The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-08-01
Laying the Machine to Rest.
SCARCELY ENOUGH AT THE FUNERAL TO
ACT AS PALL-BEARERS-A SICKLY

1t had been published far and wide for che
past month that the elections for the selec-
ton of delegates to the Congressional Con-
vention which meets in this city to-day,
would be held on last Saturday, but the
general interest in the affair seemed to he
confined to such contracted limits, that the
prophets with and without honor in their
own country, predicted magnificent fizzle,
and the mourners thereat were few and far
between. If you would ask simon pure
Conservative ''are you going to the primary
he would look up with far-away expression
and ask 'what primary?" and when enlight'
ened, would give significant grunt, and say
he had had his Cose and was amply satisfied.
mo more primaries for me, | thank you
| have handed myself over for tit last time
to the keeping OF the ringsters. and hereaf-
ter intend to do my own selecting and Vot-
ing." remarked an old while-headed gen
tleman who said he had been present at the
birth OF the party, but would only be a"oll-
er-on when the burial time came.
BEVERLY MANOR.
1t looked as if that time had arrived. when
at two o'clock, the hour appointed for the
meeting of Beverly Manorites in the Court
house, not bakers dozen could be founo:
about the place, and those who happened to
be lettering around were unanimous in their
declaration that all the country wanted now
was about two days rain. Not one Of them
seemed to care a continental of the fathers
for the primary, and when the bell had been
rung with great vigor and much pretension
of enthusiasm, Captain Jas. Bumgardner
and two newspaper reporters filed slowly
into the Court. house amidst the most appal-
lingly decorous silence. AS Chairman of
the County Executive Committee, Captain
Bumgardner took the chair. Presently some
half dozen voters made their appearance.
Fifteen minutes after the appointed hour,
there were by actual count exactly seven
voters from the district in the house, and
with this number the proceedings were COM
menced. Captain Bumgardner explained
what the meeting had been called for, and
over as soon as possible. got up and imme-
diately offered Jno. N. Ople and Lewis Har-
man as delegates, and Jos. Houseman and
Alex. Taylor as alternates. A fearful
pause succeeded the nominations, and for
half q minute silence reigned supreme. 1t
looked as if the old machine didn't even
have strength enough to throw OIL the steam,
but presently Captain Bumgardner was
aroused, and rising to his fee: said that the
representation was so Insignificant that it
would scarcely have any binding power.
Four counties had already refused TO send
delegates, and he didn't want his hands tied
by convention made up as that would be.
One OF two things should be done. The
meeting should either decline to send dele
gates at all, or if it did, to instruct the dele
gates to oppose nomination.
G. w. Swope. Esq, moved that the meet
ing decline to send delegates.
Captain J. N. Ope deprecated the action
of those counties that had refused to send
delegates, and didn't think that Augusta
ton by pursuing similar course.
A motion was then made to instruct the
delegates to oppose a nomination in the
Convention, but it was lost by a vote of five
to six, including the Chairman.
Colonel VIM. NJ. Tate opposed instructing
the delegates, and said they should be al
lowed to exercise their own discretion.
Mr.. -Swope then moved that. the meeting
decline to send any delegates, but the mo-
ton was lost by a count vote Of to Z.
Mr.. swope then put up the following
ticket: For delegates, VIM. NJ. Tate and
II. F. Lyle; alternates, J. F. Tate and W.
L. Walters.
Captain Opic wanted to know who the
delegates would vote for in the Convention,
and thought they ought to be made to de-
clare themselves before they were elected.
He himself was Harris man, first last and
always.
Mr.. Swope opposed Captain Opie, and the
chair ruled that such declaration could not
be required.
Mr.. Craig then put G. w. Swope in NOM
ination, and the ballots were taken. The
count resulted in the election of Jno. N.
Opie and W. NJ. Tate as delegates. and Jos.
Houseman and G. Il. Palmer as alternates,
and then the meeting adjourned, and every
fellow looked as ii load had been lifted
from his shoulders. Not single cheer, not
the faintest echo Of applause was at any
time observable, and if during the proceed
ings somebody had upset box Of pins it
would have thrown the meeting into con-
WILSON'S. 1t was the saddest, sicklest, most
solemn and sepulchral gathering that ever
was he'd in the history of Beverly Manor.
MIDDLE RIVER.
The meeting in Middle River township
was held at New Hope, and composed al
most entirely of Harris men. Jno. FL.
Crawford and Captain Thos. Burke were
elected delegates, with J. D. Craig and Jas.
Patterson as alternates. They are all re-
adjusters and Harris men, but will oppose a
nomination by the Convention.
SOUTH RIVER.
The meeting in South River District
elected W. NJ. Bush and Benton Coiner as
delegates, and A. NJ. Bowman ard G. w.
Conner as alternatcs. They arc Harris men,
but some OF them flanders.
PASTURES.
From this District w. T.. Lghtner and D.
F. Hoover were elected as delegates. 1t is
funder element, and prefers Duke to Ilar-
ris.
RIvERHEADS.
The delegates fro thi; Dis5ric - Jas.
II. Callison and P. B. Hogshead, with w.
Il. Rush and W. Laley as alternates. The
instructions were to vote for Harris il u bet
ter man ca MT be found
Mt. SoLON.
About thirty persons, principally gathered
from about the village, assembled in Mt. So
lon, and after discussion by Jno. j. Cupp
and Geo. Wesley Blakemore, it was deter
mined not to send delegates. The senti-
ment of the audience was overwhelmingly
opposed to the Convention, but to make
things little lively good many pretended
to favor nomination. Tt leaked out, how
ever towards the last that the whole thing