Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-02-19
FRoM RICHMoNp.

b
I Certainly there could not be more beau
tifnl weather anywhere in the world than
there is at this time in this city. The
mornings are as bllny aud bracing as
May, md no one thinks of putting on an
uyercoat, except early in tie morning or
late in the evening. The good people of
this ancient town are enviably favored in
point of climate, possessing, perhaps, the
most desirable one of any section of the
United States. | have been here three
times at about this time of year and have
never found tho weather less grateful to
the feelings than now. am told that it
is pretty much on this order the winter
through. The effects of this outward
RenialitY is visible in the appearance Of
the people. You meet with "a great many
old and elderly people in proportion to the
population Of Il city of this size, and what
imprrsses stranger, is that they all
seem to look 50 well kept, too. They have
plethora of body and ftco that 6e:okens
hale constitutions and favorable chances
foT longevity. l rccollect that Caleb Cush-
ing, two or three years ago, made a speech
before the United States Agricultural Fair
in this city, in Which lie said that there
WAS belt or zone of country bounded by
Philadelphia on the North, and the lower
line of Virginia on the South, and stretch
ing from tho Atlantic Coast to the Missis-
sippi river, in which tho grade of people,
OF ilurses aud cattle, were of much higher
development than in the country either
North or South of it. He attributed the
difference to climate and soil, and am i'm
clined, from all have observed since read
ing his speech, to think that there is some
thing in what he said. He made special
emphasis in speaking of the ladies Of the
strip of country referred to: and think
that he is borne out by the appearance of
those you meet on the streets and in the
hotels here. 1t would be hard to find
more attractive specimens of the sex than
many of the country cousins" who are
sojourning in the city during the sessions
of the legislature and the convention. 1t
adds materially to the pleasure of bache-
lor's visit to have the privilege Of looking
ut them.
Speaking about personal appearances, 1
have an item or two to remark upon that
head. During yesterday and to-day, tue
time of the Convention has been in good
part consumed by nominations for the diff
ferent offices necessary for the organiza-
ton of the Convention. For almost every
nominees, (the offices are snlaricd,) and
each nominee had his brace of advocates,
one of whom announced him, and the rest
seconded the nomination, and passed eulo-
gies on the nominee. All kinds of reas-
OnJ were given why Mr.. .'Jeems" SO and so
should be elected Secretary, Sergeant, Door
keeper or Page. The most common ron
son, next to being "poor and worthy" adj
vanced, was upon the score of "personal
pUlchritude." Some eight or ten candidates
were recommended for the grace of their
person. Their ine and imposing appear
ances were eloquently dweIt upon. Some
member put the cap sheNf on this style of
Recommendation by saying that his nomi-
nee was not a very handsome mai, but his
wife was very beautiful woman, and had
FIVE very likely children Mr.. Vim. C.
Scott, Of Powhat0n, struck of oua new
tack-Onc which created n great deal of
merriment-Gnd said that his client was
not a very good looking man as lie knew
of, but he had another and much higher
claim on the Convention. He quoted that
tradition of the old Romans that was said to
ennobIc man when he had become the
father Off certain number of children, and
said that his nominee, although only about
81 years of age, was the known father of
Is children. Another man WAS recon-
mended because he had served his cOun-
try in Mexico; but this qualification, in
tue opinion If the secessionists. was rath-
cr disPNragement than otherwise
And thus the time Of the Convention, for
the past three days, has been pretty much
consumed in nominating and eulogiZiug
persons for the Offices of the Convention.
1t WAS finished up to-day ny the Unanimous
election of Elliott, of the Richmond Hhig,
as public printer.
Speaking of ''personal pnlchritude" re-
minds me that there are some very fine
specimens Of manhood, especially of '.green
old age" Ia the Convention. John Jan
ney, of Loudon county, the President, is u
noble and most lOveable looking old man.
His hair is long, heavy, white as snow and
soft as silk. 1t falls most strikingly on Oh
Their side of his winning face with an mex
Pressible grace of appearance. To see
him is to be drawn right to him in admira-
ton. tie is tall and commanding, and
looks like one of Washington IrviQg's fin
est models of British Peer of the Realm
Hcis one Of the most modest mon in the
world, yet has that great firmncss, rcadi-
ness, tact, aud more than all, that win
some courtesy and goodness of heart that
eminentlyf fit him for presiding over such
have in this Convention. He. is n self.
made man, having raised himself from OBJ
security, and has been for most of his loug
life lawyer in easy practice at Leesburg,
In Londonu. Another fine looking, we'll
| conditioned old gentleman is James Mar.
shall, OF WiuchestcF-a relative, 1 believe.
of Mr. Chas. Marshall, of your city. He
is the colleague from the county OF Fred
ericE, of Robert 7. Conrad, also of Vim
chester, and this delegation is said to be
ono of the strongest in the Convention. Mr..
Conrad Is a lawyer of eminence, being re-
marIable, AS Gov. Wise told him, for his
subtle reflection" He it was who to-day
offered tho resolution providing that ali
motions or resolutions which should be
submitted to the Convention touching our
Federal relations should be consigned, ga,
once aud without Clebate.u to n COMMITTEES