The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-25
THE UNIT RULE.
How tho Democrats OF virginia Re-
pudintcd fRc Action Of the state
Central Committee In IsB0-A Les
son to BE Remembered.

that assembled IN Richmond on the
subject Of he unit rule. then adopted by
the convention. will be read with in
terest, and AFFORD food for reflection:
Norfolk. Va. June 20. 1896
Hon. NJ. Glennan. Delegate from Second
District to Democrats National Con-
Ttrtion at Chicago:
My Dear Sir:--I herewith give my
recollectLons OF the Democratic state
Convention, held In Richmond Va. In
February, 1850, TO which l was n dele
gate. and which you requested me ~
Gently to put In wrt;inE.
The convention met In the African
Church OH the 10th day of February.
1850.
The admirers OF ex-Gov. H. a Wise
held a caucus in the Office Of the Rich
mond Enquirer edited at that time by
his brilliant son. O. Jennings Wise. the
fight preceding the convention The
caucus selected Col. w. w. Payne OF
Fauqui.r, rs temporary Nhuirman. VIII
liam Lamb. of No;folk Cone of the Wise
leaoers) was designated as chairman of
the Committee on Permanent Organlza-
ton. which was Instructed by the Caucus
to report G5n Robert Banks. of Maids
on. as permanent president of the con-
vention.
Gen. Chapman, of Monroe was select
ed 10 present the following resolution:
this convention that Henry a Wise ls
the choice OF the Democratic party of
this STATE for the Presidency.
At the session OF the convention next
day the p! ogrammc OF the Wise caucus
was carried out as TO temporary and
Permanent organization.
at that time there were no electors or
delegates at large, but the State was d.
vided im.o electoral districts tlfteen In
all think).
The Norfolk district was No. and tn.
delegates from that district to the State
Convention. In common with the others
selected their own elector William
Lamb, OF Norfolk being their choice.
On the s. cond day of the convention
Cen Chapman presented the Wise en-
dorsement as Instructed by the caucus
II was strongly supported by Lieut.
Gov. w. l.. Jackson. OF Wood county,
a gentleman of very pleasing appear
ano-. particularly remarkable for his
collar, always smooth ana glossy (cv.-
IDENTIFY n stone collar. as we then had
no patent starch and Chinese laundrIes)
and as such in Sticking contrast 10 the
ordinary country delegate.
Mr.. Wallach. of Culpepper. offered a
substitute pledging Virginia TO support
any national ticla.t nominated at Char
lesion In accordance with Democratic
usage. and-u:ther disclaimlng the right
To instruct Nirginia's delegates 30 the
National Convention. directly or indi-
'ectly. or To influence the action of the
several district cow ntions. which are
the constituent bodies to select these
delegates.
Mr.. Wa.lach q think a, supporter of
Senator r. NJ. II. HurteD Withdrew his
motion and accepted one one red by b. b.
Douglass, that it was ineXpedient 10 de-
care preference for any distIngu!sh shed
man who had been named for the Presi-
dency. Each resolution had many sup
porte!s: In fact. the whole day was CON
sumed in wrangling. John Goode, of
Bedford, was among the warm support
ers of Gen. Chapmans resolution en-
dorsing Wise. \ vote was taken about
night fall on Douglas substitute and
the convention adjourned late at night,
whAe the secretaries We're s.lll scaling
the vote
Next morning the chair announced
that the Douglas substitute was lost
IN" exact vote. of courst. can't recall
Then followed dilatory tactics on the
tpa:u Of the opposition TO prevent Chap
mans resolution coming to direct vote
one Incident of This las. debate I re-
member was tn mentioning of Hunters
name by "a friend of Wise In connection
with the vote OF preference. which
brought Jack Seldom, of Stafford to his
feet, who called he Wise del gate down
for unnecessarily bringing in the hon
orable sentleHan's name. the fight was
being made not as the friends OF any
candidate. but against this convention
Undertaking 20 Instruct the delegates
for any candidate.
There seems To be some doubt whether
the resolution OF preference for Wise
ever came 10 Il direct vote. but the de-
feat OF the Douglas motion was con-
sdcred a triumph for Wise. and I'm the
interest OF harmony Mr.. Lewis Harvie
OF Amelia after consulting with the
Nise leaders, announced that as 1t was
u ecognized this endorsements could only
be influential and no: an instruction.
they We're sat!sf d TO let the matter
rest and shortly after the convention
adjourned
Then followed the District Conven-
tions. As we'll as | can remember. the
First tNorfolk) District led off. me; ting
March 18th in the Opera House
Mr.. K lndred, Of Southampton. and DR..
Arthur Smith were chosen Delegates
and, on motion of Major Williams Lamb,
Henry a. Wise was endorsed for Presi-
dent, but a proposition to vote for thr
unit rule in the Virginia delegation was
lost, Then followed n severe fight In
the several districts with varying re-
suits. w. l.. Jackson was defeated I'm
his own district which elected an:i-Wise
delegates Gen Hiarmon, of Augusta.
who had nominated the Wise temporary
chairman. developed as the Douglas
leader in he Tenth Legion
S5uthwes,, Virginia CL!ttl- Tennessee
but the majority of the. districts were
"a "a INK NO. 9,