Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-13
a fifth representative have been Douglas
man, and must claim my rights in this mat

man, and must clnln my rights IN this mat
ter.
The nomination Of tie gentleman whose
name shall present is not made by way of
opposition TO the other gentlemen in nom.
ination. There is no man in the State for
whom have higher respect than have for
O. ". Russell. He was strong Breckenridge
man, as have reason 10 know, for he and
met frequently on the stump during The last
Presidential canvass-he advocating the claims
of Breckinridge and those Of Douglas.
havc nothing to say against Judge Cam
den; On the contrary, Ircgard him as emf
nently qualified to fill this office. Mr. jenkins,
who is the third nominee, is q gentleman, per-
haps, equally worthy Of tho position with any
of tho others, and q gentlemen for whose
talents and fidelity to Southern interests,
have very high appreciation. make no op-
position to any Of these gentlemon on the score
Of qualification but do believe, since the
claims of particular factions have been rccog.
nised, that the Douglas faction havo q right to
be represented.
With view to test the sense of justice of
this Convention in this matter of the distribu-
tion Of Office. I shall put in nomination Wiley
H. Oldham, ESQ, and do so with the under
standing that my friend from Jefferson (Mr
A. NJ. BARBouR,) will withdraw the nomina.
tion of Mr.. Russell.
Every gentleman here who knows Mr.. Old
ham knows that there is no ADLER man in the
North. west, and none more worthy in every
respect
Mr. EcnoLs-I have been detained from my
seat in the Convention for few minutes and
an therefore, ignorant Of the state of things
here.
understand, however. that Mr.. G. ". Rus.
sell is in nomination, AID desire to lraar my
testimony to his eminent worth. ability and
peculiar fitness for the position Of member ~
the Confederate States Congress. .
have had considerable intercourse with
Mr. Russell, and good opportunities Of know
ing his peculiar worth, and ain justified in
saying that no gentleman combines moro fully
the elements Of ability, prudence and foresight
so essential to constitute an efficient public ser
want, than does Mr. Russell He is distit.-
guished both as lawyer and statesman, and
no man will discharge more faithfully and Ell.
cieutly the duties Of this position than hc will,
if it shall be the pleasure OF the Convention u
confer it upon him. | have always regarded
him as one of tie most reliable Inen II the
State, and in that opinion AIN fully borne out
by his course in every position in which lie ha:
served.
Iwss with him in the Legislature Of 1852 3.
! and there WAS no toan in the branch in which
we served who had exercised so important an
influence in that body Us hs did. He enjoyed
the confidence Of every member, and Was i'll
defatgabe and faithful in the discharge of
every duty that devolved upon him.
! He is a debater Of rara capacity; and 70 bis
|
Of very important measure at that time,
which, were it not for the power Of his argu-
ments, would haye been decided upon nj,
| versely.
trusti it will be the pleasure Of this Conver..
tion to elect him to this position.
Mr.. kILpy.-lt may not be amiss for rc to
add single word to what has been said by
my friend from the county Of Monroe, (Mr.
EcHoLs.)
| fully endorse every word he has said in
regard 10 Mr. Russell. | had the pleasure Of
serving with him for many years in the State
Legislature, and we'll recollect the circum-
stance to which the gentleman has referred
No man is better fitted for this position than
Mr. Russell on the score Of ability and fidelity
to Southern interests, and trust the Conven-
| ton will elect him to this position.
3Ir. CYRUS HALL, Of Peasants and Ritchie.-
My opinion is, that the election Ct Judge CAM
den would give greater satisfaction to the peo.
pie of Northwestern Virginia than that Of any
other man that could be named. | know
Judge Camden we'll know him 10 be Iir-
gnian of The right stamp, and man Of chi
nent requirements, ripe scholarship and proven
bal prudence and discretion. think he would
unite the people of Northwestern Virginia,
and harmonlze them to greater degree than
any othor gentleman that has been nominated
for this position.
hope that the nomination Of NJ. Russell
| will 10 Withdrawn. While | can bear tes.i.
| mony to The qualifications j! tba, gentleman
and his entire fitness for this office, yet am
satisfied that the will OF our people would be
| best consulted by the election vi Judge Cam
den.
Mr. CAPEkTuS, of M1:.rre.-f beg leave to
say MS one who served with Judge Camden in
the Convention CT l6JG-'5 that he maintained
| position there OF as much fidelity and credit as
any man coming from that portion CT the State
ss chose who we're there with him, and who are
| row here will testify. Further than that, Judge
Camden has shown tb$t ne will be, in all pro
babilty, more acceptable tp the people Of that
| part OF the Commonwealth than any that
could be chosen.
lie hiss been twice elected to the bench
| In his first contest he was elected by maiori.
ty Of 5000, and in his second contest he was
| elected over G popular Democrat by majority
of over 1000. have not been much &C.
quanted with Judge Camden, but those who
have been acquainted with him say that there
! is no more popular man in that region Of the
| 4 -; -, -, l.,
election for the Judyeship was the delegate
from the county OF Preston (Mr. BRowN) who
was hard Inau 10 beat, aud Judge Camden
was elected over him by over 1000 majority.
This, presume, is conclusive of the populari :
| ty Of that gentleman in his region o! country,
and shows that his election to this position
would give general satisfaction to the people
Of that region.
Mr.. TuRNER.-I withdraw the nomination
| OF Mr.. Jenkins, whilst do not believe that the
election Of Judge Camden would give more sat.
isfactiou to the people Of the Northwest than
would that of Mr.. Jenkins.
Mr.. W1Lson.--I cannot let this opportunity
pass without adding my testimony to the
| worth and ability Of my county man, Judge
Camden. | am grateful to those gentlemen
who have 80 ably, and must say, appropri-
stely vindicated his claims. and borne testi-
mony to his character and qualifications.
1t is very desirable that in the election
now to be made, an effort should be made
to reconcile all sections. Judge Camden
is native of the State, and las called
around him more warm personal friends than
any gentleman, perhaps, in the region Of coun.
try in which he lives. He enjoys the highest
degree of confidence among all Errly in life
he was whig, and made his first departure,
believe, from that party during the Buchanan
and Fremont campaign when be supported the
democratic candidate. Whatever party attilia.
tions he showed since then, were with the de-
mocracy, think but he has observed a judi
cious neutrality since his elevation to the
judgeship, and there isscarcely possibility of
forming an opinion as toshis political 'predlec-