Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-10


i'll the design Of flag intended TO Symbol
lie the noble canse for which the South so
CALAMITY contended.
| For the Journal!
Conservative Meeting in Richmond County
Nessrs. Editors According to previous
appointment quite respectable number
of citizens assembled at Spring Hill, Rich
mond county, N. c., on Saturday the 26th
ult. Mr.. NJ. w McNair was called to the
chair, and Robert A. johnson was request
ed to act as Secretary.
| The Chairman, after having expI4ine q
the object If the meeting, appointed
Messrs. Milton Mcintosh, Lauchlin Mcneil,
Arch'd Johnson, D. ". Livingston and J.
! NJ. Johnson as committee to draft reso-
lutiOns. The committee, after consulta-
| ton, presented the following resolutions,
which were separately and unanimously
adopted
| WHEREAS, The organization of Conservative
party in North Csrelina is necessity therefore,
feSGtCed ISL, mat Wa recognize the duty to SuS-
tain law and order, and support, cheerfully all
constitutional measures Of the United States gov
| ernrnent.
| Resolred I'd, That the Chairman Of this meet
| ing appoint AecI;tive Committee for Rich
mOnd county, consisting OF three members from
each precinct, whose duty it shall be to organize
d Conservative party in this county, and to take
the necessary steps for the appointment of dele
gates to represent said party the Conservative
Convention. to be held il the city of Raleigh.
RpSOlUed Sd, That the Chairman have until the
10th of January next to make the appointments
On motion, the meeting adjourned.
NJ. ". MCNAIR, Chairman.
RoB'T A. JOHNSON, Secretary.
conservative papers Of the State copy.
The Hon. \. II. H. Stuart having been
invited by a committee to banquet to be
given in Washington on the Sth day of
January, courteously declines the invita-
ton for very proper reasons Ne give his
letter below, and commend it most hearth
ly. Words fifty spoken are like apples of
gold in pictures of silver:
STAUNToN, Va, January 2, 1865
Gentlemen,-I pray you to accept my
thanks for your kind invitation to tend
banquet to be given at the Metropolitan
Hotel, in the city of Washington, on the
9th instant, under the auspices of the lead
ing members of the Conservative Demo
cratic party.
Under ordinary circumstances it would
be peculiarly gratifying to me to partici
pate in the festivities of that occasion, and
to enjoy 1.-the feast of reason and flow of
soul " which, doubt not, will give zest to
your entertainment. But situated As am
-disfranchised as a citizen, denied the
political privileges which are accorded to
my negro servant; repealed from the hall
| of the House of Representatives, to which
[ was elected almost by acclamation; my
native State, the proud old mother of
! Washington, aud Henry, and Jefferson,
unrecognized save as Military District No.
| II must confess [ would feel somewhat
out of place at your board.
In former days, when I visited Washing
ton as representative of the people, or as
associate of Webster, Crittenden, and Cor
win, in the executive councils of the ma
ton, / felt that, in the eye of the law at
least, I was the peer Of the Hottest in the
| land. | was privileged to think freely and
to speak freely on all matters of public
concern. Were / to join your circle now |
shCulu feel painfully conscious OF the diff
| ference between your position and mine
No military order can consign you 70 a dun
| geOn beyond the reach of HGbe0s c07'UatS
and no persuasive bayonets admonlsh you
to speak with "bated breath" With me
the case might be different. But be that
as it may, while Virginia mourns { cannot
rejoice. While the cypress encircles her
brow cannot Irvine the myrtle round my
own.
But may not hope that the present
condition of things is temporary q? If I do
not misinterpret the signs of the times, the
day is near at hand when, by the mandate
of magnanimous people, the shackles will
be stricken from the limbs of Virginia and
her Southern sisters, and there shall be
given unto them ''beauty for ashes, the oil
of JOY for mourning, and the garment of
praise for the spirit of heaviness," When
that glorious day shall have arrived shall
be happy to meet you and your fellow pat
riots around the festive board, and on be-
half of Virginia to offer a willing and
hearty tribute of gratitude to the noble
I Conservative Democrats who set her free,
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
ALEXANDER II. II. STUART.