Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-05-12
For the Standard.
GRAHAM. N. O. Nav 4 1850.

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, vert 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 thirty men, who were straying |
about the court room like lost sheep. with that pc
cuar vacancy of depicted in their countenanccs
characteristic of the aforesaid animal in the aforesaid
condition. Notwithstanding these gentlemen wore
a lamb-like appearance and even to good judge of
human nature, mi ht seem to be
"As mild hammered men
As ever scuted ship cut throat"
Yet, before our chapter winds up. shall discover
little pertinacity and some foreSghtedneSs in their
nature though their sagacty did not prove suf
iccntly penetrating to bring about successful con-
summation of their designs.
short time after my arrival, these "stray sheep
were concentrated BY motion of Thomas Holt ESQ.,
that the convention be organized by calling Dr.
Denny to the chair and appointing Thomas Faust
secretary Then ensucd one of the rarcst scenes it
has ever been my province to witness; yea, the
most complete farce that has been performed in
the United States of America.
After humming and having awhile, the chair sug-
ges ed that the delegates present their Names and
the district they represent to the secretary. Bnt
Albright moved that all good Wigs in attendance
he considered delegates to that convention. Chesly
Faucet, ESQ.,, opposed the notion and said he was
unwilling to the responsibility of represent
ing district which he had never consulted on the
subject TO obviate all difficulties, Il. Holt, ESQ.,,
moved that Mr. Faucet be 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
brights, discrimination between "tweedle
dunn and tweedle dee" Mr.. Holt thinking, doubt
less, he had pulled 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, and
forever that he belonged to clique, caucus,
sociaton, and acknowledged no authority other than
the Constitution, to which he ever bowed with hum
BILE respect and reverence. That he had no favorte
all he desired intelligent and honorable Wing
to represent the district. He spoke in very denun-
ciatOry terms Of caucuSes and remarked that so
great the odum attached to the word caucus in
former times that even to mention it in connection
with gentlcman's NAME WIS sufficient TO seal his
political damnation. He didn't consider this meet
ing as rejecting 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 a general convention. This 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. Chesly Faucet seconded the motion
| of DR.. H., and fully endorsed his sentiments. He
said he desired to fairness shown in all the trans
actions of life in politics as well as in anything else.
He reluctant TO his fellow citizens cheated
out of their rights by few upstart leaders. ThoS.
| Holt, ESQ.,, responded with much warmth, 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 silvered with age, and whom lac considered
| fully competent to judge of what they were doing.
| He repudated the idea of postpOning the cOnven-
! tion,-said there were nine districts out of eleven
represented, and no just reason why they
should not proceed to business. He stated that ac
| cording to a former compromise made by Randolph
| and Alamance, they were to misunderstanding
have the representative one term and Alanance the
next He further stated that he had the fullest
surance from Randolph that she would support
| whomsoever Alamance selected. Mr. Faucet said
| in consideration of the nclemency Of the weather
and sparce delegation he thought it would at least
! be prudent to adjourn to a more suspicious season.
even if Randolph would agree to abide by the nom-
nation, o: which he had considerable doubt. He
couldn't imagine why the gentlemen held on so ten
aciously, when all the circumstances were against
them.
Now Mr.. Editor, I wish to inquire, why that
staunch old Wing, DR.. Holt, takes such decided
stand against the meeting? Why does he refer in
such scathing language to caucuscs and Gavorites
Why does he forewarn the gentlemen to be cautious
in their procedure, lest the people, OF 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 We not -
Why does Chesly Faucet, Esq, one of the "blue
lights" of 70 take such decided stand against the
convention? Why does he use the word cheat, and
interrogatc the gentlemen to the 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 "sme a
mice" They see there is something wrong in the
camp. What is it? question which readily adj
mts of solution when subject it to a strict all
alySis, and examine its component parts. We dis
cover in it and all absorbing element, whiCh
has been called the McCadenizcd clement after its
inventor. Now, we understand why the antipathies
Of those old gentlemen were excited to such a high
degree. Since the John Brown raid, imported stock
has fallen into disrepute in this country, and home
manufactures rising to their proper place; hence,
no sooner was the foreign element discovered Ivy the
discerning eyes of those old gentlemen than it was
at once repudiated
But let US inquire of tie whereabouts of Mr.. Nc
Caden during the meeting. Why was he not pres.
en to harmonic the discordant elements Of his
vention Rumor says he was quietly ensconced in
his Sanctum sanctorum, patiently awaiting to be
called upon by committee to announce, with great
reluctance, his assent to become a candidate But
let US in imagination draw near, and pry little in.
to his private thoughts he thus sits solloquzing
81 know, very certain, the cards all arranged
they have been stocked according to Hoyle, and
come what may, I'm bound to play high, low, jack
and the game. I've been moving among the "lesser
lights" long enough; it is time was beginning to
plume my pinons for loftier fight" Under the
influence of Col Jerry's best, he swoons, and for
while gently floats upon sea of glory" But
presently his placid brow presents indications Of
mental perturbation. Bob and Sid, the Magi Of
Graham, and exhorters on ad Ualorem, are called in
to explain. Bob examines every feature infinitely
the quvering lip the yelling groan and corrugated
brow and with tears and lamentations bemoans the
fate of his beloved. He says, like Clarence he is
dreaming, and like Clarence he will wake, to face