The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-05-09

4ithn1utm 9ispaifh
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SATURDAY. .s:...MAY 1858.
The Conservative State Convention
1hesNunai,ees
The Convention was .insconsindGss ses-
sion Yesterday from 10 o'clock In the Fore
noon until 5 o'clock In the afternoon.
Those who were present enjoyed rich
treat in listening 70 the. speeches Of the
distinguished gentlemen who claimedthsir
attention. There was a question which
divided the convcntion-whesher they
should nominate men who are disouaiiaed
BY the HowxED amendment, or men elizi.
bic under shs amendment. There Was no
difference sosopinions expressed sas 10 the
odious oashs put into the s~c-caaaed Gonstisu-
ton by the recent negro Convention infhis
city. NoneSof the candidates ccaid-sake
these oaths. None Of them are in favor Of
the ratification Of the Constitutions. sa nv
Mr.. EDarNDs, Of Halifax, Srst drew the
rambling debate which had been going on,
into wellSdefned limits. He came out
boldly and eloquently in favor Of nomina-
ting candidates net disqualified by the.
HOWARD amendment, although he is him
self q Of the prescribed. He was not,
ready to raise an issue with Congress. His
speech produced a decided impression. he
was followed by Mr.. McMuLL1S, of
Smyth county, who withdrew the name Of
his candidate, and earnestly endorsed the.
views SO ably presented by AIR. EpxUNps.
Mr.. S~UTHERLIN, OF Danyille, next spoke.
His ann was exceedingly earnest and
impassioned. He also deprecated the policy
Of making direct issue with Congress.
Mr.. DA~SIELfhen took the floor, and in a
cool, calm, andzargumentatiye speech-as
sharp and bright as q. Damascus blade
combatted the reasoning Of the three gem
tlemen who Immediately preceded him. His
remarks wereswarmly applauded.
Hon. JoHs B. BALDWIN, one of the two
candidates Whowere finally voted for, va
Gated the chair and defined his position.
Confessing that he was profoundly grateful
for the manifestations of preference for
him which had been made in the Conven-
ton, he nevertheless found in these mani
festations only q stronger motive for acting
in the most honorable and candid manner
towards his friends. He conceded with the
views expressed by Mr.. EDNUNDs. He did
not regard himself as a proper person to be
nominated. He could see no difference in
principle between nominating disqualified:
man and nominating one who was not dis
qualified, proYidedb both were equally trust
worthy and on the point of expediency he
held that it would be wise to nominate o
man who was not disqualified. He stated
his propositions in. the ~clearest language,
and in a mannerthat seemed to us, at least,
(agreeing, as we did, with him., sufficient
to produce conviction in every mind. He
concluded by earnestly requesting that his
name should be withdrawn.
Mr.. MAaYE followed on the other side.
His speech was full of nervous language
and fiery eloquence. Mr.. BARBOUR, of
Culpeper, made a few remarks indicating
that he agreed with Nh. EDMUNDs. 4 Mr.:
GUILD, Of this city, reinforced Mr.. DANIELS
arguments. So also did Mr.. BEALE, Of
westmoreland. Mr.. Bocock, of Appomat-
tox, took the floor, and made q strong argu-
ment against nominating any disqualified
man. Mr.. EDMUNDs also again spoke on
the same side, as did also Colonel W1THERs,
who had previously earnestly requested
that no one should vote for him. .s.-
These speeches were nearly oil of them
specimens Of soratorythat would have done
credit to any deliberative body. We allude
to them with a purpose. We desire that
Virginia shall 60 before Congress with a
plea which cannot be rejected. She has
chosen for her standard-bearers three men
who are eligible to Office under the recon-
struction acts, but who are disqualified by
the abominab1e negro Constitution. We
wish alSocto let the world see the magma
nimity manifested by Messrs. BALDWIN
and WITuERs. Colonel BALDWIN, has,, n
deed, woven q new chaplet Of honors for
his own brow. He has proved himself TO-
be a noble speciimensof the Virginia gentle
man-worthy Of the Old Dominion in her
palmy days. q 81 ,sy.ss Is. -.
But we return to our subject. MI.
BALDWIN was the candidate Of those
who wished to disregard the Sdisqualifca-
tons of tina HowARp amendment, and
Colonel Of. those who wished to-
respectthem.S Each, Of course, voted for
the other. Colonel WITHERs received two
more votes than Mr.. BALDWIN, and was
then declared the unanimous choice Of the
Convention, Mr.. BALDWIN himself making
a most felicitous congratulatory speech.
Afterwards, General JAMES WALKER was
nominated for Acknowledgement, and
JOHN L. MARYE, Jr., for Acknowledgement.
Both Of these gentlemen are also eligible to
Office under the HOWARD amendment.
All Of these gentlemen are Virginians.
All Of them nra aSnerSnf fhe first character |