Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-09-14
LOCAL NEWS.

tlVeC committee OF THIS CONGRESSIONAL District
large meeting of the Conservatives Of the city
and county of Alexandria was held last night
ut Liberty Hail. ) .....
At eight clock, Mr. Taylor took the chair,
and after few remarks urging harmony of ac-
ton in order that the carpet baggers and those,
in his estimation, still lower, the sc.lawagers,
might be defeated, declared that the meeting
would be ready for business rs soon as secre-
tary was appointed.
On motion of W. W. Rock, George r. Shinn
was elected secretary.
The plan of organization as adopted by the
late State Convention Of the party at Rich
mond was then read and ON motion of Col.
Suite adopted .'.-.
The chair said that in calling the meeting he
had possibly, in one respect, exceeded his au-
thority lie had called it to organize the party
under the plan just adopted-that was right
also to appoint delegates to County and Sena-
torial Conventions-in that possibly he had
been wrong, but it was for the meeting to de-
eide. lie, however, saw no reason why the
large number present-not only from the city,
hut from the connty-should not accomplish
all mentioned in the call. There were able
lucu in nomination for: the Senate and able
men in nomination for the House OF Delegates,
but it was for the meeting to determine what
should be done.
d. l.. Smoot was glad that the chairman en-
tered the wedge which he trusted would lead
to clear understanding of the plan of organi-
zation lust adopted The reason why nomina-
lions should not. be iuade tonight, was that
under the plan Of organization, this meeting
was not such 4 convention as that plan requires,
in. order to make nomination. 1t was not
properly called: the delegates to Il senatorial
conventions must be elected by the sovereign
people in wards and townships
A convention to nominate candidates Tor the
House of Delegates was also required 10y the
plan. The wise men who met III Richmond,
had very properly taken step backward and
canisln, the people to elect delegates, and the
delegates to do the work: instead of the Athen-
ian democratic plan of governing the State IN
irresponsible democratic assemblies. The duty
devolving upon the meeting tonight, was to
select two men in each city ward, and cnunty
township, to form county committee, under
the plan Mr. Smoot explained the method
of county organization under the plan. lie
proposed that these elections be made at once;
it could be done in twenty minutes.
T. ". Ashby proposed, with the iudu] gcncc
OF the audience, 10 vcntilate the remarkable
doctrine enunciuted by MIR. .Smoot. This meet
ing according to the doctriue of the gentleman,
had no right to appoint ward committees
Mr. Smoot said he had stated no such thing,
and again explained luis position.
Mr.. Ashby-'I'il convince you out of your
own mouth, and if do not I'll pledge myself
to leave this meeting disgraced man. tie
then alluded to some former action Of Mr..
Smoot, and said that he stood there for the
rights of the people. Ninety-nine times out Of
a hundred they did right He spoke again Of
the manuer in which some of the nominations
had been made in former time. We have a
great question and great issue to meet, and
must act with equauimity in order to succeed.
If there was any difficulty in the plan, let it he
given to the people to settle. Applause. The
argument Of the gentlemen reminded him OF
the negro's assertion, ''he who spouts that,
spouts lc." The gentleman had formerly
deserted the colors that he now comes here to
stand by. Mr.. Ashby then spoke again of the
manner in which Alexandrians had acted il
the recent Congressional Convention. We must
have no divided councils We had them on
former occasion.
Col. NJ. D. Ban-Don't talk about the past,
the reference may be hurtfu to the gentleman
rs we'll as any other man; let the past alone,
stick to the present.
MIR. Ashby-The man who is ignorant of the
past is ignorant OF the future, and remains
fool forever, and, continuing, had commenced
to speak 10 complimentary terms of the former
Senator from this city, when n point Of order
was raised by
Mr. Shinn, who said he regretted to inter
rupt the gentleman, but this was no time to
discuss the merits of rival candidates. There
could be no doubt that the only power this
meeting possessed was to appoint, the ware
committees, and to the wards must be RENTED
the duty of making nominations. 10 put the
matter at rest, he moved that the chair appoint
:: committee of three from each ward and
township to make nominations for the county
committee.
X. Kempcr-Moycd that the meeting elect
the county committee.
WV. Rock-Did not know the sentiments
of the other wards, but was certain that voters
of the lst ward did not want their ward com,
mittee appointed by people living IN the I'd, Sd
and 4th wards; and the meeting thinking as he
did, the motion Of MIR. Shinn was adopted and
under ii the chair appointed the following COM
mlttee:
First Warl-W W. Rock, W. h. Marbury,
and H. Jacobs
Second Ward. p coleman, j.. s. Chap
man, jr., and A. c. Kell.
Third Ward-J. f. Waddy, Owen Nugent,
and T. W. Ashby.
Fourth Ward--R l.. Carnc, Thomas Rudd,
and j. W. Nails. -,
Washington Towuship--H. W. Fecbry, w.
McNiar, and Chas W. Payne.
Jefferson Township-Jas. Roach, j. R John
son, and Sept. Brown. .,a =
Arlington Township-G. B. Wibert, G. R..
Adams, and Fl. Bailey They retired and after
consideration returned and reported the follow
ing county committees: a.,
First War Hugh Latham, Geo. 4. Shlnn.
Second Ward-Joseph Hopkins, ii. l.. Stu
art.
Third Ward-James NJ Steuart, Geo. Bryan
Fourth Ward-John B. Smoot, +. s. Lead
beaten. ;,
Jefferson Township-James c. Roach, Jno.
r. johnson.
B. Wibert -, ~
Washington Township-Chas. W. Payne,