Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-09-01
LETTER FROM PIEDMONT.
Full and Interesting Account of the
Convention Great Enthusiasm.
fFrom the wheeling Register.l

H
Editors of The Register The Democratic
Congressional Convention at this place to day
resulted, as you have been informed by tel
egraph, In the nomination of Hon. G j.
Faulkner, of Berkeley. The race between
Faulkner aud Hon. B F. Martin, of Taylor,
has been the most holly contested that has
ever been had In the State, and Mr. Faulk>
ner, Scared as he is by many former polit>
zeal fight, confesses that he never before en-
countered go 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 conflict how anxious he felt
as to the result, and how difficult he felt the
task he had assumed. Ii is said that during
the past six weeks Mr.. Faulkner has been al
most incessant in labor and, with a strength
unusual at his time of life, has ridden over
nearly every one of the eighteen counties of
the District aud made a closer canvass for
nomination than has ever been made for Con
gress in this State before His victory is
doubtless the reward of his unexampled labor.
The Convention assembled at the town hall
in Piedmont at 10 o'clock this morning
Large delegations were present from every
county in the District except Pocahontas and
Webster. and stranger could not fail to re-
mark the intelligence aud the earuestness of
by far the greater portion of the assembled
Democracy. They gave evidence that the
sturdy Democrats of the Second District are
full of enthusiasm for the cause, aud fully de-
termined to be no longer misreprcsented in
the Congress of the United States. The
Faulkner men aud the Martin men seemed
equally earnest in their support of their re-
spective candidates, but it was noticeable that
Al fs.A!. Lii
matter how the voting might result.
a temporary organization was effected by
the election of Isaiah Buck, Esq, of Morgan,
Jefferson. rs Secretary. The election Of these
gentlemen was construed as a Faulkner
triumph and as atfording some slight irdica-
ton of the sentiment OF the majority Com
mittees on Credentials and on Permanent Or
ganizatinn and Basis of Representa- on were
appointed, aud the Convention then took
recess until half past enc o'clock
During the interval the contest waxed
hotter than ever before. Groups OF ex ted
and busily talking men were seen on every
hand. and the fortunes of the contestants
seemed to be fuctuating. first one way and
then the other. without any decided advan>
tage to either. 1t was known that the con-
test would be so close as to leave neither coz
testant any reliable margin. Each party elt
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 permit was used on
one side or the other
When the Convention assembled in the
afternoon it soon became apparent that lively
time might be anticipated.
The Committee on Credentials was not
ready to present its report, and it viii
pered that somewhat spirited debate had
been had ln the committee room in relation to
the admission or exclusion of certain gentle
men who claimed to have authority to repre>
sent Pocahontas county alternates of the
regular delegates. who had failed to attend
The vote of Pocahontas county was believed
to be sufficient to turn the scale, as between
the opposing candidates. and hence great in
terest was felt in the result.
While waiting for the report Of the Com
mittee on Credentials the Committee Oh
Permanent Organization, presented its report.
Ell. P Cresap. Esq OF Randolph county,
was made President of the Convention, G
NJ. Bel'zhoover, o" Jefferson. and g. c. Hig-
ginbotham, of Barbour. Secretaries.
The basis of representation adopted by the
Convention was the same as that of the Com
gress'onal Convention at Grafton two wears
ago. 1t gave Barbour county votes Berke
lev II, Hampshire 9, Hardy 9, Grant 2, JET
ferson II, Marion IS Mineral 5 Monongalin
8, Morgan 4, PendIeton 6, P"cahontas 4,
Preston 8, Randolph 8, Taylor 9, Tucker 2,
Upshur 4, and Webster 2
After some time, the Committee on Gre
dentials presented its preport, including the
names of j L. Hall, of Barbour, and Reuben
Davsson, Of Taylor, as aIternates tor Pnca,
hontas county. The report was Immediately
bounced by the Faulkner men, and then there
was Emusic by the band" Mr.. Sprigg. of
Hardy. moved that the report be amended by
the exclusion of Pocahoutas county; Mr..
Newton, of TAYLOR, opposed the motion, and
the excitement soon rose to fever heat Half
a dozen gentlemen endeavored to speak at
once the chairman was utterly unable to keep
order one motion alter another was offered,
ana for the space of an hour confusion regned
'Sene Eheebf irma6 became inextricably
previous ques,
maze.