Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1880-09-14
THE SENATORIAL CONVENTION.


gan county, on Tuesday last, aud nominated
Hon. @. T. Butler, of this county, for re-
election. Whilst wo do not hesitate, as a
party organ, to place the name of the NOM
inca, worthy gentleman, at the head of our
paper, We cannot. in duty to cur own county,
pass the occasion by without uttsriDg our
earnest protest against the manner in which
the nomination was made. This we do in
the interest of the party in this section, as
well as of the entire State.
1t has hitherto been conceded that Jeffer.
son county waE entitled to the nomination,
and this was suhstaDtiated by the same being
given to Jefferson county man. But in
former conventions, where Circuit judge
ship was not Immediately involved in the
same district, it has bseu the practice to allow
the county entitled. to the Senator to present
its majority choice and the same to be prompt
~ confirmed by the other counties. Contrary
to this practice, and utter violation of the
principles of equity and fairness which should
at all times govern such bodies, the veiee of
the large msjority of the people of JetFer-
last Tuesday, and by coalition of nearly the
entire vote of Berkeley with tho minority of
Jefferson, the choice of Jefferson az EXPRESSED
most alphabetically through her primary meet
iags, was defeated.
It was we'll understood at Bsrkelev
Springs on the morning of the Convention,
from good sources, that the majority of tho
Berkeley delegates meant to deal fairly, and
that over eleven hundred of her votes would
be cast for DR. John D. Starry, whose friends
represented over eleven hundred of the nine
teen hundred votes Of Jefferson county.-
But, 10 when the con ntion had already
assembled, two gentlemen arrive from
Martinsburg, new deal is made, nAd DR..
Starry is sacrificed to meet such demands az
nay n the near future be developed to the
satisfaction of every man in the district In
almost the twinkling Of an eye, DR. Starry's
strength 10 the Bekeley delegation is reduced
to but little over two husdred-Hon. Moses
s. Gran than and Philip Showers, ESQ, re-
fusing to go over with the rest-aud SO the
vote is cast in the Convention.
All the why's and wherefores of this sud
den change are to some extent matter of
speculation, but circumstantial evidence. in
| no small degree. points to the true cause for
all. Suffice it to say, that it is believed here
that the nomination for Circuit Judge was
as truly made on Tuesday last as if the Ju>
diciai Convention had been called for that
day. Whether this is so or not will be de-
vcloped ere this issue of the Spirit reaches
some of its readora, and we await the result
Of the MaItiosburg Convention to day, hop
ing, without ground for hope, that its work
may in the highest degree be for the harmony
and success of the Democratic party. with-
out regard to tho mere advancement of this
or that lodlv!dual to any position whatever.
Whether the Democrats of Jefferson will
longer continue to be the nero "hewsrs of
wood and drawers Of water" for berkeley, is
bslng seriously sgitated at this time, aud We
would, in all cardor, and in the intercsta of
the party, both local and national sound q
note Of warning against the present course
of procedure. If Berkeley, with small
| minority from Jefferson, IS to name tho
Senatorial candidate when the majority Of
Jefferson should make the choice, and then
by the same combination effect Judicial
nomination, the psopls Of Jefferson ars in no
mood to tamely submit to such action, and
thess engaged III it are but inassuratng
system that seriously threatens the Gi.r.p-
ton CT the party in this DISTRICT, Should
such result come about, no ons will do
piore it more than We; but Nc sound the
warning, and if it is not needed, oar skirts
| ahaIl be clsar