Wilmington Journal

For the Journal.
Conservative Convention in Columbus County.
A Convention composed of delegates from the different townships of Columbus county assembled in the Court House in Whiteville on the 4th day of July, according to previous appointment. Kenneth Haynes, Esq., Chairman of the County Executive Committee, called the Convention to order. On motion of Samuel B. Jennings, Esq., John W. Ellis, Esq., was chosen President of the Convention, and A. C. Meares and Kenneth Haynes were elected Secretaries. It was then moved and seconded that the Chairman appoint three delegates from each township, whose duty it should be to prepare and report business for the action of the Convention, which motion prevailed. The Chair thereupon appointed for Boyne township—J. W. Hall, O. H. Powell, B. F. Pierce. Welche's Creek township—R. D. Sessions, John Creech, J. L. McKay. Whiteville township—L. B. Jennings, W. H. Sellers, D. P. High. Tatums township—Caswell Porter, Jno. C. Lennon, F. A. Griffin. Fair Bluff township—Asa Stricklin, J. Q. Smith, J. L. Barden. Williams township—E. H. Todd, J. P. Stanley, Jackson Powell. Bogue Hill township—Johnathan Gore, Benjamin Benton, Isaac Long. Lee's township—J. M. M. Goie, Thos. Lewis, C. C. Gore.
The Committees all responded to their names and retired for consultation and deliberation. Col. T. F. Toon was called up and made a stirring address, warning the people to arouse themselves to action, and that in the election of honest men lay the country's hope for a restoration to the old landmarks of liberty and happiness. Col. Wm. L. Baldwin then addressed the meeting in a happy effort, showing the waste and profligate extravagance of the last Legislature, and thoroughly exposing the corrupt policy of the Radical party. H. C. Richardson, Esq., was called up and responded to the call in a handsome and eloquent manner. He referred to the sacred memories of the past; spoke of the fathers of freedom as men who loved their country, from patriotic impulses of heart; compared the happy condition of the people when living under the mild and wholesome laws, promulgated in wisdom, to the miseries under which we groan and labor now that ignorance and corruption stalks in high places. He called upon all good men and lovers of their country everywhere to rally now for the cause of truth and justice.
The Committee then returned and reported the following resolutions and recommendations as the result of their deliberations:
WHEREAS, The time for effecting a change in the political affairs of our State is now at hand and the public officers are to be changed, or re-elected by popular election: and whereas, the welfare of the people depends upon the ability, purity and honesty of those who are appointed to office to rule over them. Therefore,
Resolved 1st. That it is the right, privilege and duty of the people to meet in open public Convention, consult together for the public good, and make selections of their purest and wisest men to hold all positions of trust and honor, and, in our opinion, the public safety demands that none but men of spotless purity should ever be trusted.
2d. That the recklessness, extravagance, corruption and general incompetency of the party, which has controlled the affairs of the State for the last two years, demand of every citizen, who has the public welfare at heart, to use all lawful means to restore the Commonwealth to the government of wise and honest men.
3d. That the notorious corruptions of the last General Assembly of the State, whether said corruptions emanated from and were carried out by unprincipled adventurers from abroad, or their allies and tools, who were born and reared in our midst, threatening, as they do, to blot the fair name of our people and break down the bulwarks of their ancient liberties, meet with our earnest and unqualified condemnation.
4th. That to secure the blessings of good government, it is the duty of all citizens to yield implicit obedience to the laws of the country and to depend upon them for the maintenance of their lives, liberty and property, there being no security for either in the violation of law; that whenever these laws become tyrannical, oppressive and unjust, it is the right and duty of the people to seek their repeal, alteration or amendment, only at the ballot box, and there rid themselves of the tyrants and knaves who are eating out their substance and invading their constitutional rights.
5th. That we approve of the address published by the Conservative members of the last Legislature; that we approve of the upright, manly and conservative course of our Senator, J. W. Purdie, Esq., while he was permitted to occupy the seat to which he was elected, and we believe that he was corruptly and improperly removed therefrom.
6th. That we tender our thanks to our late representative, D. P. High, Esq., for his upright course, and we regard the record which he made, as an honor to our county, and fully reflecting the sentiments of our people.
7th. That we endorse the nomination of the Hon. Wm. M. Shipp, lately an ornament to the Bench of the State, for the office of Attorney General, because he is honest, capable and faithful, and will discharge the duties of the position solely for the interest of the people of the State.
8th. That we recommend the following persons for the offices for which they are respectively named, being men of integrity and on whom the public may safely rely:
For Representative—C. C. Gore.
For Sheriff—V. V. Richardson.
For Register of Deeds—D. P. High.
For Coroner—J. L. Barden.
For Treasurer—Francis Lennon.
For County Surveyor—J. J. C. Gore.
For County Commissioners—James High, Dempsey Coleman, D. D. Campbell, Haynes Lennon, Wm. M. Baldwin.
9th. That we invite every citizen of this county to unite with us in upholding, maintaining and carrying out the principles herein set forth, and ask their support for the nominees of this Convention, to the end that harmony and prosperity may prevail among our people.
10th. That we approve of the holding a District Convention on Saturday, the 9th day of this month, at Brown Marsh, to nominate a candidate for Senator for the 14th District, and that the Chairman is hereby authorized to appoint thirty-two delegates from this county to meet the delegates from Bladen at the above named time and place, to make such nomination.
Upon the reading of the report of the committee Capt. S. W. Maultsby moved the adoption of the report as a whole. A. F. Powell, Esq., moved to amend said motion by taking up and considering separately the recommendation made by the committee for a nominee for Representative. The amendment was adopted. The Convention took up the question of approving the report of the Committee for Representative, and C. C. Gore was unanimously declared to be the nominee of this Convention. The question recurring upon Capt. Maultsby's motion, the Convention unanimously adopted the report of the committee amid three hearty cheers for the nominees. The nominees all being present, were called for, and came forward, and all accepted the nomination except D. P. High, for Register of Deeds, who came forward, and, thanking the people of the county for the confidence repeatedly reposed in him, by calling him to the discharge of official duty, and thanking the Convention for the unexpected honor which the people seemed willing to bestow in calling for a continuance of his service in office; assured the Convention that he was heart and soul in this cause, and expressed the hope that his friends would excuse him from being a candidate. He was not an aspirant for office. It would afford him pleasure to vote for other good men. He must decline the compliment so generously and unexpectedly tendered. The committee were instructed to retire and make a recommendation to the Convention for Register of Deeds, and in doing so shortly returned and recommended B. W. Smith for said office, who was declared the nominee of the Convention. He came forward and accepted the same. Under the tenth resolution the Chair announced the following delegates from Columbus county: B. F. Pierce, J. W. Hall, Milton Campbell, G. W. Flinn, S. W. Smith, A. J. Troy, J. W. Rouse, John Creech, W. M. Baldwin, V. V. Richardson, A. F. Powell, T. K. Wiggins, C. Porter, Francis Lennon, Isham Williamson, F. A. Griffin, Dr. J. M. McGougan, E. D. Meares, J. Q. Smith, B. Smith, J. Q. Elkins, C. Spivey, N. Wilder, Josiah Howellson, Jesse L. Cox, M. J. Stephens, W. J. Lay, Henyard Long, H. C. Long, C. C. Gore, M. J. Ward, Covaul Forneyduval. On motion, the Chairman and Secretaries were added to the list of delegates. On motion it was ordered that a copy of the proceedings of this meeting be forwarded to the Robesonian, Wilmington Journal and Morning Star, with the request that the same be published. The thanks of the meeting were tendered to the Chairman and Secretaries. Dr. J. M. McGougan was called up and made a brief and telling speech. He pointed the people to the loss of their honest labor, paid away in taxes, gone to support an extravagant and corrupt set of officers. Gone from the laborer and his family never to be enjoyed by them. He complimented the people of Columbus county for their unwavering adhesion to the Conservative faith; told them they now had a ticket worthy of their support, and men true to principle and honor. He would bid them rally again in the cause of truth, and the day was not distant when success and victory would crown their efforts, and with correct men in office the good old days of quiet prosperity would return to them again. Every body felt satisfied that a good day's work had been done, and amid the most pleasant feelings the Convention adjourned.
J. W. ELLIS, Chairman.
A. C. MEARES,
Secretaries.
K. HAYNES,