South Branch Intelligencer

At a meeting of the republican friends of the present administration, of Clarke county, held at the court house in Berryville, on the 23d inst. in pursuance of public notice previously given—the said meeting was organized by the appointment of William Castleman, Esq. as Chairman, and of William Taylor, Esq. as Secretary.

On motion, the chairman appointed a committee consisting of five gentlemen to wit, Dr. Syrus McCormick, Thos. Briggs, Alfred Castleman, Joseph F. Stephenson and John I. Johnson, for the purpose of drafting resolutions expressive of the views of the meeting; who, after having retired for a short time, upon their return reported the following resolutions, which were severally and unanimously adopted:

1. Resolved, That we fully concur with, and cordially approve of, the course pursued by the meetings of the friends of the present administration—one held in Martinsburg, Berkeley county, and the other in Charlestown, Jefferson county—calling a convention to be held at Martinsburg on the 22d February next, for the purpose of selecting a suitable person as a candidate to represent this district in the ensuing congress of the U. States.

2. Resolved, That a delegation, consisting of five persons, be appointed to meet in said convention. that the chair nominate the members thereof.

Whereupon the chairman appointed Thos. Briggs, Alfred Castleman, John C. R. Taylor, Joseph F. Stephenson and John Gant, as members to meet in convention.

On motions severally made, the names of Parkinson D. Shepherd, Jacob Isler, William Taylor and William Castleman, were added to said delegation.

Resolved, That whilst we view the act of the Hon. Edward Lucas, in declining a re-election to congress, with regret, we feel it not only a duty, but a pleasure, to accompany the expression of that regret with a hearty and cordial approval of his firm and consistent support of the republican cause during his term of service in the Congress of the United States; for which we think him eminently entitled to the unanimous thanks of the friends of the present administration.

After the first, second and third resolutions were adopted, the following, numbered 4 and 5 were also unanimously adopted, although foreign to the particular object for which this meeting was called.

4. Resolved, That whilst this meeting sincerely regret the loss of the Hon. R. E. Parker's services, as presiding judge over this judicial circuit, by his recent election to the United States senate, they nevertheless highly approve his election to a seat in that distinguished body, believing him eminently qualified, in any and every emergency, to fulfil its high behests.

5. Resolved, That the recent tidings of that gentleman's severe and extreme illness, has excited in our bosoms great sympathy for his sufferings, and a lively anxiety for his speedy recovery.

6. Resolved, That these proceedings be published in the Winchester Virginian, the Virginia Republican, South Branch Intelligencer, and in the Richmond Enquirer.

WM. CASTLEMAN, Chairman.
WM. TAYLOR, Secretary.