The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-10-07
JOHN N. oPIE

r.ss JOHN N. OPlE 49, 1884.
was the only nominee. The vote was as fol
lows: Opie, 60; Craig, IS; Stuart, Sc; Hang
or, SO; Allen. 80; Smith, 81; Van Lear, 10
Koiner, II; Rush, 8. There being 100 votes
it required 81 to elect. Messrs. Koiner ant
Rush were dropped, and A. B. Lightner';
name added to the list. The second ballot re
suited in no nomination-@no candidate having
received a majority OF the votes cast. 1t was
as follows: Craig, Sc; Stuart, So, Hanger, So
Allen 80; Van Lear, 20; Lightner, 10; Smith
IL; Bell, 2.
Messrs. Smith and Bell were then let down
| and Jas. Ker nominated Col. Bolivar Christian
to which many and loud voices yelled out
''Do we have to go to Rockbridge for candi
date ~ Nobody wantsa Reckbridge man,
and other such encouraging remarks, until ii
na!ly Mr.. Ker rcpented of his rashness by with
drawing his candidate, and somebody else sug
gested the name of S. Traverse Philips; bu
that gentleman having respectfully declined
the proffered homer, it became necessary to put
up some one else, and r. w. Burke was place.
in the ring. The next ballot resulted in the nom
+; nation of
]. DAVIS CRAIG
by the following vote: Craig, IS; Stuart, So
Hanger, So; Allen, 49, Lightner, IA; Burke, -
And now the thermometer began to go uT
like rocket. The name OF Col. J. H. Skin
ner was brought forward, but that gentleman
not being prepared for so much distinction al
one time, drew it back in a hurry, and Mr.
Mcfarland moved to adjourn the Convention
and let there be a free fight for the remaining
office.
Mr.. Harman.-(tragica stNevcr-What
dismember the grand Conservative party Of
Augusta? Call the roll, quick there, Mr.. Sec.
retary.''
Mr. Secretary complied, and when the labor
of love was about half completed, Judge Nc
Cue asked to withdraw the names of Messrs
Stuart and Hanger, but the protests were en-
phatic, AMI the calling of the roll proceeded
with, and the following was the result: Hang
er, 81; Allen, 81; Stuart, 6.
At this time loud and persistent cries were
made for Allen, who appeared and made {
brief and sensible speech, advocating reform
and retrenchmentin all the departments of the
State government.
THE GAUNTLET Thrown DOWN.
Now came the ''teg of war;" Col. Hartman
voice rose above the din and confusion of thu
throng, and in tones Of the deepest bass pro
ceeded to elevate Maj. Hanger, head and shout
ders, over any other living man that had eve
appeared before the fooUlghts of public opin
ion, and presented such a picture of represent
alive and individual capacity and purity, a.
would have made an ordinary archangel blusl
at his own unworthiness, and hide his dmin
ished head in shame. But there were some whit
| did not see through the same opera-glasses
while others just curled up and yelled for joy
Mr.. Roler-Col. Hartman has tried that liutl,
game once too often, and the pill won't g
down this time, Gen. Echols stood in tht
very same place at the last Convention, bu
we know something of Mr. Hanger, now, and
we know that he has misrepresented his cen
stituents.
Mr.. Harrison.-(very excitedly) In nomn
ating Mr.. Hanger,I vouehed for him, and nov
demand that you state, point blank, in wha
he has misreprescnted his constituents.
Cries.-'sGo for him, Roller" 'sIIurrah fo
Hanger.'' "Hurrah for Allen.'
Mr.. Roler.-In supporting the Funding Bill
a measure to which the people of the entire
county are opposed, Icharge that he clearly
misleprescnted those with whose interest HI
had been entrusted.
| A Voice.-s'How did you vote ON that ques
tion?" Kisses of ssRepuliation.
Mr.. Roler.-I am not, nor are the people OF
Augusta, in favor OF reputation, but they want
the debt question properly adjusted and not
tempered with as it has been.
The widest and most indecorous confusion
then followed. Every man seemed to consider
it his piols duty to yell at the top of his lungs
and the shouts of s'Hanger." s'Allen," iDrag
him OUT" s'Police,' resounded through the
Courtroom and awakened echoes that might
otherwise have slum5ered until Gabriefs fina
overture.
A CONSERVATIVE" SCENE.
| Above this universal clamor, were heard erie
for Geo. NJ. Cochran, who was not a member
of the Convention, but was standing
among the spectators. At the same time pro
tests against non-delegate addressing the
Convention resounded from all sides. In tn
heat and excitement of the moment, Mr.
Cochran jumped upon the marble slab in iron
of the bar, and endeavored to make himsel
heard But it was no use, for louder and loud
| er Numbered the protests, and fiercer came the
| storm of assent. Col Williams added fue
to the flames by shouting, ''Stand to your col
ors, men of Augusta. no matter what Col. Liar
man or anybody else says" This was the Sig
| nal for a fresh outburst, and when Mr.. Goch
ran had gotten down, Mr.. Harrison mounted
| the rostrum. He stretched out his arms ap
pealingly, and tried to still, by pantomime, tn
raging Of this political Gallilee, but it wouldn'
subside. and then he assumed all attitude afte
the neurological print in which Ajax defies tn
lightning; but still, the hoarse believing c
the Changers rose above his clarion utterances
and the loud-voced goried in the breath OF tn
tempest.
| ssThere rose so wild and fierce yell,
AS tho the legioned imps that fell,
Had pealed the banner cry OF he'll,
and startled pedestrians on the street, stoppe
and cast inquiring gances at the Temple, nc
now of Justice, but of Demos, and Wohdere
what the uproar meant. A momentary lull
and voicei in vindication OF Mr. Hanger, fell llk
some grateful and soothing oil on the torn an
raw places which the blistering controversy la
left. The voice was resonant, musical an
we'll trained, and it proved to belong to Mr.