Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1908-04-30
AFTER Fifty YEARS.
State Democratic COnVen-
ton COnVeneS Again In
Charlotte.
of The -Four Hundred and Seventy-sever
Delegates Who Participated in The
Convention in 1858 But Few
are Living and Only One
a Delegate To The
June Convention.


coming State Democratic convention
in that city in June, the Charlotte OBJ
server in a recent issue, says:
'tIt is the consensus OF opinion of all
those interested in things political that
the Democratic State convention which
is to be held in this city June Oath will
bring to Charlotte the greatest gather
ing of the kind that ever assembled in
North Carolina. That the facilities OF
the city, which are admittedly the
greatest in the State, will be taxed to
their utmost capacity goes without
saying. Estimates as to the crowd
range from $500 to 5000 people and
some, owing to the unusual interest
now beng manifested in the guberna-
torial nomination and this being a
Presidential election year, are placing
the figures even higher. A prominent
politician was heard to express him
self thus but a few days ago saying
that he would not be surprised if 6,9Do
visitors thronged the city for the con-
~vention. That the city viii give the
convention q royal reception is un-
doubted. Every detail relative to the
entertainment of the delegates viii be
arranged long beforehand so that moth
ing will ba amiss when they arrive.
Special committees will De appointed
to Iook after the visitors, to see that
they are properly housed, and their
every want is satisfied, that the con-
vention is accorded every privilege and
accommodation in order that business
may be expedited and that everybody
has a pleasant time.
"'This visit OF the conyentiont to Char
1otte recalls the great gathering held in
this city just 80 years ago, in April,
1888, the notable convention that nom
mated Judge John w. Ellis for gov
ernor. Conventions, in those days,
owing to the early elections, were held
in April. The convention OF 1858 as
sembled in the old court house build
ing at the corner of Trade and Church
streets, which was leveled several
years ago to make room for the splen-
did new hotel, the Selwyn, which now
adorns that site. The meeting was
held Wednesday, April 18th, with AT
delegates IN attendance, representing
70 counties. The reports which have
lived through the years indicate that
the two-days' session was a stormy
one, considerable feeling being mani
tested by the Ellis as we'll as the HoI-
den factions. the rival candidates for
gubernatorial honors.
"Gen. c.. NJ. Avery, OF Burke, served
as president OF the convention, with
the assistance of eight vice-presidents,
as follows: Messrs. j. G. Badham, OF
Chowan; D. G. Ward, Of Green; John
"A. McDowelI.o of Bladen; Nathan Milan,
OF Warren; Gen. Benjamin Trol1inger,
Of Alamance; Joel F. Hill, OF Stokes;
William NJ. Matthews,o OF Mecklenburg,
and James B. Gordon, of Wilkes. The
three secretaries were Messrs. George
Howard, Jr., Of Wilson; j. w. Ais
paugh, of Forsyth, and w. f. Green, of
Franklin. All of these gentlemen are
well remembered by the older residents
OF the State as leaders of Democracy
prior to the great onfict between the
States. They have long since gone to
AtC ISN @Ao' ~ ~ - " "O
took part in the convention but few re-
main. One is to be found here and an
other there, but the vast majority have
passed away.
cone of the small band remaining is
Elder P. d. Gold, of Wilson, an emf
nent minister of the Primitive Baptist
church, who, while advanced in years,
=. z--J ~1S+- cd has 49,,
recollections of the former Charlotte
convention. 1t is of peculiar interest
to learn that he will again be a~delegate
to the State convention, this time in an
honorary rather than an active capac-
ity. Elder Gold, who represented
Cleveland county in the convention OF
1858, has been notified of the fact that
he has been chosen an honorary dele
gate.
Through the kindness OF Maj. F. K.
Beck, of Cataw ba, the Observer has
been loaned a copy of the Salisbury
Banner, of April 2Ist, 1858, which con-
tains a detailed account of the V
ton. This account with the editorial
endorsement OF the action of the party,
covers almost one entire page and
which, but for its length. might be well
to reproduce. 1t is a splendid COM
mentary on the transformers of hu-
man life and the highto of time, for OF the
500 and more individuals referred to-
but two or three are living and the
majority known only to a few.
"The convention effected temorary
organization by calling Capt. John