The New York herald., 1872-08-20


legislation hereunder, which he utterly repudi-
ated. He closed -
delivered in this country for years with the follow
ing appeal:-"But my fellow citizens, when the
Baltimore Convention was In session Darterlng
away their principles there was another conven-
ton, small IN numbers, but respectable In compo-
stion, also gathered In that city, and when the
Opera House Convention lowered the good old
democratic nag and traed IL In the dust this little
party took II up; and at Louisville on ne iItn Oh
September, they will raise II aoft with the names
OF TWO statesmen inscribed thereon Tor wnom al
true democrats may vote with pride. Ana
! counsel the democracy of this my native
the dirt OF the new departure" Mr.. Davis then
read u resolution, which was adopted, authorizing
gates to the Louisville Convention. and the meet
ing adjourned. Mr.. Davis Is fair talker and makes
lean lank, tall man, with as little physical force
as he has OF intellectual progress. His competitor,
COLONEL BEN WILSON,
who also lives In Harrison county, Ia his opposite
In almost everything that goes to make up man.
He Is powerful In frame, vigorous In mind and body,
and il active, progressive politician, fully up to
the hour upon all the political questions OF the day.
He is said TO be able man, both legally and po-
litically. He has been identified prominently with
politics ever since the State was erected.
Leaving Clarksburg my next stopping place was
rms Is the Largest d nd tns aee
OF three-fourths of the prominent politicians IN the
State. Ex-Governor W. E. Stevenson, United States
Senator BOarmOn, Judge Jackson, of the United
States District Court; the present democratic nomi
nee for Governor, J. n. Camden, and dozen or SO
here besides doing heavy Oil business and being
president OF q transportation company. dc IS very
wealthy, and, barring Judge JACKSON lives IN netter
style than any man here. Parkersburg has asplra-
ti0ns Tor the capital IL 1t can be removed rom
Charleston, and this makes the new constitution
strong here, because that instrument permits IL,
while the Old one forbids 1t.
FROM PARKERsBURG TO CHARLESTON.
left Parkersburg by the little steamer Emma Gra.
ham for this point with but little idea OF the scenes
through which was to pass during the hours that
were to bring me to this place Iherc were lew
passengers board the little craft, the whole num-
ber not exceeding u dozen, and to relieve the
tedium entered into conversation with an old chap
who looked to me as though he must be u power IN
West Virginia politics somewhere, Tor man TO De
able to control any considerable number OF votes IN
TINS canvass for any given purpose mast m tbis 1s
man surely that. He was dressed fully
after the fashion OF popular picture picture
for the red white and blue, and broad-brlmmed
slouch hat for the plug that always surmouuts
our popular idea of Uncle samuel. | approached
him gracously and inquired If he was from the
Kanawha Valley. The old man looked up at me
with stupid stare, and replied with the broad
nat dialect that characterizes this people :-"Yes,
/ has farm up the valley, but 1t kinder went
o ney te amd op at he we" Meag
the great salt wells above this place, which form
very considerable item in its manufacturing and
commercial interests.
"What kind OF place have you now at Charles
ton ,,i and up up the valley" asked ~
the war, but then thare Is heap OF Yanks come in
thare now and they kinder upset things. Warn't
b1arcI'
"Yes sir" said /; 'Once during the war my
regiment was there for short time"
At this declaration OF mine the old man drew
away, eyed me suspcicusly and said, "what kinder
regimet did you belong to-a walking or critter
regmentsn replied that belonged to the cavalry
marked that che didn't mind Il walking regiment;
but them are critter regiments were the devil to
then asked the old man how politics was up the
valley.
"Wall," said he, 'it's hard to tell. The democrats
N Afyhf fhnrnl lplV n nf
the boys 20 for Camden and the constitution; but
at some OF the tOther wells 1t don't seem to 60 go
about that goes for Camden. cause believe in
stickin' to party sides ] kinder run the eliers IN
hard pull, and may be beat him."
Our conversation continued for some time upon
general topics, and we did not part company until
we reached Point Pleasant where we leave tho
Ohio, which we have traversed Tor 100 miles, and
take up the Kanawha River, sixty miles, to the
THE CAPITAL OF THIS LITTLE MOUNTAIN STATE.
1t is situated upon the left bank OF the Kanawha
Of a country teeming with the richest mineral and
agricultural products known to our civilization.
The great salt wells tnat lie about 1t have been cee.
the rich agricultural region that surrounds 1t.
But since the war private enterprise OF New York
development OF its resources and is preparing to do
much more, so that In q few years the Charleston
OF to-day Will be greatly syon1 improved I 1yes
are little dull and slow but are being awakened
by the energy OF those VINO come mere TO engage In
business. gentleman at Parkersburg told mo
that they prayed for each other upon the Sabbath
lnd preyed upon each other ali the rest OF tho
week, but am inclined to believe, from few
days association, that he was q little too hard in
his estimate for have found them clever people,
but wonderfully fond OF the constitution as IL was
Since have been here l have met Governor
Jacob and his opponent Camden. Colonel John
Committee and one Of the ablest men In the State.
engaged in stumping this Congressional district
1.-THE Third. ! have had considerable conversation
upon the situation, and from what l am able to
CLEAN from them l am forced to believe that the
contest does not now belong to either party, but
that Camden's chances are rather the best, they
having forced Jacob to declare In favor OF the
constitution, which will drive republican votes
from him.
THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION
will be less than two thousand majority for either
party.
AS the day for the election draws near the
citement increases, and to-day all over the state
large meetings are being neld by Doth parties
which are addressed by pr ointment speakers from
abroad among whom are Montgomery Blair, Gen
eral Cary, Hon. John Richie, and from now to the
day OF election no stone Will be left unturned by
either side get votes for their candidates and for
and against the constitution. Meetings, barbecues
and basket pcnics called all the State for
the remaining three working days be fore the cleo
ton to be addressed by prominent speakers, and
when the contest shall have ended the most exct-
ing canvass and important election the State ever
knew will have been decided.