The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-08-22
LETTER FROM PIEDMONT.
Full and Interesting Account
Ofthe COnyentiOn-Great
Enthusiasm.
PIEDMONT, August 20,
Editors OF the Register.

tion mt this place to-day resulted, rs you
have been informed by telegraph, in the
nomination of Hon. {. J. Faulkner, of
Berkeley. The race between Faulkner
and Hon b. F. Martin, of Tay lor,
has been the most holly contested
that has ever been had in the
State, and Mr.. Faulkner, Scared
rs he is by many former political fight,
confesses that he never before cncoun-
tered SO formidable an antagonist. The
energy and zeal he has manifested all
through the campaign attest, not only his
wonderful vigor and vitality, but they
showed also to all spectators of the con-
! hict how anxious he felt rs 70 the result,
and how difficult he felt the task he had
assumed. 1t is said that during the past
six weeks Mr. Faulkner has been almost
| incessant in labor and, with strength
unusual ut his time Of life, has ridden
over nearly every one Of the eighteen
counties of the District and made closer
canvass for nomination than has ever
been made for Congress in this State be-
fore. His victory is doubtless the re-
ward Of his unexampleG labor.
The Convention assembled ut the town
hall in Piedmont at 10 o'clock this morn
ing. Large delegations were present
from every county i'll the District eX-
cept Pocahontas and Webster, and II
stranger could not fail to remark the in
telligence and the carnestneSs of by far
the greater portion of the assembled De
mocracy. They gave evidence that the
sturdy Democrats. of the Second District
are tull of enthusiasm for the cause, and
fully determined to be no longer mis-
represented in the Congress Of the
United States. The Faulkner men and
the Martin men seemed equally earnest
in their support of their respective can
didateS, but it was noticeable that there
was little or no disposition to "bolt,' no
matter how the voting might result.
\ temporary organization was effected
bv the election of Isaiah Buck, ESD OF
Morgan, President, and Geo. NJ. Beltz-
hoover, Esq, of jefferson as Secretary.
The election of those gentlemen was
construed rs Faulkner triumph. and as
atfording some Slight indication of the
sentiment of the majority. Committees
on Credentials and on. Permanent Or
ganization and Basis of Representation
were appointed, and the Convention then
took a recess until half past one o'clock.
During the interval the contest waXed
hotter than ever before. Groups OF eX
cited and busily talking men were seen
on every hand, and the fortunes of the
contestants seemed to be tluctuating, first
one way and then the other, without any
decided advantage to either. 1t was
known that the contest would be so close
rs to leave neither contestant any reliable
margin. Each party felt confident OF
success, though neither felt that he could
afford TO throw away any, even the
slightest advantage. Each delegate
was earnestly labored with by the
friends of the rivals and every argument
that ingenuity could devise and honor
hermit WAS used on one side or the other.
When the Convention assembled IN
the afternoon it soon became apparent
that a lively time might be anticipated.
The Committee on Credentials was not
ready to present its report, and 1t was
whispered that somewhat spirited de-
butr had been had in the committee
room i'm relation to the admission or cN-
clusion of certain gentlemen who claimed
to have authority to represent iocahoh-
taS county rs altcrnatcS OF the regular
delegates, who had failed to attend. Inc
vote of PocahontaS county was oclleE""
To bcsufiicient to turn the scale, ~ be-
tween the opposing candidates, and hence
great interest was felt in the result.
While waiting for the report OF the
Committee on Credentials, the Commit
tee on Permanent Organization, present,
ed its report. +. }. p. CreSap, ESQ., oil
Randolph county. was made President
ofthe Convention, &. NJ. BcltzhooNer, oi
Jefferson, and c. &. Higglnbotham, oil
Barbour. Secretaries.
The basis of representation adopted Oy
the Convention was the same aS that OF
, the Congressional Convention at Grafton
two years ago. 1t gave Barbour count!
| II votes, Berkely IA Hamp-
shire Q, Hardy Q, Grant :,
Jefferson Il, Marion 10, Mineral
5, Monongalia 9, Morgan 4, Pendleton o.
PocahontaS t. Preston 9, Randolph. O.
Taylor g. Tucker 2, Up:hur 4, and Web
/ >tcr >
After some time, the Committee on
Credentials presented its report, lnclud'
ing the names OF J. l.. Hall, OF Barbour
and Reuben DAVIDSON, of Taylor, as alter
| mates for PocahontaS county. The report
was immediately bounced by the Faux
ner men. and then there was music oy,
the band" Mr.. Sprigg, of Hardy, moved
that the report be amended by the eAclu-
sion Of Pocahontas county; Mr.. Newton,
of Taylor, opposed the motion, ana Ihe E
excitement soon rose to fever heat. han
dozen gentlemen endeavored to speak
at once; the chairman was utterly unable
to keep order; one motion after another
was offered, and for the space
of an hour confusion relgned
supreme. The chairman became mex
tricably involved in the meShes OF par
/ liamentary law; and motions, and ap,
peals, and previous questions were hurled
at his head-until he was completely lost
/ in the maze.
/ To an unexcited and impartial specta-
tor the scene was one of no little amuSe-
ment. The almost incessant rapping OF
the chairman's gavel; the loud cries OF
order, question" Mr.. Speaker" &c,
&c, together with the shouting of a
dozen or more gentlemen who We're
making speeches without being able to
hear what they We're talking about, and
the gesticulations of the hot and surging
throng, presented sights and sounds that