Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-10-03
A RADICAL NOMINATING CONVENTION
[REPoRTED FOR THE GAZETTE.

|
the delegates from the various radical ward
clubs Of this city, and FROM "Freedn.en's VII
lage," for the purpose of nominating a candl
date Of the party, to be voted for at proposed
election, to be leld on or about the 221 inst,
for seat in proposed Estate Constitutional
Convention, y (so-caled) to assemble at some
future day The "Con> that's what
it was caled-was composed OF about thirty
delegates, mostly colored, over whose delibera
tions white man presided assisted by a color
white tellers. All the delegates took part in
assisting in the discharge of the duties OF the
chair-and while all professed the most perfect
willingness to abide by the decision OF the afore-
said chair on any mootcd loints-and every
conceivable point was mooted-yet no decision
gave satisfaction and each one was made the
subject of severe criticism-to call it BY no
harsher term.
1t was determined to open the proceedings
with prayer, and accordingly colored man
named Miles was requested to pray, which he
proceeded to do, evidently, however, forgetting
the place for be began by asserting vahe
mently that, eve have assembled for the pur
pose OF worshipping Thee 0 Lord !''--about
as far from the intention Of that gathering as
anything possibly could te After proceeding
for a few minutes, he concluded by invoking
the Divine favor upon the Radical party par
ticularly, and upon ALL in general, who had
passed through the late fiery ordeal, and been
"baptised in blood and shower of bullets -
the novelty Of which expression caused gen
eral litter, Notwithstanding the desire on the
part of the audience to be revcrential.
The prayer having been concluded, the roll
was called, and thirty-two delegates responded.
The moment the Secretary concluded the
call, several delegates splang to their feet at
once, and scene of confusion commenced,
which continued with but short intervals dur
ing the entire evening, and amidst which, mo-
tons to ballot; to adjourn; to refer back to
the wards the whole matter; clear the house,
&C., were piled upon one another SO fast and
furious, that the chairman declared it was I'M
possible for him to decide which motion took
precedence each delegate contending that his
should be fr"t put to the Convention. A del
egate from the Freedmen's Village asserted
that he had never witnessed such proceedings
in any ciuizi@ed body in his life. r Q. Arm
strong ever and anon rose to a point of order,
and himself ruled the whole proceedings out Of
order. A colored delegate declared that Arm
strong was but bubble popping up and
down" w. W. White insisted upon his mo-
tons, and half dozen delegates declared that
they were out of order [. G. O'Neale and Il.
D. Beckey were urgent upon the maintenance
of parliamentary usages. The "Freedmen's
Village" asserted that they had right to more
delegates G. w. Dewitt persisted that Bur
nett and Malvin, from the Second Ward, had
no right to seats ia the body, and were brazen
usurpers, to which Burnett sharply retorted.-
An outsider pitched into Marshall, colorcd
delegate, for not voting according to instruc-
TONS and Marshall protested against being
bound During all this time the roll was
being called over and over on motions to adj
journ, to ballot, &C., &c.
On the first ballot the vote stood, Mckenzie
10; Hawxhurst 10; Whittlesey 5. -Four or
five other ballots were, at intervals, taken with
like result, the Hawxhurst men adherlng
tenacously to their man, but Mckenzie s friends
evidently willing to yield, until finally Gu the
seventh and last ballot, taken about 10 0 clock:
WhittIesey received Is votes Hawxhurst | !;
aud Mckenzie only 3, Armstrong, Beckley and
Hoyett adhering to him, but his other friends
headed by George Douglass going over to
Whittlesey.
Previous to the sixth ballot i. Hill made a
strong appeal for Whittlesey. He was follow
ed ty Beckley who urged Mckenzie's claims.
Several of Hawxhurst's friends spoke in his
favor, and considered him the Radical man
| of the party. Hill thought that the nomina-
ton of Mckenzie or Hawxhurst would defeat
! the party, and that the antagonism of the two
wings could not be healed with either Of the
| leaders in nomination.
A motion to make the nomination unanl-
nous was met with vociferous opposition from
| the HaWxhurst party, and a motion to give
that individual three cheers was likewise strong
| ly objected to. Both points were however car,
ried, after which cheers were given for Hawk
hurst and Mckenzie.
| Prior to the balloting, and after considerable
ado, ". W. White succeeded in getting the
following resolution through, c. ". Dewitt
| protesting against its passage:
Reso7ved, That the President Of the Repub-
| hcan Association be requested to call meeting
of the Republican voters OF the city on the Stf'
dav of October, 1867, at 8 0 clock p H., fol
the nurpose of nominating officers for the city,
to be supported at an election which may be
ordered by General Schofeld, and that the
several ward clubs lie requested TO take the
earliest possible steps to make he necessary
ward nominations.
| After the nomination. 4 DrOpAStlon to rtlGt