New Kent for Zachary Taylor

 

 Nomination of General Zachary Taylor as a Candidate for the next Presidency, by the People.

 

 Saturday week, the 8th inst., being the day of Regimental Parade, a large number of the citizens of New Kent and Charles City counties, composing the 52d Regiment,* assembled at the Forge in New Kent; and the Parade being over, a meeting was held, without distinction of party, to nominate Gen. Taylor for the next Presidency.

 The meeting was organized by the appointing of Col. E.G. Crump as Chairman, and Wm. R.C. Douglass as Secretary and its object having been appropriately explained by the committee or is appointed to report proceedings  in accordance therewith; which motion prevailed, and the following gentlemen named as said committee: Doct. Robt. S. Apperson, Hill Carter, A.H. Fergusson, Col. Jno. S. Stubblefield, Jacquelin L. Poindexter, Rich'd. Crump, Dr. Wm. R. Savage, Canellene C. Fowlkes, R. T. Lacy, Dr. G.W. Morriss, Wm. Fowlkes, Braxton Garlick and Wm R. C. Douglas, who, after a short retirement, returned and reported through their chairman, Dr. Apperson, the subjoined preamble and resolution, which were submitted to the meeting in the usual manner, and adopted with but one dissenting voice.

 When the committee returned with their report Thos. H. Willcox, Esq., was in the midst of an address, the soul-stirring sentiments of which elicited frequent bursts of applause.

 The meeting was also addressed, in very handsome style, by Messrs. Hill Carter, R.T. Lacy and John Walker; and the only thing that occurred to mar, in the slightest degree, the harmony of its proceedings, was the position which Mr. Walker fell constrained to occupy in reference to them. Differing with the meeting as to the propriety of nominating Gen. Taylor, he nevertheless expressed the commendable sentiment that the People's choice should be his choice.

                                     Preamble and Resolution.

 Whereas, we are of opinion that the high state of party feeling, which has existed for the last twelve or fifteen years, has been deleterious both to our interests-and to our social relations, and whereas we have entire confidence in the fitness of Gen. ZACHARY TAYLOR for the Presidency, and believe that his nomination for that office by the People, without distinction of party, and without reference to his opinions upon those questions that have hereto divided parties, will tend in a great degree to foster a spirit conducive of good alike to our interests and to our social relations- Therefore,

 Resolved, That we do hereby nominate Gen Zachary Taylor as the People's Candidate for the next Presidency, and pledge ourselves to use every honorable effort to ensure his election.

 On motion of Capt. Braxton Garlick, it was, 

 R'solved, That these proceedings be signed by the Chairman and Secretary; and that the Whig and Democratic papers in Richmond, Norfolk and Petersburg be requested to publish them.

 On motion, the meeting then adjourned.

  E.G. CRUMP, Chairman. 

Wm. R.C. Douglas, Secretary.

 -Richmond Enquirer,  25 May 1847

Zachary Taylor would go on to claim the Whig nomination for Presidency in 1848 and would win the election in November. He would carry New Kent with 178 votes against 101 for the Democrats' Lewis Cass. This is not really surprising considering that New Kent was considered a strong Whig county.

The 52 Regiment was the militia regiment composed of the militia companies of New Kent and Charles City.