Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-02-28
Speeches Delivered in the Convention.
SECOND DH.
RruMnSp. Va. Feb. L., 1860.

SECOND DAY.
RicuMoSp, Va, Feb. Il, 1860.
The Convention met at II o'clock, y. NJ.
pursuant to adjournment yesterday.
RESOLUTION OF PREFERENCE FOR COY. WISE.
General \. 4. CnArMAS. Of Monroe, arose,
and said:
Mr.. Presidcnt-l rise for the purpose Of Of
frr;ng to the consideration Of this Convention
a resolution which feel assured will meet with
the warm appreciation Of Il majority of those
present. At least | trust, sir, that shall pre-
sent this resolution in such Il form as that it
will meet the apprnhation of each and every
member Of this Convention. | had, sir, it is
true, stated to the gentlemen who addressed
this Convention last evening, that ! intended
to have introduced another proposition for the
consideration OF this Convention, in order that
the electoral districts should be so arranged
that the voice of the Democracy conld be pro-
prrly heard in the Charleston Convention. But,
after further consideration. | have thought
that probably the voice Of Virginia could be
better heard here than any where else and |
intend that the voice Of Virginia shall be de-
cIarcd in the resolution which shall offer to-day.
The resolution Which | propose to offer will
answer all the purposes of the one that ! in
tended 10 introduce, as it expresses that pre-
ference which my people, at least, in two
meetings, have. unanimously declared. It
is, sir, Il preference on the part Of the
people Of Virginia for one of her great
and noble sons for the Office Of the Presi
dcncy Of the United States. 1t is 4 preference
which they have expressed for the noble, the
gallant, the gifted, the patriotic, the Union
and Constilution.l1ving Henry 4. Wise
tremendous applause, which continued for
SOME minutcs.) Sir, in the hnur Of danger and
doubt, men arc born for great and noble occa-
si0nS. start boldly irnm the worlds trembling
multitude, and the finger Of Destiny points to
them as the men Tor the times, and the people
seeing that u%nrrring hand, follow its direction,
thus proving thcstruth Of the old maXim:-and
the history of the country for the last four
months teaches Us that Henry \. Wise is the
~favurite Of Providence sand the people, 0r
pojHii, cor Uci. cloud applause.J Yes. sir,
the name of the individual whom now pre-
sent creates an enthusiasm, at least in the Sec
ton of the country from which | come, in
which the old and the young, the females and
children, all unite. loud applauSe.) Yes,
the ladies in their appreciation of noble natures
Is HiNIDR KS CllcCl, IuI We Iilu SOiII!ilE up NUN
them one united voice in favor Of Henry 4.
Wise for the next Presidency. (Applause.) But,
know, sir, | shall be met at the threshold with
the statement that it has not been the custom Of
Virginia to express any preference for any can
didatc for the Presidency. That is true, for
Virginia for more than half the aye Of this great
nation has presented no individual TO these
United States as IL candidate for the Presidency.
Yea, sir. not in the history Of National Con
vcn,ionS, has Virginia had L candidate for
President or Vice President mean the
Democratic party Of Virginia. The first
Convention, | believe, sir, that ever made
Il nomination, WAS that which nominated Jack.
sou in ISIS. Then, again, he WAS nominated
il. 1892; then Van Barren in 1896; Van Bu-
rcn in 1870; Polk in 1874; Cass in 1913;
Pierce in 1852, and Buchanan in 1856. In
all these conventions Virginia presented no
candidates. But, sir, in all these conventions,
Virginia gave way to the other States, and sup
ported any worthy candidate whom they
thought proper to present. Why, sir, should
Virginia not express her preference, after
she has stood by for forty years:-For in 1920