The Van Buren press., 1878-07-16
The Voice of the People
UNION AND HARMONY!
Democratic State Convention
From Gd-ettt Report.1

with spectators. Several ladies' gracet
the floor with their presence.
AT I'm Hon. Sol. F. Clark, Chairman
of the State Central Committee, called the
meeting to order.
Prayer was oflerd by Rev. Thos. r.
Welch, d. d.
On motion of Mr.. b. d. Williams,
of Pulaski, Hon. L. b. Hanley, of Phil
lips, was unanimously chosen temporary
Chairman.
On motion, the chair was directed to
appoint committee Of three, to escort
Judge Hanley to the chair, and selected
Messrs, Coffin, Of Lawrence; Scott, OF
Pope, and Hicks, of Lonoke.
Judge Hanley was received with ap-
plause, and, in taking the chair, addressed
the Convention.
Upon motion of Gen. Armistead of
Franklin. Hon. John w. Stayton, of
jackson, was unanimously named as
temporary Secretary of the Conven-
ton.
Upon motion, Messrs. J. c. England,
Esq, of Lonoke, and DR.. II. G. Baker, of
Hot Springs were named as first and Sec
ond Assistant Secretaries, respectively, of
the Convention.
The Secretary proceeded to read the
list of Delegates.
And all the Counties but two, Searey
and Montgomery, answered to the call.
Mr.. Newman, of Jefferson, moved that
the list of Delegates, as read by the Sec
rerary, be adopted by the Convantion.
Mr.. McNeely, of Little River, moved
that committee, to consist of one men,
Der from each judicial district, be appoin-
to present list of permanent officers for
approval
Mr.. Thomson, Of Crawford, moved,
as substitute, that the present officers
of the Convention be appointed as the
permanent officers of the Convention.
Carried unanimously.a
Judge Hanley addressed the Conven
ton as follows:
| have but to say, that again thank you
for the compliment You have paid me; it is
needless for me to attempt on this occasion,
to express the gratitude that | feel do feel
the compliment, for it is very likely. in the
course OF human events, that 1t will never
again be my lot to meet SO large and respect
able body Of citizens in st thls S5!atf as hayye
been citizen of this State ever since my
boy hood-and | am now past that have
been citizen here for over forty-four years.
! have been a member of representative bod
les almost from my boyhood to the present
time, and can say with eandor that ! never
saw any convention before where have seen
more men OF intelligence than have seen in
this body.
All that l ask OF you now is, to bear with
me if | err. may err, unintcntionally, in
any descisions that | may make.
Al that ask of you to-day is, to give up
individual differences; to go for the party
and for the people of this State. sacrifice in
diyiduals; sacrifice your own feelings and
your own preferences for individuals and let
us go to work and do it like men! Prolonged
chcering.] And If you will do this, you will
find during the whole session of this Conycn-
ton. if it should take week or a month, |
will be here with you (rcnewed cheers) as
long as you may be in session and will con-
| tribute my mite to aid and assist you in ac-
complishing the objects and aims for which
you are met say again, let us give up our
individuality lei us give ug our preferences
| for men let us go for cardinal principles, for
| it is a characteristic of the Democratic party.
not only in this State, but throughout this
great nation. Let us in conclusion, Adopt
such platform as all my Democratic fellow
citizens and friends in this Commonwealth
may stand upon. If there be any disposition
on the part Of any to "slouch Off" let us 60
| to them-let us seek them as lost sheep. take
them upon our shoulders and bring them back
again to us. We want harmony and concord,
and fealthy to the cause in the interest OF
which we have met, in which many old men
whom have met have spent their youth and
| their manhood, and are spending their hours.
There never was an hour, in this Common
wealth, which has inspired more perfetunion,
more concord, than is needed at the present
time. Let us go together, pull together-let
us give up individuality for the purpose of
accomplishing the great ends that we have IN
meeting nerrs. so that when the National Con
| yention shall assemble, at some place TO DC
appointed, that we may send delegates, so
that if not respectable in point of numbers,
at least they may be respectable in point OF
| intellect, so that our interest may be felt, and
its influence acknowledged throughout the
great Republic [Cheers;l
Bear with each other; bear with the Chair
| bear with the officers of this Convention har-
monize with each other, so that you and your
children and posterily, so that your history
shall be hereafter SO written that this shan be
recorded as one of the most potent Conven-
tons that has ever congregated in tbs State.
| again thank you,
deavor to accomplish as'much as possible now,
so that we may return TO our homes ana to
our business, but not untilwe have accomp-
| lished all. Iagain thank you, tCheers.l
Mr.. Thomson, not knowing but what
Vice President would be needed, noml'
mated Gen McNeily, of Little River.
Recess until o'clock.
| AFTER RECESS
On motion of DR.. Blackburn of Desha
State and Federal officers were invited To
seats on the platfoam
| Messrs. Blackburn, N. b. Burrow, OF
Crawford, and Clark, Of Carroll, were ap'
pointed to inform the officials of the in
vitation.
The Chairman announced the following
committee:
| ON PLATFORM.
d. NJ. McRea. of White.
L. Roussau, of Mississippi.
S. II. Davidson, of Sharp.
L. p. Watson, of Benton.
w. A. Carter, of Franklin:
j. p Eagle, of Lonoke.
r. B. Morton, of Grant.
Adam Clark of Clark.