The Asheville citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1885-1889, 1886-08-31

Carter, of Asheville.
Capt. McLoud nominated Mr. w III
Hunter, of Flat Creek. A$a.E
Mr.. Lafayette Burnett nominated DIR.
r Wilson of Swannanoa.
Mr.. w / Dickinson nominated DIR A
Reagan, of Reems Creek.
Mr.. A Branner nominated Mr.. II A
Gudger.
{Mr Gudger arose and urged the
withdrawal of his name, as both his
private business and public considera-
tions urged him to ask this. Did he wish
nomination he would not hesitate to
say so.
Capt V Baird nominated Gen john
stone Jones. -
Col. Davidson seconded the nom
ination of Mr.. Gudger, Mr.. w Starnes
that of Mr.. w H Hunter.
Genl Jones appeared in the conven.
| ton and addressed it as follows:
1--WE can only give an epitome of this
speech from rough notes. Gen. j. was
received with vociferous applause)
There come times in the life of every
man when he should make personal sac
rifice for the good of others, or for the
sake of his party. if he be in public life.
Such time is now upon me. Did l
consult ms ewn selfish interest; did I
/ yield to the impulse OF feeling or ltnbi-
ton would not take the course which
purpose taking.
am gratiied-I am proud of this un-
solicited manifestation of your conf
dence and good will towards me, shown
here to-day, and shown in the action of
the township meetings.
! The words at my command eau but
poorly express the qualification it gives
me to know that my course and conduct
as legislator receives your appr oval.
| am deeply touched at this evidence of
your kindly sentiments toward me. 1t
makes yet stronger and deeper the ties
that bind me to the good people who
have honored me in the past with their
suffrages. l value the respect and affec-
tion of the people among whom live
far more than any Office i'll their gift.
Five years ago, my fellow-countrymen.
l came to Buncombe county a stranger
to you all, with few exceptions. [ came
not as a stranger from some foreign land
or from some other State. came from
one of the eastern counties but ] am
still beneath my own native and beloved
skies; and my heart beats in sympathy
with the people here as with the people
among whom | was born.
You elected me to the Legislature two
years ago. For what did I go? For
money? For power No! l went to
serve you; to do what could to advance
your interests. tried to do the farmers
some service; tried to lift some of the
burdens from the shoulders of the. toll
ing masses; and am largely RESPONSE
tsible for the enactment of the Stock
Lava law which 1 believe will prove
| q cyraot hlncoi mn opd bona6t to fho wbola
people of the county.
For that law I have been made the
target of denunciation by those who op-
pose the law. We'll, expected as much.
| I well knew that would encounter
fierce opposition but that did not deter
me from doing my duty as understood
it. For what. I did have no apologies
to make. lam willing to stand or fall
by the record; and am willing to leave
to time the Justification of my course.
am content to rest upon the calm, honest
Judgment of the. people, after they have
had experience of the law, and felt the
benefits that are bound to flow from it.
What did in this respect was done for
all the people, irrespective of party-re-
Ipublicans and democrats alike; and I
trust to them with implicit confidence for
my final vindication.
| II IL du easy udlICI u Tic
Legislature. 1t is oftentimes the surest way
to be returned, and had looked solely to a
denomination and re election, l would
never have introduced the Stock Law Bill;
I would have done nothing special for the
interests of the people of my county. But
l obeyed my sense of duty; and am ready
to abide the consequences, whatever they
may be.
| do not fear defeat. I consider victory
for the democratic ticket which may be put
out here to-day an assured thing. When
has the democracy of Buncombe been
beaten? When has its banner been trailed
in the dust at the feet of an adversary? 1t
was victorious in the dark days of the past:
shall the party be defeated now, in these
/ piping times of peace, when the standard
of triumphant democracy float jubilant in
the sunlight of grand national victory in
all parts of the Union Never! Never !!
This is not stock law convention. Iti
convention of the democratic party of
Buncombe county. Bear this in mind; and
let US to-day do what is best to secure tri
umph of our principles. s
i The democracy have a grand mission,
the preservation of democratic principles;
and, in Buncombe county, resistance to the
/ threatened repeal of the stock law. The
democratic legislature is responsible for
that law; and were we disposed to do so,
we cannot evade that responsibility. Let
US shoulder like men, and carry it through
to the end.
! Every man should do his duty, as he un-
derstands it. ''Duty," said Robert E. Lee,
sis the grandest word in the Engl ish Ian
guage." l have clear conception of what
( my duty to the democratic party is at the
present juncture. For the good of that
party I am willing to make any personal
sacrifice whatever; and when speak of
the good of the party, 1 mean the good of
1.-THE whole people; for, 1 believe, the well
fare, the prosperity and the happiness of
the whole people will be promoted by the
success of the party to which belong.
Now, 1 am advised that if 1 enter the
race for the legislature this year as the
j candidate of the convention the effect of it
might be to deepen and intensity antago-
nisms so unhappily existing throughout the
county, resulting from my connection with
i the stock law This ADVICE comes from
various sources, and various parts of the
county No Asheville clique is trying to
rule me off the track The men of Ashe-
/ vile who have advised me against accept
Eance of nomination are true democrats
and have the good of the party at heart.
! They are only solicitous that our action
i here to-day should be wise and prudent
Under the advice of these gentlemen and
Eothers from other sections of the county;
FOR the sake of peace and harmony in our
ranks; that no democrat may have any ex-
cuse for not voting the ticket you put out;
| am willing to give up all of personal ad-
vantage to myself in this contest, and re-
/ sumo my place in the ranks and do my duty
i Al ~f,s1T u III