Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-09-22
THE GBAYsoN CONVENTION.
Ho50 Gr0yson and Carroll Stayed in
tie Contention and h01U O. Portion
Of IPythe aoe'lt ont because q
Ma1ority could not GoUcrn

tItC OOHOCUttO8 ana NOtO q L0OTT3O11
Of IVythe a0e1lt ont because q
Minority could not GoUcrn
ats policy.
From Special Correspondent of the NEws.1
.H GRAYsoN COUNTY. VA,
September 18th, 1871.
NcSsrs. Editors:
From the bold and manly
position you have taken in your pOpu-
lar paper with regard to our late Sena-
torial Convention, as well as your un-
equivocal endorsement of our nomi-
nee we are induced to seek your col
umns as a medium through which We
may present to the voters of our dis
tricts some important facts bearing
upon the questions so freely discussed
in other quarters. The Convention
was called first by a county meeting in
GraysOn, held in response to invita-
tiOns, as we understand from the Con-
servative comfy Superintendent OF
both WytlIe and Carroll addressed to
our Superintendent.
In our county meeting we express
ly authorized every Conservative in
the county in addition to regular dele
gates to attend thuCOnventi0n and ac.
as Delegates. This we thought would
shut the mouths of everybody about
packed meetings." King Caucus, "
&c.
Then followed regular meetings in
the counties of Wythe and Carroll in
response to ours and pursuing the
same plan adopted by US. Some OF
the counties expressing preferences,
but agreeing to support the nominee.
On the day designated for the Con-
ventiOn an unusually large number of
Delegates and those authorized 20 at
tend from all the counties, convened
at the Grayscn Sulphur Springs, Gray
son having the smallest number of
any of the counties and after each
county had held separate caucus and
agreed upon IFS line of policy subject,
Of course as we supposed, to the will
of the majority of the body when con-
vened. A temporary Chairman was
and conducted to the stand.
Secretaries appointed and a committee
selected for the purpose of reporting
upon credentials and permanent Off
GERS. A recess was taken, after which
we rP-asscmbled; the report of thecom-
mittee adopted and the work went
on until a resolution, offer
ed by gentleman Of Wythe asking
the Convention to adopt as a basis of
the registered vote of
the late GubernatOrial election was dis
cussed, submitted and declared twice
by the chair to be lost. Immediately
after this decision we were surprised
with a request from the Wythe dele
cation to withdraw for consultation
We were utterly astonished when
upon their return, they reported
their chairman, Two PROPOSE
tons, conditional to their remaining
in the Convention. We give the sub
stance, probably not the precise lam
guage, "1st. That the body adopt the
Walker Uote !; or Qs an uLtjnl0tunl tie
'ChOte registered UOte Of that election"
If neither of these propositions were
adopted we were plainly told that the
Wythe Delegation would retire.
The convention, as it surely had the
right, rejected without hesitation both
Of them, but. in order to do everything
Of a reasonable character to harmonic
the conflicting elements with the view
Of having the vote upon the aforesaid
resolution re-taken the question was
to the Chairman of the
Wylhe Delegation. eff they were
willing for majority of the COnven-
ton to decide all questions coming up
for consideration ?n A distinct mega
fire dnS2Ucr was certainly returned
The body still refusing to entertain the
under this avowal ma
IOrity of the Wythe delegation with
drew and as we understand nOmina-
ted Capt. Blair.
A respectable member however, ire
spectacle both in number and talents)
and claimed the right, as they undoubt-
sdly had it., to represent Wythe county
in that Convention and did cast the
entire vote for Col. y. NJ. Davis, OF
Jrayson. Carroll cast her vote unani-
for Judge Nowlin and Gray
son as a unit for Col. Davis.
A motion was then made by Car
roll gentleman to make the nomina-
ion unanimous, which was carried
with great enthusiasm, and the Con-
vention passed off as narmOniously
with the exception before stated, and
10 our minds, as legally according to
I'll parliamentary usage and party pre-
.edent as any we ever witnessed or
heard of.
Now we submit 10 all candid and un-
biased voters ell over the District if
.he Convention dill not do all that
,ould be reasonably demanded? Could
{ have done otherwise without dis
rracing itself and exhibiting servile
disposition utterly un-
worthy of gentlemen?
With all due Difference to the
Great County of Wythe," with all
ler wealth" and commanding social
position. we claim the right to act for
ourselves, and, Notwithstanding we
nav be called Ignorant mountain
,ers. - we maintain that from the first
political convention ever held in the
United States down to the present wri-
ing, all political parties and all delih-
,rative bodies (unleas a special rule
vas adoptedl have acted upon the on
V true representative principle, that
he will of the majority, when legally
,xpresscd. shall govern. Who ever
,card of such arrogance and bigOted
i'm little Senatorial Con-
,eution as was manifested by the mf-
;g,0fu37 and subsequent retirement OF
he Delegates from Wythe, without
ven prcteXtP Now the name OF
Frank :. Blair jfor whom we enter
ain nothing but the kindest teelings)
: floating at the mast head OF certain
laDprs as the Conservative nominee"
Really it is amusing, and we might
recome provoked were it not for the
act that we are forced TO laugh.
Conservative nominee!" Whose
lominee? What Conservative Con-
-ention nominated him? Not the
he one at Grayson sulphur Springs,
or we know whereof we affirm, aHd
no other Convention has been held,
lcteven a county convention of Wythe
because her delegates were not sent to
he Springs TO bold q county meeting,
)ut to meet with delegates from other
counties to bold a District Convention,
md no power either expressed or inn
,lied had been conferred upon them
md no authority can be shown to JUS
ifv a nominating caucus without FUR
her instructions from the county OF
,Nx,ha Sits clear then that Capt.