The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-02-11
Conservative State Convention.


North Carolina was held in Raleigh on Wednes
day and Thursday last, the 9th and 9th inst.
In order to give Our readers an idea Of wha
was said and done, We condense an account O.
the proceedings from the Raleigh Sentinel:
The Convention was called to order by Col
Thos. A Allison, Of 1redell, who moved that
FER the purpose of temporary organization, r. FL
Smith, Esq, of Halifax, be invited to take the
chair.
Mr. Smith took the chair, amid the applause
of the Convention.
Seaton Calls, j. A. ElAelhard, Lewis Hanes
and Jordan Stone were requested to act as tenn.
porary Secretaries of the convention.
The list of counties was then called, and II
counties were found to be represented by about
$50 delegates. Among the counties represented
We note the following:
Burke-S Med Tate, Carter W F McKesson
A avery.
Cc5arrus-G L Gibson, Harris, John Wincoff,
r Means, W Means.
Catar5a-Dr Ellis
CleaUeIaad-Pi,Ito Durham.
Cald@eH-Col N Folk, Maj W II Malone, Capt
Jones.
I1edeH-John Mclaughlin, A Allison, Pen;
Arey, II Hill, S Sharpe, W Foot G Clegg,
W Drake, II VI atnSon, IL + SIm0nton.
Jincoln-Jno Bulinger, DR. NJ L Brown ] F Hoke.
Kechlenburg-Gov Vance, J Morehead, ii Me-
Alden, Thos Grier
Roman-F E Shober VIM NJ Robbins, Kerr Craige
J Henderson, Luckey, J c Turner J Srancil,
} McCubbins.
Speeches were made by Gov. Vance, Gov.
Bragg, R. Y. McAden and Hon. Weldon n
Edwards
The committee on permanent organization re-
ported the following officers:
For PREsIDENT-Hon. William A Graham
V1cE-PREsIDENTs-Io Weldon \ Edwards,
Warren; Hon Lewis Hanes, Davidson Richard
III Smith, Halifax; Samuel Radcliff, Craven
John W Leak, Richmond; J P Ell Russ, Wake;
Jesse III Lindsay, Guilford Jno H Mclaughlin,
Iredell A L Davidson, Macon; Col Z D Hall,
New Hanover; Samuel Med Tate, Burke; VIM
4 Robbins, Rowan; & F Armfeld, Wilkes.
SECRETARIEs-Seaten Gales of the Raleigh
Sentinel; j A Engelhard of the Wilmington
Journal Jordan Stone of the Roanoke News
W Drake, Statesville American Ii Brinn of
The Newborn Herald
The nominations were unanimously ratified
The temporary chairman having requested the
Hon. Thomas Bragg and Col. Thos A Allison
TO conduct Gov. Graham to the stand, that gen.
,leman came forward and assumed the chair amid
he hearty cheers of the large and enthusiastic
audience.
Gov. GRAHAM's SPEECH
Gov. Graham said that although he had ex-
oected to take his full share in the deliberations
# the Convention nothing could surprise him
more than this call to preside over it, He had
10 animation that such would be the case. and |
would, therefore, apologize, in advance, for any |
deficiencies in what he might have to say He |
banked the convention heartily for the appre-
lation of himself implied in the honor conferred,
nd would endeavor to discharge the duties i'm
'osed upon him to the best of his ability
We had met for purposes of deiberation on the |
olitical situation. A desohting and expensive !
var had swept over the land, and the question
ow to be settled is whether, after all, we have |
'eace. The President of the United States de-
lares that We have the judicial Department of
he land has so decided, Especially has Judge
'elson emphaticany SO declared in the Eagun
lobeos Corpus caae.) But Congress implies, by
IS action, that War still prevails. Surely, if so,
'ar only exists by fiction of law, of which the
cope are profoundly ignorant They had sup
oscd that the armies of the South surrendered.
hat the capltulaton had been accepted in GOOD
ilth and tlat therefore, Peace prevailed In
ther countries, after protracted and desolating
ar, and the return OF peace, men may have been
but it was done in a constitut ional
tanner. But the measures taken indicate that
ne States, as States, must suffer as we'll as men
l their individual capacities.
Gov. u. said that he thought with all defer
nee to Congress, of which ne should speak in
0 terms Of contumely) that it would have been
0 difficult matter to have settled the controversy.
wen harmony to the country and placed the
eople On the road of a moderate prosperity, in
cad of their being, as now, depressed and i'm
}Verished When Charles the Second came
ick to the throne-an era of restoration of au-
lorlty, hat analogous to the present, after
lat authority had been temporarily deposed-
ord Clarendon, the Chancellor, speaking for the !:
ing said to Parliament: His Maiestv directs
to say that he is sutton to you, and asks YOU
join with him in restoring the country and ,
ople to their ancient temper and dignity, their ]
d good humor and manners" Oh for a Clar
don at the close of war. Ii it had been ,
oclaimed in the councils of the country that =,
ere Was desire to restore harmony and the 8
turn of concord and amity it would have been -,
llverSally seconded, and although some little +
ound-swell of alienation might have succeeded
the furious lashings of the storm, all would i
now, have been tranquil and peaceful.
The war had been carried on about q uestion
on which the people had differed from the for
'tlon of the Constitution. A large class be-
we'd that State had right to withdraw from
2 Union, as in case Of ordinary contracts, p
len they thought the obligation violated on s
: other side. That class constituted. perhaps RI
: majority,-a majority which held the reins
power with rare intervals. He (Mr G. had )
yer believed lii that doctrine; but it was dis =.