Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-08-28
Congressional Convention.

Forty. Sixth Congress. met at moon DAY, ID
Sarepla Hall, which was crowded with deie.
rates a|ternates and spectators. to It's tuIi
capacity.
II. Sheppard, OF Fauquicr, one ct the district
conservative committee, in the absence OF Judge
I,oveil called the convention to order end con-
pratuIatcd tho party upon the representation
nrescnt and hoped the proceedings would
be characterized by harmony. and the re-
suits such as to sustain the bcsts interests OF
tie marty, the State and the country, and
defeat a.! tho various plans Of radlcallsm.
At the conclusion Of MIR. S. 5 remarks
J. ". Foster, of Locsburg, nominated Geo.
r. Head, Of that place, as temporary chair
man.
". II. Payne, OF Esuquier, seconded the
nomination.
Alex. Hunter, Of Alexandria county, denied
the right of Gen. Payne to have voice on the
floor of tho Convention till the Committee on
Credentials had passed upon tho credentials OF
the Wsrrcnton delegates, IS he had 10 his pos.
session proper certificates CT tho election OF
other delegates than those who proposed to
represent Warrenton ia the Convention.
Catlett Gibson, cf Culpcper, seconded the
nomination Of Mr.. Head.
Gen. Payne replied to Mr.. Hunter, saylng
that be supposed that Mi II. was actuEted by
4 spirit CT tit cT tat lnasmuch as at tho meet
ing in WarreDton that sent him to this conVcn-
tier, Mr. Hunter bad attempted to participate
although delegate from Alexandria county,
but had been denied that privilege.
The question was then taken upon the noml-
nation OF Nlr. Head as temporary chairman,
Gnd he was elected.
Upon taking the chair he thanked the con
venton for the honor conferred; an honor which
lie considered as paid moro to the county OF
Loudoun than to himself.
On motion of Major j. W. Foster, MIR.
Caldwell, of the Warren!on Index, vas appoint.
ed Secretary, and representatives OF tho press
from the ether parts of tho district were re.
uucsted to act as assistants.
Gen. Payne, of WarrcntoD, Calming the
right OF q properly elected delegate, from Eau
auer, offered the following resolution
Resolved, That committees upon credentials
ard permanent organization DO appointed, to
consist of one member from each county, select"
ed By the respective delegations, except that in
those counties whoro the entire delegation is dis
puted, or where from a Tic, the delegation is un-
til after the report Of tho commltta on credentials
has been adopted.
This resolution vas seconded by Dir. Gibson,
OF Culpcper.
G. S. T. Triplctt. Of Calpeper, eusuired as
to who had right to vote where there was a
tie ia q delegation as was Tic case 10 his own.
The chair said that all disputed quastic0s
would have 10 he referred.
q. l., Simpson, OF Alexandria, offered an
amendment to the resolution Of General
Payne that where there IS tic l1 the
number of delegates troul a county, then
the members representing majority OF the
votes of such c1uaty shall appoint the moth
bcrs on the committees.
This amendment Was opposed BY Mr.. Ream,
OF Culpeper.
Mr.. Simpson advocated his amendment as
the only proper and jus! mode OF reaching a
conclusco.
r. G. Porhnm, cl Rappahaunock, secluded
the amendment. contcnding that the preco-
deut set by former convention in the disputed
delegation from Scott Township, in Faus uier
caunty, should he adhered to, aud that every
thing should be done in this convention to Sc
cure harmony and promote the best Interests
Of tue party.
Gen. Payne denied that his resolution vio-
lated auy precedent, sad said that he wanted
nohlng but fairness.
MIR. Pophau replied to Gen. Payne, rciterat-
ing his objections to the resolution, a. calculat-
ed to produce bad effects.
Mr.. Gibson, CT Cuipeper, claimed that iu
voting in the primaries, hundreds only were
counted.
A delegate TOOK issue With Mr.. Gibson and
said that fractions were counted.
N1r thnf
convention alone were empowered to decide
upon all questions. tie said Culpcper in
this, as 10 all conventions he had ever at.
tended, was unanimously split, and was now
spontaneously divided by tic. Laughter.
IHo townships were for Hunton without
contest, and two for Ncale, MoDifec Barbour,
or aDy other barG0vr0qts name, and was pro-
cccding to plain the vote in the Salem district,
when
j. 2. Riley, Of Winchester. rose to a point
Of order, that Mr.. e. was not speaking to the
question under consideration. Applause.
Mr.. Gibson-If you will point the line OF ar.
gume1t will follow it, Laughter.
The chair decided that Mr.. Gibson was iu
order.
Mr.. Gibson then proceeded and contendcd
that each representative should have one vote
irrespective OF the numerical vote. which he
represented, and further opposed Mr. Slmp.
sons amendment.
Mr.. Triplctt advocated numerical represen.
tation and said that the anti HuDton delegates
from his county had q majority Of thirty four
on the popular vote.
Linden Kent, of Alexandria, argued that
General Pagne's resolution, without the
amendment of Mr.. Simpson, would have
the effect of derriving Culpeper of any
~ fho {Ha|
delegation, being tic, had no right to partici.
pate 10 the organization, it nigh! occur that it
might also be deprived of right to participate
in the nomination. He warmly advocated the
adoption OF the amendment as the only safe
meaos of preserving harmony.
d. NJ. Ream, Of Culpeper, opposed tho
amendment.
S. S. Turner, of Warren offered as substi.
tutc for the resolution that the Convention
now proceed to the election of committees on
credentials aud permanent organization.