Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-05-12
POLITICAL CONVENTIONS:


parties placed their candidates for the various
Offices in the field. The Conservative Con-
yention, which met in Richmond on Thurs
day, and which Was presided over by Hon.
JOHN d. BALDWIN Of Augusta, was gath
ering of the able and earnest men of the
Commonwealth, iutsnt upon rescuing the
State from the degradation which the mon
grel constitution of the recent Convention
threatens to impose; whilst the radical Con-
vention which met the day previous was
body composed in great part Of. the SCALA
wags and negroes who figured in the deceased
constitutional Convention.
In contrasting TIE two bodies, the SOUTH
crm Opinion says. in one assemblage stood
Virginians, high and hoary Of head-men
such as General Samuel Mcdowell Moore,
Thomas Jefferson Randolph, David Tucker,
Thomas s. Bocock, John 3. Baldwin, and a
host of others CT the old and ancient regime.
In that other collection Of the odds
ends Of humanity-the "tailings" Of the
human herd-crouched and sniTeled such
specimens as Bayne and Ycamoh and Norton,
and Lindsey, among the representatives Of the
Eegro race, and Porter, Platte and Hines,
puny apologists for the white among their
spotted kind. In one body, the wicked work
that consummated would place the State I'M
der negro and scaIlawag hoofS, was about
drawing to conclusion; in that other higher
and nObler body, the mighty work designed
to rescue Virginia from the talons of these
ghouls, was about to commence.
In one wrought the elements of Right and
Justice; in the other ragged all the devilish
Influences Of wrong, oppression and discord.
One body was white-the other black; one
Nirgiuian-thc other African.
The Conservative Convention concluded its
labors by placing in nomination the following
admirable ticket, which for the honor of the
State, we hope to see successful at the en-
suing election: For Governor, Col. Robert
Z. Withers, of Lynchburg; for Lieutenant
Governor, Gen. james Walker of Pulaski !;
for Attorney General, John L. Marye, of
Spottsylvania; for Congressman at large, Col.
Marmaduke johnson, of Richmond city.
The radical convention conferred their
honors on the following parties: For Gov
ernor, Henry II. Wells, the present carpet
bag incumbent; James II. Clements, of
Portsmouth, another et-bagger, drew the
prize for Lieutenant Governor; for Attorney
General, George W. Booker of Henry; and
for Congress at large, a. NJ. Crane Of Win
chester. The latter edits radical paper in
Winchester, aud we believe originally halls
from Vermont.
In the latter convention there were some
rich, but rather inharmonious scenes. Its
temporary chairman was not up to parlia-
mentary tricks, and his management of the
negro element was anything but satisfactory
to that rising and ambitious class. The
Southern Opinion thus pictures a scene which
TRANSFERRED about the hour when the perma
nent organization was Effected
At three o'clock the Hall was again filled
and the Convention came up smiling to the
work, The spirit Of the ring" had been
working, and the Wells wing WAS more tur-
bulent and saucy than before.
1t had been apparent from the first organ
ization that the Chairman was ignoramus
and unfit for his position. He was less than
a child in the storm that swept about him,
and failed utterly to grasp and hold the reins
Of parliamentary control. The Convention
was chaos and he could not bring order out
of it.
Utterly at fault with his rulings, the un-
fortunate bewldered and dumbfounded
Chairman hit upon what he thought the only
safe expcdicnt left him so he ruled query
body out Of order
The more expert of the delegates, gradu-
ates of the Capitol Convention, strOve for the
enlightenment OF the Chair, aud sought in 4
modest way TO put him on his parliamentary
pins, but he knocked them down one after
another with his heavy tack hammer.
sit down. The gentleman is out of or
DER were the only recognition they re-
ceived
Thus affairs ragged for an hour, when
happy relief came in the person Of "Reverend'
Colonel David b. White, Chairman Of the,
Committee on Credentials and the Committee
on Permanent Organization, who were ready
to report
The Chair had his hammer raised and was
about to knock the prince" out of order.
when somebody from behind the scenes
prompted the Chair, who, turning round and
round like dog in hot pursuit Of his tail
recovered himself sufficiently to put the
question properly.
White remained nigh the CHAIR to assist,
while Clements, the nominee for permanent
Chui-man, strobe back and forth behind the
WINS OF the stage scenery, sweating, and
swearing worse than a knight Of the sock
and buskin' in the blood and thunder drama.
Vt last, when it seemed that the Convention
was about to dissolve in general smash up,
. -
was put and adopted, aud in 4 moment he had
seized the ribbons" Of the runaway Conven-
ton team.
Watkins James, the discounted, retired,
wiping the sweat from his brow, and declar-
iI..r tLut II rns tie LnriaSt daU 9 work he ever