The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-26
AMERICAN CONGR ESSIONAL CONVENTION "
FOR THE FOURTB DTSTPJrT

THE CONVENTION NOT YET THROUGH ITS LABoRs-sITs
WITH CLOSED DOORS AND DOES NoTHING-HALF OF
THE POLICE FORCE IN ATTENDAECE-A YELLoTT DEL
EGATE VOTES ADJOURN AND GETS HIT WITH A
BILLY-A FALSE ALARM-ACTIvITY OF THE POLICE
JAMES MORGAN JUST FROM TowsoNTowN, is AR
RESTED But PROTESTS HIS INNOCENCE, COMPLAINS OF
HIS HARD LUCK AND FoRswEARS PoLTICS-JoHN
HINESLY TAKES PITY AND Balls HIM OUT.
The Convention met last night, according to ad-
journment, in room No. Temperance Temple
Two of the delegates were placed at the door who
were familiar with the faces of the members of the
different delegations and they came to the door
they were recognized and admitted. There being
two sets of delegates from the 18th and 18th wards
both were refused admission until the Convention
should decide on their credentials The reporters
of the different morning papers also excluded.
Thus no persons admitted other than
the delegations from the ten wards, five of
whom were in favor of the denomination of
the Hon. Henry Winter Davis, and five
in favor of Coleman Yellott, Esq. The most
ample police arrangements were made for the pur-
pose of keeping the delegates from fighting. A
force of l50 drafted from each of the four districts
was stationed in the street, in readiness for any
emergency. Capts. Lynch and Mitchell, with half
dozen picked men from the Eastern district,
posted themselves at the top OF the stairway, where
they remained throughout the entire session of the
Convention. There was, accordingly, average
of about three policemen to each delegate. At an
early hour OF the evening, crowd consisting of
members of the PlugUgly Rip Rap, Tiger and other
clubs, together with large number of treehghters
gathered in front of the Hail. and when they found
that it was impossible for them to gain admission
to the Convention appeared much disappointed
They solaced themselves, however, by shouting
themselves hoarse in honor of their respective fa-
a,.A al. L. IL
"Hurrah for Davis"-'Hurrah for Yellott" Then
a series of groans would be given.
After the Convention was called to order, Com
mittee, consisting of one from each delegation, was
appointed to examine credentials. The Committee
retired to antiroom, where they discussed for
one hour the relative claims of the delegations from
the disputed wards. While the Committee
were thus employed, the delegates from
the 18th and 10Th wards remained in the pas
sage way, at the door, anxiously awaiting the re
suit of the deliberations of the Committee. But
they waited in vain, for, after hours time it was
announced through the wicket in the door that the
Committee had only ''agreed to disagree" and
such would be their report to the Convention. This
announcement occasioned much disappointment
The Committee stood five for the Davis delegates
and five for the Yellott delegates. Upon the
Committee reporting to the Convention their
inability to settle the difference between the ri
val delegations, that body used its efforts, but
to no avail, the vote standing invariably % to
%. Considerable time was consumed in this
manner, when motion referring the election
of delegates for the lSth and 10Th wards hack tn
the people prevailed. resolution appointing the
election to take take place on Monday afternoon
next, between the hours of three clock and seven
?: NJ, was adopted. motion was then made to
adjourn, upon which motion one of the delegates
belonging TOT Yellott delegation, voted ''Yea,"
whereupon John English, delegate from the goth
ward, threw billy at his head. A rush was made
by the members Of the Conv ventTon towards English
and one of the delegates called from the windows,
"Fight'-"fghtp-fpe pelice. Immediately the en-
tire force, to the number Of more than hundred,
swarmed up the stairs, but Capts. Lynch and Mitch
ell, who were not aware that any difficulty had oc
Cured in the room, checked the officers and they
remained on the stairway, which was completely
filed from top to bottom. In a few
minutes the door of the Convention room was
thrown open, and the delegates commenced coming
out One voice called for 'fhree cheers for Davis"
which were given, and responded to by .'three
cheers for y ieIlott." Then groans were given for
Davis, which were unearthly in their character
the sound being drawn ont until it assumed that Of
knell, for bis anticipated defeat. One man hung