The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-26
tNo. Ii.)
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In the year 1860 d great Democratic
State convention was held in the city
Of Richmond. Robert M T. Hunter and
Henry A. Wise were competing candi-
dates for the presidential nomination
in April of that year at Charleston, s..
c. Excitement ran very high, and the
hearts OF the Democratic masses were
stirred to their depths. Tho result. as.
is we'll known. was the disruption OF
the Democratic party. 1t was hope
lessly divided on the question of the
rights of the Southern people in tile
common Territories of the Unibn ac-
1uired by the common blood and CONF
mon treasure. 1t was split in twain by
discord and contending feufs and fac
lions.
Under these circumstances the
Charleston convention met, and the
war was continued fol-. days and nights
with undated fury. Mr.. William l..
Yancey, OF Alabama. and Mr.. Pugh, OF
Ohio, were the two leading spirits.
When the convention sat and the bal
lotting commenced Mr. Hunter was
one of the most prominent candidates
for the nomination., and received the
highest vote next to Mr. Douglass
Perhaps the stormtest and most acri-
monious debate ever. known took place
at the Democratic convention at Rich
mond, and the members We're frequent
~ wrought up to the highest pitch Of
excitement. .}f
General Chapman. in tho early part
of the session, had offered q resolution
expressing the sense OF the body In
! favor of Henry a. Wise as the choice
of the Democracy. This resolution was
stoutly and .lrenuously opposed by the
| Hunter leaders, among the most prom
linent OF whom were Beverly B. Doug
/ lass and Patrick Henry Aylett. Un-
| douhtedly the resolution would nave
! been adopted but for the consummate
/ skill and adroit management Of Lewis
T.. Harvey who was recognized by com
| mon consent as the leader of the Hun
ter forces.
The convention adopted a resolution
/ expressing the opinion that 1t was no
/ wise or expedient TO express any choice
between the two competing candidate!
4 from Virginia. In that convention
d made the acquaintance of O.. Iennlngl
A Wise. one of the noblest Of the cav
4 alters, who loved his father, Henry
Wise, with romantic attachment euua
to that of man for woman. he wa
| killed in the retreat from Roanoke
4 Island in 1852, In heroic attemp
to save the Confederate forces from
!, the disaster and defeat that overtool
q them have never known n NOR
,ilofty or more chivalrous young MAI
Speaker OF the House.
Robert M. r. Hunter was born \
!, Essex county, Va. on the 2lst OF April
= 1903; was educated at the University 9
? Virginia, studied law at Winchester..i
], the same state. and entered upon prac
Z tlce in his native county In. 1880.
! 1888 he was elected to the General AS
= semhly of Virginia. and three year
= after that he was elected to Congress
y and on being re-elected was chose
: Speaker OF the House.
Mr., Hunter was an intimate persona
= friend of John G. Calhoun, and Their
- was, on all Of the great questions 4
:, the day, perfect accord IN the view
:. which they entertained. In othe
4 words, he was u disciple of the State
a rights school OF party politics, and sbe
/; ltcved in the@doctrines as taught b
!. Jefferson, Madison and Mason. He wa
i elected n United States Senator In 1S'
"a by a combination between the Whie
IA In the Legislature and certain dissa
Nj Listed Democrats He wa reelected \
the Senate and remained a. member
sctsthat body until 1851. when he retire
n During his service as Senator he q
to vored the annexation of Texas, T.
ed compromise OF the Oregon question, t.
Va tariff of 1916, the retrocession Of tt
as city OF Alexandra to the State Of W
C. glnia. the fugitive slave law, the a!
IN mission Of Kansas as q slave Stat
a. and the extension OF the Missouri cor
he promise line to the Pacific Ocean. !
W. also originated tho warehouse systcl
he opposed the Wilmot provlso. the &nb
e. liticn of the slave trade In the D1stri
al OF Columbia, and tho admission Of Ga
llel ifornin into the Union, While5 a NOR
ly Der Of tho Senate he was elected chhi
III man of the Committee on Finance. a.
If IN that capacity made tho report
nd favor Of the reduction OF the value
he subsidiary silver coins. WhlleSn me,
ler Der Of the Senate he advocated +
blll which forbade the use OF the arr
~, IN enforcing the acts OF the pro-s laye
nd legislature Of Kansas. and In 1857