after my arrival, these "stray sheep
were concentrated by motion Of Thomas Holt, Esq,
that the convention he organized by calling DR..
Denny to the chair and appointing Thomas Faust
secretary. Then ensued one of the rarest it
most complete farce that has ever been performed in
the United States of America.
After humming and having awhile, the chair sug
gesed that the delegates present their names, and
the district thev represent, to the secretary. But
names seemed to "roll up" rather slow, when Mr.
Albright moved that all good Wings in attendance
be considered delegates to that convention. Chesly
Faucet ESQ.,. opposed the notion and said he
unwilling to assume the responsibility of represent
ing district which he had never consulted on the
subject. To obviate all difficulties, T. Holt ESQ.,,
! moved that Mr.. Faucet lie considered delegate to
that convention. Mr.. F. very humbly informed the
somewhat obtuse understanding of the gentleman
that the difference between his motion and Mr.. AL
bright's was discrimination between "tweede
DUN and tweedle dee" Mr.. Holt, thinking, doubt
less he had "pul!ed the wrong string" then moved
that DR.. Samuel Holt be considered delegate from
the Graham district Dr. Holt arose, and said he
wished it to be understood, once for all, now and
forever that he belonged to clique, caucus, OF
sociation, and acknowledged authority other than
the Constitution, to which he ever bowed with hum
Bile respect and reverence That he had no favorite;
all he desired was intelligent and honorable Wing
to represent the district. He spoke in very dcnun-
.ciat0ry terms of caucuses and remarked that so
great was the odium attached to the word caucus in
former times that even to mention it in connection
with gentleman's name was sufficient to seal his
political damnation He didn't consider this meet
ing as refecting the sentiments and wishes of the
county in general. In order to have fair express
sion of public opinion, it necessary that the
people of the several districts should confer together
and send suitable number of gentlemen to repre-
sent them in general convention. This was the
only correct mode of procedure, and he therefore
moved that the convention adjourn. to meet some
future day, when the above conditions could be
piled with. Chcsly Faucet seconded the motion
Of DIR. H., and fully endorsed his sentiments. He
hoH TO- fo;r ~ hat
actions of life in politics well in anything else
He was reluctant to see his fellow citizens cheated
out of their rights by few upstart leaders. Thns
Holt, ESQ.,. responded with much warmth, said it
not his desire to cheat any one that he had
been raised an honest man and hoped to die one ;
that he had been sent there by men whose heads
were silvcred with age, and whom lie considered
fully competent to judge of what they were doing
He repudiated the idea of postponing the conven-
tion,-said there nine districts out of eleven
represented and saw no just reason why they
should not proceed to business He stated that ac-
cording to former compromise made by Randolph
and Alamance. they were to alternate-Randolph
have the representative one term and Alanance the
next He further stated that he had the fullest as
surancc from Randolph that she would support
whomsoever Alamance selected. Mr. Faucet said
in consideration of the inclemency Of the weather
and sparce delegation he thought it would at least
be prudent to adjourn to more suspicious season,
even if Randolph would agree to abide by the nom-
nation, os which he had considerable doubt. He
couldn't imagine why the gentlemen held on so ten
aciousy, when all the circumstances were agains..
| them.
Now, Mr.. Editor, wish to inquire, why that
staunch OLD Whig DR.. Holt, takes such decided
stand against the meeting? Why does he refer in
such scathing language to caucuses and favortes !?
Why does he forewarn the gentlemen to be cautious
in their procedure, lest the people, on that august
occasion when they arise in all their might to say
who shall and who shall not turn their backs upon
their choice, and say depart, | know ye not p
Why does Chcsly Faucett ESQ.,, one of the "blue
lights" of '76 take such decided stand against the
convention? Why does he use the word cheat and
interrogate the gentlemen to the reason of their
sticking with such an everlasting tenacity to this
convention when all the circumstances are against
them? All! methinks these questions are pregnant
with Significance These old gentlemen "smell a
mice" They,see there is something wrong in the
camp What is it? a question which readily ad-
mits of solution when We subject it to strict an
alysis, and examine its component parts. '>Wc dis
cover in it new and all absorbing element, which
1 has been called the McCadenized element after its
inventor. Now, we understand why the antipathies
of those old gentlemen were excited to- such high
degree Since the John Brown raid, imported stock
has fallen into dsrepate in this country, and home
manufactures are rising to their proper place hence,
sooner was the foreign element discovered by the
discerning eyes of those old gentlemen than it was
at once repudiated ~ =. - X g o-ss .!'-ss-s'
) But let US inquire Of the whereabouts of Mr.. Nc.
Caden during the meeting. Why was he net pres.
ent to harmOnize the dscofdant elements Of his
yention I? Rumor says he was quietly ensconced in
his sanctum sanctorum, patiently awaiting to be
called upon by acommittee to announce with great
reluctance, his assent TO become aicandidate] Blu,
let US in nimagnation draw near, and pry littie;in
TO bis private thoughts as he thus sits soliloquHing
I know, very certain the cards are all arrxnged
they have been stocked according to Hoyls and
come Whist may. I'm bound to playahigh, low. sjack
md the game Pvebeen moving smuag the slesse,
Lights long enough Il is time was bee;uBiit Il