The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-07-11
@. M. CIay's Account or the Foxtown Rem
cOntre.

the convention. He opened the canvass by de-
nouncing the emanclpatlonsts, In public sp .ech
II the town OF Richmond, at April court replied
10 HIM and indicated the patriotism and princ-
pies Of that party. then distinctly avowed that,
in no emergency would allow pers nal feelings TO
helghten that excitement which necessarily follows
discussion Of the subject of slavery. A similar
debate took place In May. About this time, 1t be-
gan TO be rumored that would not be allowed to
Turner were said to complain that ], being no
candidate, followed HIM In debate. | said to the
and to Mr.. Turner, that If he would abstain from
denouncing US, the emanclpauonlsts, should not
About The second week of May, third and similar
debate took place at Ellie Millions My friends
supposed, nom rumors, that | would be person.
ally assaulted that day. On that occasion, Richard
Runyon ask ed me if adopted the platform Of the
Frankfort convention, OF the 18th OF April; re-
Piled that did: he then said occupied damned
b.oad ground;' Imlldy replied that hoped always
10 base my actions upon broad principles. | then
regarded Runyon as attempting TO provoke a quail
rel, but let II pass, and SAID nothing 10 any one.
Al w adlns muster, on the 18th OF June, 1t was
agreed among the Candidates and mj self that each
should speak one hour; Mr.. Willis to precede,
Mr.. Chcnauit was to follow. Twas to speak next,
and then MIR. Tuner. Assoon as Chenaut closed,
Turner, in violation OF the agreement, took the
stand giving his apology, that the people were
going home. / took 1t good humoredy, remark
ing that the people always stayed when | was ex-
pected to speak. The debate continued until near
sun down, when it was concluded courteously on
all sides.
On the 18th, packed my carpet bag, expecting
to be absent from my family week, intending TO
| speak at Foxtown, the Glade, Irvine, and other
| places, before my return home. arrived at Fox
| Town about one O'Clock. So soon as got there,
! feeling very much exhausted by much travelling
! and speaking Of late, l asked Curtis +. Burnam,
| Esq, son of Thompson BurnanI, the emancipation
candidate for The convention, 10 speak IN my place,
as felt actually worn out, 10 which he at length
reluctantly assented Mr. Willis led off, as usual, in
short speech; Mr.. Tarner followed IN a speech lar
! more intammatory and injurious To ME personally
than any he had heretofore made. He read
! extracts from the celebrated article IN The True
american, which was the ostenslble cause of the
mob of the 18th OF August: he attributed the late
| stampede of the slaves Of Fayette to the True
diner can: he denounced the editors of the Louis
| vile Examiner as holding reasonable correspon-
deEce with the aboliuonisls OF Ono, and readfrom
| the writings OF the Garrlsonian abolition'sts the
| most bitter denuncatlons OF Shareholders. | APP
preached the stand and asked that, inasmuch as
wCula have no opportunity 10 reply, that he would
allow me TO make an expl anatlen: he being silent,
| proceeded to say. that the article he read from
| the True american, was written by Southern
! slave holder, whose views were different from mine
! as ayowcd in the same number In which 1t appear
| ed: that had been slandered during my visit to
| the North shoit time previous; and the Kentucky
press had refssed NE the privilege OF simple self
defence In consequence, had been very liberal IN
my paper, avowedly allowing even IN the editorial
| columns, articles Of very dlsslmllar sentiments
I and that thought Mr.. Turner was hard pressed,
Il
| Objectionable matter In the discussion. Thus ex-
| PLANTATION only occupied minute or Two. Turner
! replied by denying that he had used the name OF
Tue american. told him II mattered not as every
! body bnew his alluson. He then proceeded un-
| n,eIruptedly tor one hour then asked nim II he
intended To divide the time according to the agree
meni the day. before; he made On eyaslye reply,
amid cries Of :. go on, ana absolutely gave no H.
rect answer. IA the mean N time drew out my
watc..., and remarked that he had been speaking
1 TWO hours, II then being O'Clock; he said wa.
mistaken, he had only spoken an hour. remarked
/ uellcyed had been mistaken IN subtracting the
hours. Thomas Turner, his second son, then
stepped up TO my side, menacingly, and said was
| mistaken; II was but one hour; The cries Ego on
continuing, said nothing more
1now began TO feel for the fret time that there
| was concerted purpose To deidine, silence, and
peihars, assault me. | went into the room where
my carpet bag was lodged, and put on knife seven
| inches In length, and AN inch and an eighth IN
| breadth, which usually carry tor scldetence,
and returned TO the stand for my instincts as a
nan, as well as my usefulness as a citizen, mad
determined Inc never TO submit To personal lndig-
nifty. / DO not deny that have other and more
! efficient weapons OF defence than this knife, out
so slight was my apprshenslons OF assault that |
| was lllled into false security. When Mr.. turner
had concluded his address, determining TO be
clearly in the right, asked his pardon i9r mlstak-
ing the hour, saying that thoughtit had been two
| hours when II had been but one. 30 lar from ac-
cepting my apology, he srly remarked that no
doubt that thought his speech four hours long
|
nscended the stand, and said that yesterday at
| WaldIn'a, Mr. Turner agreed that should speak
first; and yet, without any notice, he occupied the
stand in violation of his own agreement, aud now
to-day he IL the first up again. and refuses 10 assent
10 any compromise claim both from the theory OF
the government, and from the practice OF all par
| ties, that Mr.. Burnam, the emancipation candidate,
has AN equal right To be heard, elther through NM
self his son. or some friend before the people; |
! presume there Is not a man present who VIII deny
the Justice of this claim. do not ask to be heard
my self-my interruption ct MT Turner was no, on
| nv own account, but tina; OF my friend MIR. Bur
man, who desires to address you, and should have a
| far distribution of the time. After some Other
irrelevant explanation with regard 10 Chenault,
myself and Turner, was about 70 riS !, my
| seat, when was questioned by Richard hunyon;
He asked me il had asserted that the school
bonds were burnt | told him had he then
said il was not true. replied that u wa. true,
/ and referred him TO the act and the school
/ Commissioners report, and remembering that this
| was the same man who had insuied me- al Mil
lions, who was currently reported to be turner's
agent ut the meeting held IN Itichnohd OF inc or
rral friends Of constitutional r. form. IN presenting
resolutions, pursued HIM with Just Indignation :
"yes sir, you voted for the bill TO burn by your
! own admission you are guilty, and therefore you
are sensitive. Ask your master here, whose tool
YOU are. If state not the truth" was about get.
ling down from the stand when Mr.. Turner a.
ccnded the stand, and disclaimed that Rnayon was
bis tool then said che makes sinisei' your tool,
/ your willing tool and stepped on the stan j.
then remarked in an under tone, that this was the
second time that Runyon had ATTEMPTED to raise a
row with me. Cyrus Turner. Che eldest son OF >;
Tuner.) Immediately gave me The damn lie, and
/ stuck me simultaneously. Cyrus Turner and my.
self had heretofore been upon friendly terms; mad
not spoken to him ON that day; did not address
my remarks To him: therefore regarded hun as
following in the wake of Runyon. threw Oh my
cloak and attempted To draw my knife; G. Turner
caught my hand. but | at length succeeded in
drawing il. As quick "a thought my hand was
seized by third party; Turner then let me go, and
4. La flat Nglf
fist. aud the knife was wrestrd from my hind.
then struck Turner'S violent blow on hts LETT chez <
with my right hand, which staggered hun back
against the crowd whether he tell or not don I
Know. Being assailed FROM behind, turned, and
seeing my knife in the possession OF some person,
for which apparently there seemed to be struggle,
seized 1t with my right hand, and by twisting 1t
with my left, (cutting three Of my hngers,) sue
! c,eded in recovering 10. For short time ] was
nsensible, probably the effect of violent blows; |
then heard the bursting of a cap; found was