Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-08-29
THE PIEDMONT CONVENTION

.
We give the following from a
Ham shire delegate to tie Pied
mont Convention, in order to give
the people some idea Of how polit-
| zeal conventions are run. The
writer of this letter, which we take
from the Inteitigencer, is evidently
''sore-head." Had the conven-
ton nominated his man" he
would have been willing to swal-
low all its rascaliy tricks without
a grimace, and an inspecting pub
lie would never have known thro'
him how much chjcanery and jug
Cling was practiced at the Pied
mont convention. We take this as
forcible illustration of the old
adage: "When rogues fall out,
honest men get their dues"
HAMPSHIRE Co, w. VA,
August %, 1874.
/ have Just returned from the
Congressional Convention at Pied
mont and, although before you
receive this you will have the full
official report, / will add some few
items which donot usually appear
in such reports.
The convention, on its surface,
was generally very smooth. The
only perturbing subject was an
anne ndment to the report of the
| Committee on Credentials, &C.,
but this was soon settled by a COM
promise, in which Mr.. Martin very
magnanimously conceded to his
opponent the entire vote Of Web
ster county, which was unrepre-
sented, on the declaration OF some
member that Webster had in
structed her delegates to vote for
Mr.. Faulkner. Yet there was an
under current Of deep feeling
Many of MI. Martins friends
have such deadly and determined
opposition to Mr.. f. that not even
the generous influence Of Mr.. M.
himself can get them to vote for
the nominee, and / fully believe
that no power can induce them to
do it, except the appearance in the
field of a Republican candidate.
This will drive them to it. If the
nominee and Mr.. Boteler are left
to canvass the Second District
alone, doubt not Mr.. Boteler will
be elected, There is no little OPP
position and jealousy towards tire
convention and their nominees,
and it is now reported that a large
part of the members of that con-
ventionfrom Insecurity who voted
for the nominee we're induced
to go there by having their eX-
penses paid. AS TO other counties
/ am not informed. | know from
the parties themselves, to whom
the affair was made known, that
at Romney and Springfield in this
county, offers were made to pay
their expenses if they would go
and vote for Mr.. F.; and | am not
singular In the opinion that II the
convention had been gotten up
with fairness the nominee would
not have been Mr.. +. There don't
seem to be much doubt where the
money came from. There are some
so bold as even to apologize for
and defend the use of this money
as right, and will say everything
is fair in politics. 20, Temporal !
O, mores!" | know that in war
as between enemies it has been
asserted that means (strategems)
are fair, but that is greatly mOdi-
fed by the laws of Nations, and it
is froWned on in all civilized coun-
tries. Bnt il has been left to this
country and these days to apply
this maxim to affairs ofcivil life.
To what end are we drifting!!
Mr.. Boteler is already in the
| field, and it would be of no use for
me to speak of his character as a
high toned gentleman, of his schol-
arship, his talents and moderation
in politics. These are already well
known And | make bold to sug-
gest TO the honest Republicans of
the District to keep a party candi-
date out Of the field, and TO join
with us for the sake of our c0uu-
try. 10 efeat and reform he mi
quities that are growing up and
have grown up in p~@rty 'actlcs--
a contamination more impVs !ahI
IN the present juncture than the
success Of any party. Let us defeat
TINS fearful nomination in th~ only
81 tAf H.