Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-12-17
Editorial Convention,

tors or otauntOn, suggesting the pFOpTleCy OF
comforting together that the Press of the State
might act in concert in the approaching cleo
ton in which the fate Of Virginia will be de-
termined, was responded to most favorably, and,
in compliance Herewith, the Editors of most of
the Conservative journals Of the State met in
Convention on the evening Of the 18th inst, in
one of the parlors Of the Ballard House in Rich
mond-an elegant room provided for them for
that purpose by the liberal and generous
hearted proprietors of that large and excellent
Hotel-Messrs Jno ?. Ballard & Sons
Maj J. II. KELLY, of the Fredericksburg
HeraN, was elected President, and JAS. A.
Cowardin, Senr., Of the Richmond Dispatch,
was elected Secretary Of the Convention. When
the Convention was thus organized, W. III. IL.
Lynn, of the Staunton indicator, offered
resolution approaching the action of the Con-
sentative State Convention, and pledglng the
Conservative Press to earnest support OF Its
policy.
r. W. Hunter of the Winchester Times, OBJ
iecting to it's phraseology, on motion Of K. ii.
Glass, of the Lynchburg Republican, the Chair
appointed the following committee OF five to
prepare business for the consideration of the
Convention: ..:s
Glass, Of the LyncAbwg RepubHcon Cole
man of the Enquirer and Examiner; Hunter,
of the Winchester Times; Bouldin, Of the Dan
uiYe Times; Mauzy Of the Staunton Spectator.
The Committee reported the following reso-
luton, which was unanimously adopted: :
Resolved, That we approve the action taken
by the Conservative Convention OF the State OF
Virginia, which adjourned this day, and that
we congratulate the people Of Virginia, upon
the wisdom and patriotism which have charac-
terized their representatives IN SAID Convention
On motion Of Mr.. 4. NJ. CARRIER, OF the vat
len T7rqij.ian, modified by several amendments,
Resolved, That it is the desire Of this Conven-
ton to form an association, to be known as the
Associated Press Of Virginia.
Resolved That committee Of i've be ap-
pointed by the President of this Convention to
draft constitution and bylaws for such an as
ISOLATION.
The President appointed the following gen
tlcmen to compose the committee:
Messrs. Cowardin Of the Dispatch, Mcdonald
OF the Whig Coleman of the Enquirer and Ex-
aminer Foster of the Norfolk Day Book, and
Button Of the Lynchburg Virginian.
On motion Of DR.. George ". Bagby, OF the
Natirc Tuginiaa,
Resolved, That the thanks of this conven-
ton be rendered to MessTs. Ballard 4 Sons Tor
the use of their rooms during our session.
On motion Of Mr.. Little, Of the Ffcdcr}chS-
Jmg Ne1cs, the convention then adjourned
On the adjournment Of the convention, tick
cts were presented to the Editors inviting them
to partake of banquet rendered them by
Messrs Jno. P Ballard & Sons. At half past
9 O clock p NJ they were invited to enter the
banquet hall where stood long table tastefulIy
decorated and filed with the most delicious del
icaces that ever tempted the appetite or graft
fed the palate of the most fastidious epicure.-
We adopt the report Of the Enquirer and En-
amiiner, which is as follows
THE affair was organized by selecting the
elder Mr. Cowardn, Of the Dispatch as Presl-
dent Of the board, with Messrs. George W.
| Bagbv, Of the Native Virginian, and George
r. Barr Of the Abingdon Firginian, as vice
/ presidents.
On either hand Of the president appeared
Messrs A Fl. H:tStuart and John b. Bald
win, well known to the country as among the
ablest and noblest Of Virginia s sons, who had
| been invited as guests on the occasion. Be
|
| Washington, of the National lnteIgencer,
| Hotchkiss, formerly of Stonewall jackson S
staff, Zeph. Turner, Of the county OF Kappa
hammock. and I. r. Farrar, Of Amelia county,
| E Johnny Reb" The assemblage OF editors
comprised members Of the fraternity from ali
parts of the State, and presented an array OF
talent, genius; learning and patriotic devotion
to State and country, such as it is difficult to
bring together. Indeed, We think we are not
claiming too much for the fraternity in saying
that this assembage of the gentlemen Of the
editorial profession contained as great an
amount Of these qualities as can be found III an
| equal number Of gentlemen from any other call
ing.
1t is hardly necessary to say that the ample
supply Of delicious viands, wines, liquors, and
cigars provided by Messrs. Ballard & Sons the
liberal hosts, received entire justice at the
hands of all present After these things had
been satisfactorily discussed and disposed Of,
the feast OF reason and flow Of soul began.
Some Of the regular toasts were as follows:
''Virginia Responded to by Col. r. 4.
| Withers, Of the Lynchburg News, IN most
happy strain OF patriotic devotion to the grand
! Commonwealth, the mother of us all, as he
| fcelingly described her.
The Union and the Constitution" Respond
ed to by James Mcdonald Esq, of the Wing,
with marked ability and just appreciation of the
blessings of Constitutional liberty under Con
stitutiona Union.
ANDREW Johnson President of the United
States" Responded to by Ro. Ii. Glass, Esq,
Of the Lynchburg Republican.
The Conservative Press of the Northern
States" Responded to by L. @. Washington,
Esq of the National Intelligencer
| Besides these, quite a number Of other regular
tOasts and some volunteer ones appropri-
atey responded to by Mcssrs. Stuart Baldwin,
Hotchkiss Turner Farrar, Button, Of the Lynch
burg Vrginlan, Cameron, Of the Petersburg In
dex, CARRIER, of the Valley Virginian, Wartman
Of the Harrisonburg Register, r. Mauzy the
Staunton Spectator, Lynn Of the Staunton Vim
dicator, Boudin Of the Danville Times, Finks OF
the Wamenton Index, Cannon of the Warren
ton Sentinel, Little of the Fredericksburg n ews,
Hunter Of the Winchester Times, Sheets Of the
| Lcesburg Mirror, Houston of the Fincastle Her
| aid, Lyle Of the Christiansburg Southwest, Eos
ter Of the Norfolk Day Book, Barr OF the Abing-
don Virgnan, Bagby of the Native Virginan,
the elder and the younger Cowardin of the Dis
patch Shields and Gilman Of the Wing and 9th
| erS.
| We regret that our space precludes further
notice of this pleasant affair, but cannot omit tC
mention the graceful manner in which Mr.. John
| p Ballard, the veteran of Virginia hotel propri-
etOrs, and his genial, Whole-souled stirring and
| accommodating sons, expressed their appreca
ton of the complimentary toasts proposed il
| their honor"
For the Spectator,