The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-06-27
Meeting of the Democratic State Convention.

displayed were the American flag, the fla
of the State of Virginia, the German, TIA
ian, French, and Irish banners. The cha,
occupied by the speaker was shrouded i
a large American flag. f.3 '
The convention was called to order b
Hon. Raleigh L. Daniel, chairman of th
State Central Committee, who also nomina
ted Extra Billy Smith as temporary chair
man of the convention. The nomination
was confirmed, and the ex-governor tool
the chair. Prayer was offered by w. w
| Walker, of Westmoreland. .,.7
! The chairman stated the object for which
the convention had assembled, and then in
dulged in rather lengthy diatribe agains
| General Grant and the other officers of th,
government. He was IN favor of doing
under the present circumstances what th,
FOUNDERS do in the sudden melee or scrim
mage-take up the first club in reach
whether it be "dogwood," "gum," or tht
old-fashioned "hikory," and beat the Ad
ministratIon to death. The old gentleman
finally remembering that he had been in
vited to take a seat, and not to make q
speech, sank into the proffered chair, ant
the secretary was allowed to read the
names of the delegates present.
lie read great many who were moi
present, if we are to Judge from the few
responses which came up from the pit. II
was a matter of wonderment to us that the
roll was not called also in Sauer's saloon
where large portion of the delegates were
engaged in important business. Squad after
squad came in, however, and caused the
usual trouble and annoyance to the secreta-
rles in properly enrolling their names.
This work was finally performed, and a
committee of three from each congressional
district was appointed with a view to
permanent organization. While the chair
man was making up this committee, the
convention proceeded down to the corner to
see man. When the convention returned,
the secretary announced the committee,
who retired to Schott's Monticello Hall
to perform the work assigned it..
Loud calls were made for Col. Thomas
Stanhope Flournoy, of Pittsylvania, who
came upon the stage and proceeded to ad-
dress the convention. He said Greeley's big
old white hat covers the largest head and
the warmest heart in the land. He hoped
the Baltimore Convention would decline to
make Presidential nominations but would
recommend the warm and united support
of Greeley and Brown. He thought Gree
ley had written the best letter of accept
ance he ever read from any presidential
candidate. .asaHN IE .o.aa.n
Should even Greeley be nominated by the
Baltimore Convention, that gentleman
would have to write another letter Of. .~e-
ceptance, and he (he speale,, was afraid
he would not do 90 well next time He
indnrood the platform-Death to Radical
isn-adopted by the last Democratic con-
vention. Let us oppose Grant, carpet
baggers and thieves. Colonel Flournoy
then took his seat. - ......-.. :
Various other gentlemen were called for,
but no one was found willing to "speak a
piece' under the circumstances, until Col
onel Critcher entered the hall, and was al
most forced to the stage. Colonel Critcher
made few remarks, and then called upon
Colonel Lacy, Of Spottsylvania, to make a
speech. The latter gentleman came for
ward and entered upon the usual and favor
lite amusement of Democratic stumpers- =
denuncation of General Grant. The Colo
mel through his clenched teeth, said he
would work and vote for Greeley, but he
begged not to be required to go too far-to
indorse that man.
The speech was remarkably emphatic,
and developed a certain droll humor which
frequently brought down the house. 1t
treated more of the past than of the present
and established its author as a fogY of the
first order, one of those who look with hor-
ror upon the encroachments of railroads,
steamboats,, and telegraphs, as fraught
with dread danger to mankind.
The committee on permanent organization
entered, and the temporary chairman i'm
mediately knocked Col. Lacy down, as he
had been requested to do, when the COM
mittee's report was read as follows:
For President.--iIon. John Goode, Jr.,
of Norfolk. r,.4H.f
r. Vice-Presidens.-1st Congressional Dis
trict-Thos. Croxton, Essex county; Z. r..
Bagwell, Accomac. ID District Robert
H.. Power, York, ID. Goodwin, Ports
mouth. Sd District--Jas. II. Cox, Uhes-
terfeld; Robt. Ould, Richmond city. 4th
District. r. Chambliss, Greensville; f.
d. Irving, Cumberland. 9th Dstrict-Wm.
Martin, Henry; w. W. Wood, Halifax.
9th District Thos. Fitzpatrick, Nelson;
VIM. Skein, Allegheny. 7th District
Jno. b. Baldwin, Augusta; W. ID. Leake,
Goochland. Sth District-Hugh Latham,
Alexandria; S. w. Thomas, Warren. 9th
District-H. S. Kane, Scott; G. G. Whar-
ton, Montgomery. sWt
iSeretm7es.-J. r. Fisher, John Bel
Bigger, j. G. Luck, f. s. Gregory, j. II
Chamberlayne, w. L. Cameron, Edgar
Snowden, w. W. Berry, John A. McCaul
George Wedderburn, j. G. Cameron, Fay,
cite McMullen, James Baron Hope, anG
all editors of Conservative papers through