Weekly standard., 1861-03-20
The Conventions of 1885 and 1861.

line convention OF 1901, cOnultiOnally CalleO ny
the Legislature but rejected by the people at the
polls, would have consisted of 12O members, chosen
not by Countless bufaccordng to federal population.
The Convention of 1885 was called to deliberate
solely on State affairs. So perfect the Union at
that day, and well contented were the people in
all quarters with the operations of the federal gov
ernment that no voice was raised in the Convention
the subject but all seemed to believe, and to act
on the belief that the Union, like the sun in the
heavens, would continue IN its course and that its
dissolution was hardly within the range of human
probability. Wemay imagine the patriotic earnest
ness with which the great men of that body would
have warned their countrymen against the dangers
of dsunon if it had been given to them to see the
condition in which we are now placed. That warn
ing would have been in entire accord with what we
all know of their character for prudence frmness,
and wisdom. There would have been nothing of
rashness, or haste, or violence in it. They would
at least have advised deliberation and dignity, and
they would have characterized precipitation" in
such crisis as unwise and dangerous.
Ofthe members of the Convention of 1885 there
are still living the following: A. B. Mcmillan and
David L. Swain, of Buncombe B. S. Gather, of
Burke; d. NJ. Barringer and c. Mechor, of Cabar-
rus; Calvin Graves, of Caswel; jeremiah Pearsall,
Of Duplin; w. p Williams, of Franklin R. B. Gil
liam and Josiah Crudup, of Granville; John NJ.
Morehead, of Guilford John Branch, of Halifax
Kenneth Rayner, Of IIertford Henry Cansler, of
Lincoln Asa Biggs Of Martin James L. Gaines, of
of
Brolnax, of Rockingham; Thos l. Faison, of Samp-
son; H. G. Spruill, of Tyrrell; Kmbrough Jones,
of Wake; w. N. Edwards of Warren; James w.
Bryan, of Carteret John L. Bailey, of Pasquotank;
Samuel Calvert Of Northampton; S 7. Sawyer Of
Chowan; Josiah Collins, jr., Of Washington; and
Council Wooten of Lenoir. There may be others
who are living, but we do not know the fact
But three of the members Of the Convention of 1885,
We believe, have been chosen delegates to the late
Convention, to wit, W. p. Williams, of Franklin;
Edward T. Brodnax, of Rockingham and Weldon
N. Edwards. of Warren.
Two of those who would have been most promi-
nent in the Convention of 1861 are Bedford Brown,
Of Caswell, and George E. Badger, of Wake Mr..
Brown entered public life during the war of 1912,
before he was twenty-one years Of age. He was ac-
tive in his support Of the war and of Mr.. Madison.
Mr.. Badger represented the town of Ncwbern in the
Commons during the session, We believe, of 1917.
These distinguished and now venerable men have
always differed politically, but in the late contest for
the Union they stood side by side and shoulder to
shoulder. Both were bitterly assailed by the dis
the people. The people, in honoring them as CO.
workers in the Union cause, have shown that in
great crisis like the present party is but "small
dust in the balance" when weighed against the
country. Rome in her best days could boast of no
purer, ADLER or better men than George E. Badger
and Bedfd>d Brown. Let the young men OF the
State look to them as models in eloquence, states
nanship, integrity, and patriotism
Yadkin County.
The firm and determined manner in which the
Yadkn country stood by the Union in the late srug
gle is matter for congratulation and rejoicing
friend writing us from Ilamptonville says:
"You are fully endorsed in the course you have
pursed by nine.tenths of the Democrats in this
County and by all the Union men. | had the pleas
ure of voting along side of your old friend James
Sheek, ESQ.,, for Puryear and no Convention"
James Shcek is one of the most reliable and con-
sstent Democrats in the State He offered the first
Free Suffrage bill in the Legislature, in lS4S.-
Hosts of Democrats like Bedford Brown, and j. W.
2 Watson, and c. R. Thomas, and John Berry and
r p. Dick, and Thomas Settle, and James Sheek,
and Ed. Lyon, and James S. Harrington and X. l..
Patterson, and John Hil and L. j. Merritt stood by
nc ond encouraged us in the conflict with the enc
mics of the principles of Jefferson, Madison, and
! jackson; and yet zee are no Democrat while the
new recruits of yesterday set forward as the only
embodiments of true Democracy! Principles are
eternal. but the old parties have ceased to exist
Good men in all portions of the country have united
| to save the country We shall act with the Union
men by whatever name heretofore called, and We
shall oppose disunionsts and dsturbers of the pub
lie peace by whatever name heretofore called. This
is our position and we shall maintain this position
without regard to caucuses, cques, conventions, or
self constituted leaders We neither assume to lead
nor shall any one lead us. We speak for the peo-
pie; it is for them to lead and to put up and pull
down whom they will.
~ We agree with our correspondent "An 0.
C. Guard" that Gen. Person, of Northampton, is
eminently fitted for the place Of Major General of
the 7th Division. We trust the General will con-
sent to be candidate for this position. 1t is true
he cannot be "the" candidate but then he can be
elected and that will be sufficient.
W The Winston Sentinel intimates that the
Standard made "violent attack" on Mr. Waugh,
the Senator from Forsyth and Stokes during the late
session cf the Legislature. We need not say that
the Sentinelis mistaken. We made no attack at
and Mr.. Kaluu,'s constituents, that they were not
standing up in the cause Of the Union they should
have DONE The sequal has shown that these gen.