M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-09-25
The "Independent" Black Re
publican County Convention.

publican County Convention.
This body met at the Court House o.
Monday at half past one o'clock. We drop
ped in to see what we could hear and pro
cure an item. Passing over the uninteres
ting preliminaries, which werei in accordanc,
with custom, let us come to the real busi
ness OF the Convention. The call of th'
Central Committee invited all persons t
participate who were in favor Of "freedom
and an "indcpendent" ticket. There was
very decided feeling, however, of striking
out the independent part and going it OF
"freedom" alone, and this feeling soon man
ifested itself.
The names of the following gentlemen
were proposed for the nomination of Sheriff
Benjamin Sheppard, G, w. Ssson, John
Johnston, and F. Shades. The candidates
were all pledged to abide the decision Of the
Convention. A prominent member then
arose and proceeded to give his views in ref
erence to something, the which we could
not hear until he was about to close. We
understood him to state, however, that there
were many Republicans who would vote
the whole Democratic ticket rather than
vote foE men who were anything for the sake
of Office and whose fidelity to the cause
could not be trusted. This was dead shot
at the clique. 1t was an argument ofthe
knock-down and drag-out character. There
was no mistaking its meaning and the pleas
ant cOuntenances and approving mods of the
members told plainly enough that they
agreed with the speaker Immediately
thereafter, We understoOd'some gentleman
to withdraw the name of Mr.. Shades-that
gentleman being one of the"independents."
On balloting the vote stood--Sheppard II,
Sisson s., Johnston 5, and Shades 2. Mr..
Sheppard was declared the nominee.
The Auditor being next in order, Mcssrs.
R. Barnhill, ]. S. Hawk, and B. Hixon were
announced as candidates before the Con-
ventioD. Somebody wanted to know if Mr..
Hixon was all right on the goose question,
when several members answered that he had
"always been a Democrat" The members
looked sour. A gentleman got up and sta
ted that Mr.. Hixon intended to vote for Fre-
Mr.. H. had told him so. This
came little too late-the determination to
-epudiate every "independent' democrat,
vas evidently fixed. The Convention pre-
rcTed defeat to any plowing with the Dem
,cratic heifer.
On the first ballot the vote stood as follows:
Barnhill Ia, Hawk 8, Hixon7.
Second Ballot-Barnhill l6, Hawk 10,
Hixon 4.--Mr. Barnhll was declared the
nominee.
Mr.. Henry Payne was declared the nom-
nee for the office of Treasurer by accluma-
ion.
J. S. Hawk, Jos. Hill, Jno. Wykof and
!. w. Caldwell were announced for Recor-
Ter.
The ballot stood, as near as we could
20, Hill A, Caldwell 4. BIr.
Hawk refused to accept the nomination for
sometime, but finally agreed to do SO. Mr..
Caldwell was one of the independents. ~
He had been a Democrat and consequently
hared the fate of Messrs Hixon and Shades.
Mr.. Geo. Fry was nominated for Coroner,
md Robt. Aiken for Commissioner.
The Convention was slimly attended. 1t
vas composed of old and well known oppo.
tents of the Democracy. They preferred
lefeOt to any compromise with Democrats
,r even with those who had been Democrats,
md see med to regard Mr.. Hixon--a new
suspicion. The very thought
of nominating and voting for Democrats ap-
oeared to make them sick at the stomach.
They were sensitive on that point, and the
was that every man whom they
regarded as "good Lord or good Devil" for
The sake Of an Office, was incontinently
Tossed overheard with kicks and rmses