Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-12-20

branches of business, were in attendance,
lending their aid to this effort to wrest the
proud old Commonwealth from the social
freebooters and political pirates who have
gotten possession of her.
The proceedings of the Convention were
opened with prayer by the Rev. DIR. HoGE,
of the Presbyterian Church.
Hon. ALEX I'll. II. STUART was chosen
President A plan for the organization OF
the party was perfected, a platform adopted,
a committee appointed to prepare and
publish an address to the people Of the
State. The session lasted two days. With
little or no speaking, without divisions CT
dissentions, these men, forgetting the issues
which formerly separated them, but which
died amid the terrible throes of revolution,
met to save their State from the impend-
ing dangers to which negro domination has
brought her.
President STUART, in taking the chair,
spoke as follows:
Gentlemen of the C0nUenti0n Il thank you for
the honor you have done me i'll calling me to pre-
side over Convention which em6Odies so large
share Of the virtue Intelligence and patriotism OF
Virginia.
We have assembled, gentlemen. under circum-
stances Of peculiar interest and solemnlty. This
is no Convention to advance the lntereats OF a
mere party. Thank Heaven, IF the late fearful
conflict has done other good, it has etfaced all
old party lines and subdued ali old party lrrlta-
tons. We come together not DIS Wings or Demo
Gratis, but Virginians, earnestly devoted to the
promotion of tho interests and honor of our COM
mon mother. Nor have We come together III &uy
tactous spirit or with any aggressive purpose.
Whatever opinions individual members OF this
Convention may have entertained in the past as
10 tho right OF State to withdraw from the Union.
l think 1 may safely affirm that they have
been abandoned impracticable The questions
arising out of those opinions have been referred
to the arbitrament of arms, and having been de
cided adversely, all now feel that they are bound
in honor, wel as lmpel!ed b. interest, to stand
by the award.
The people of Virginia now icsiro repose and
they earnestly seek a rGstorRtlAr, If Their cUnsti
tutlonal relations to the Union the hest means
of aforling it. They feel, too, that the material
interests OF all parts of our widely xtended conn
try impaired and our liberties imperil!ed, by
tho longer continuance of the present unhappy
strlfes and we seek a restoration OF the Mon
the most efficient romedy for all the evils Of which
we complain.
When the war ceased we were told that il $50
annulled our ordinances of secession, and rcpli,i
ated the Confederate debt, aud perfected the
emancipation OF our slaves by adopting the con
stitutional amendments, would be restored to
our CONSTITUTE onal rights. To these conditions
promptly acceded, because they involved no sac
IlhCe vi our SelI-ISSpSCb aLll were dItShueu
national degradation. We have faithfully fulfilled
all thsso conditions, and yet our rights are with
held. May we not, under these circumstances,
appeal to the justice and good faith of the North
| for the redemption of the promises thus made to
us r.?
| Looking to events which have happened in 9TH
| or Southern States, the people of Virginia hayo
been led to fear that policy is to be inaugurao cd
here whca tends if it be not designed, to subycrt
our whole social fabric and to bring the land Of
Washington, Henry, Jefferson, Madison and Mar
shall, under the dominion of alien and inferior
race. We should be false to all the instincts Of
through our veins-false to every obligation of
duty to ourselves, our kindred and our country. if
we did not earnestly protest against and seek to
| arrest so fearful calamity.
] We hope our fears may be unfounded. We
| hope we may be spared this attempted degrade
i ton. But it is the part of prudence TO guard
against all contingencies. 1t il for this purpose
that we have met to take counsel to ,ether to-day
| We wish with one united voice tc appeal to the
patriotic people of tie North to TO our re-
| lief and stay the hands of those who would or-
press and degrade US.
We desire further to perfect our organization,
so that all who desire that this shall continue to-
| be O white mans government may be able to act
! in concert; and by one vigorous and united effort
save ourselves from ruin and Disgrace. We
fer military rule to the despotism Of an ignorant
rabble. Aud we wish to declare, with eArnestness
| and emphasis, that, come what may, we and those
| we represent can never aS"-@ that this shall be
any other than white mans government. Our
| rights may be wrested from us by violence but we
will never agree that our proud old mother shall
be presented in the attitude OF cOusenting to her
own degradation.