The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-07-20
Where Shall the Convention be Held
Norfolk or Petersburga

to the Philadelphia Convention, expressed the
opinion that the State should be represented
therein. They recommended at the same
time the election by the people of three dele
gates, at least, from each Congressional Dis
trict, with four from the State at large. the
elections to be made by the LIST day of Au-
gust, when the Committees will reasonable
and If necessary, supply omissions which may
appear in the representation from any of the
Districts of the State. We incline to the
opinion that the shortness of time allowed,
the want Of mail facilities, and the lack of To-
cal organization will devolye upon the Com
mittees the responsible task of filling many
vacancies: and think, their plan of action will
be substantially that propounded by US in
our issue of the 10th. 81
We recur to our article of that date now.
for the purpose of again urging upon our
community the importance of taking some
such course o. action as we therein suggested.
In our paper to which we refer, we advised
the assembling of a Convention in this city
ing the action of the Central Committee"
We renew that suggestion, except so far as
the date applies, and again urge the officers
Of the johnson meeting, which assembled here
last winter with such unanimity of purpose,
at once to issue the necessary call to effect
this object. A full expression of the public
voice on this matter, is of great importance,
and there is no time to be lost
On the l6th-we are particular as to the
date, for reason Immediately to appear.
we published our call for District Conven-
ton in this city, and, on the same day, the
county of Dinwiddie made, by resolution, the
same suggestion, with the important excep-
ton of naming Petersburg as the place.
Here are conflicting claims to be adjusted
As the exponent of Norfolk and Portsmouth
In this matter, we are not disposed to aban-
don our position, and if abandoned, it must
be in obedience to the wishes of the people of
these two towns. We say Exponent" as far
as this particular matter is concerned, and
claim it without arrogance, for the Old Do
mlnion has expressed no opinion, the Com
mercial is silent, and the Virginian, of the
10th, endorses the call from Dinwiddie. We
trust our contemporary and friend will recon-
slider its opinion on this point. We cheer
fully supported the call of the Portsmouth
Club for State Convention in Petersburg;
we supported it until it was obviously i'm
practicable; and now we are disposed to
maintain our ground, assumed on the 10th.
Notwithstanding the action taken in Dinwid-
die. We do not ask our friend the Virgin
ian, to reconsider its endorsement of the Pc
tersburg Convention without sound reasons.
We ask it in the interests of the great move
ment Of which we are both advocates, for we
think, apart from minor claims, which we do
not surrender because we waive them in this
argument, that fuller and more authorita-
tive expression of the public opinion of this
district, can be obtained here than in Peters
burg. We rest this opinion on the following
good reasons: If, as will be granted, full
popular expression is desired, that place
where this can be secured with the greatest
certainty, should be the point at which the
Convention should assemble.
An examination of the geographical rela-
tons of Norfolk and Petersburg, to the coun-
ties composing the districts, will enable us to
decide the relative advantages of the two
places Fl
1st We have here two cities. and will be
certain to secure the representation of Ports
mouth, to which that of Suffolk and Smith
field, with the possible addition of Jerusalem,
can be easily added. Here then in the be-
ginning of the comparison we have two cities
and three small towns against one city.
I'd. We have lying in compact mass Just
about us the counties of Norfolk, Princess
Anne, Nansemond, Southampton, and Isle of
Wight, from at least four OF which, to wit
Southampton, Nansemond, Norfolk, and
Princess Anne, the delegates would have to
pass through this city on their way to Peters
burg. Here then we have four towns, big
and little, and five counties, to which this
place bears the geographical relations neees-
sary to secure the attendance of their repre-
sentatives; and speaking in their interests, as
well as in those of Norfolk, we ask, which
place are they likely to prefer-which place
are they most likely to attend ?
3D. Surry and Sussex, lie on the line of the
railroad between this place and Petersburg,
and one at least of these counties, Surry, can
reach Norfolk with less trouble than would
be encountered in going to the Cockade City.
Here then are four towns, great and small,
and six populous counties whose voices can