Maryland free press., 1866-05-31
A curious Political Reminisence.

Among the witnesses from North Caro-
ina examined before the Committee OF
Fifteen, was lIor. BclGnrd Brown, of
North Carolina. He said he was opposed
10 secession, and in favor of the Union all
the time, although lie s,rfed in the State
Legislature under Confederate rule. His
testimony; published at lcrg n, is in the
same vein with that of Alex. Ii. Stephens,
in respect to the dispositions of the South
ern people and the true remedy for the dis
orders Of tie times. He strongly coun-
scled the admission of the rerres ntative
of the States, at once, into both Houses Of
Congress. Congress being competent to
judge of the qualification of the members
separately, as the present themselves.
Mr.. Brown must be now beyond three
score'and nyclrs of age. He in the
Senate of the United States So years ago,
coming in with Gen. Jackson's first ad-
nlinistration, and continuing fast support
er of the 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 to the Senate, which
was a matter of accident. Mr.. Brown was
member of the Legislature from Caswell
County, we think, at the time, when the
two Houses were balloting for successor
to John Branch, who had received the ap-
pointmcnt of Secretary of the Navy from
Gen. jackson. The local parties of North
Carolina were very much mixed up be-
tween Federalist and Republican, East
and West, jackson and Adams, and had
rot crystalized into the forms of party
which subsequently obtained and ruled so
long.
The contest for Senator was among four
Or five prominent public men, and the bal
loting was protracted. MIR. Brown was
not considered as candidate in fact, al
though he received few scattering votes.
At last, wearied of the contest, there was
an informal agreement made by which all
the leading men in nomination should be
withdrawn, and new man, Mr.. John
Owen, acceptable to a very great majority,
should be nominated and elected. The
arrangement was not quite made when 1t
was suggested to have, in the meantime
another ballot, to which the votes would
be scattered, as usual, and the final ballot
he then held under this agreement. Mem
bers proceeded accordingly to vote at ran
DOM BY mcrest accident, there being
no concert at all, the members threw away
their votes, us they thought, on q candi-
date without chance, and large number
Put Mr.. Browns name on the ticket.
Here ano her curious incident de ermin-
cd the election. The town Of Ncwbern
was then borough town in the County Of
Craven, and had its separate representa-
ton. Mr.. Castor, enc of the abcst men
North Carolina ever produced, represented
Newbern Alfred Stanly, son of Hon.
John Stanly, was representative from Cra-
ven county. Between the families of Gas
ton and Stanly there was an old feul which
had descended to the younger branches
after the elder had forgotten it. While
this ballot was going on, Mr. Castor, IL
venerable gentleman, whose seat was near
that of young Stanly, folding his own bal
lot said to his neighbor, Alfred, vote
blank"
Not to be dictated to by Castor, Stanly
put the name of Bedford Brown on his bal
lot, because Brown happened to catch his
eye, being seated in the Speakers chair
On counting the ballots, Bedford Brown
was elected Senator by a majority of one
vote as much to his own surprise as that
O majority of those who voted for him,
There was good deal of grumbling, and
we think some attempt to revise the vote,
but all failed, and Mr. Brown took his seat,
to make himself useful and diligent nem-
bcr, and to become so popular that on the
expiration of that term he was reelected
by large vote. lie was succeeded i'll
1871 by Mr.. Graham.
..' A Sudden Cure.