Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-06-08
VOLUME XIV. NO. 8,

Ina examined before tho Committee ofF;s
teen' was Hon. Bedford Brown, of North
Carolina Ho said he was opposed to se-
cesslon, and in favor of the Union all tha
time, although he served in tho State Leg.
lsaturo under Confederate rule. His testi.
mony, published at length, is in same view
with that Of Alexander II. Stephens, in re-
spect to the dispositions of the Southern
people and the true remedy for the disor-
ders of the times. He strongly counseled
the admission of the represe natives of tie
States, at once, into both Houses Of Con-
gress, Congress being competent to judge
OF the qualification Of the members sepa-
rate'y, AS they present themselves.
Mr. Brown must be now beyond three
score and ten years of age. He was in
the Senate of the United States 80 yeara
ago, coming in with Gen. Jackasn's first
administration, and continuing a fast sup
porter of Democratic party through two
terms in the Senate, and we believe, sup
porting that ticket up to the last.
There is curious political anecdote told
OF his first election 10 tho Senate, which
was a matter of accident. Mr. Brown
was member Of the Legislature from
Caswell county, We think, at the tins.
when the two Houses were ballotting for q
successor to John Branch, who had receiv-
cd the appointment Of Secretary of the Ma
w from Gen. Jackson. The local parties
Of North Carolina were very much mixed
up between Federalist and Republican.
East and West, Jackson and Adams, and
had crystalized into the forms of party
which subsequently obtained and ruled 60
long. The contest for Senator was among
four or fye.prominent public men, and the
balloting was not considered as candidate
in fact, although he received few scatter
ing votes. At last, weariod of the contest,
there was an informal agreement made by
which all the leading men nominated,
should be withdrawn, and new man
Mr., John Owen, acceptable to great ma
jority, should be nominated and elected.
The arrangement was not quite made when
it was suggested to have, in the meantime,
another ballot, to which the votes would
be scattered, as usual, and the final ballot
be then held under this agreement. Mem
bers proceeded accordingly to vote at ran
dom. BY the merest accident, there being
no concert at all, the members threw away
their votes, rs they thought, on a candidate
without, on a candidate without chance,
and large number put Mr.. Browns name
on tho ticket. Here another curions Incl
dent determined the election. The town
of Newbern was then borough town in
the Country Of Craven, and had it's sepa-
rate representation. Mr. Castor, one of the
ablest men North Catolina ever produced,
represented Newbern. Alfred stanly, son
of Hon. John Stanly, was Representative
from Craven county. Between the fami.
lies of CASTOR and Stanly there was an old
leud which had descended to the younger
branches after tho elder had forgotten it.
While this ballot was going on Mr.. CASTOR,
a venerable gentleman, whose seat was
near that Of young stanly, folding his own
ballot said to bis neighbor, "AIfred, vote
blank" Not to be dictated to by I Gas.
ton.-s'tanly put the name Of Bedford
| Brown on his ballot, because Brown hap.
pened to catch bis eye, being seated in the
Speakers chair. On counting the ballots,
Bedford Brown was elected Senator by
majority of one vote, as much to his own
surprise as that of majority of those who
voted for him. There was good deal Of
grumbling and we think some attempts to
reverse. the vote, but all failed, and Mr..
Brown took seat, to make himselfa useful
and dilIigent member, and to become as
popular that on the expiration of that
term he was reelected by large vote.
He was succeeded in 1s4l by Mr.. Graham.
~ 0. Picayune.
A man had his sign up--'Cheap Ladiea'
Shoes for sale here" He found that not q
woman entered bis store. No wonder:
the ladies don't like to be called cheap
they want to be called dear.
-J-~-o&-0-
A newspaper article recently Informed
the public that the workmen at NJ. Jonesa
machine shoHhad struck. MI. Jones came
out the next day denying It, as they
had not struck q stroke for A week.