The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-13
RECONSTRUCTION
THE GEORGIA STATE CONVENTION.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or the HERALD.

SftCiAl CORRESPONDENCE VI HE HERALD.
Meeting Of the COnvention-Tbe Opening
Scene.--A Motley Gathering Of Georgia
SeiOns-Proccedings Of tho Day-A Rich Dr..
cusson on the Question OF Permanently
observation-disclosures tary Rules ut Dis
count-yery Literary Negroes.
08 ATLANTA, Ga, Doc. 0, 1867
In small located In the City Hall OF this p acc
was to-day enacted tre prologue to tho drama farce
which viii be on the boards for tho next eight
weeks Tue room itself II worthy OF the use 10 which
II has been devoted being small and shabby, and fur
nshed With abundance OF ne desks painted brown,
and reed Doomed chairs tho very picture Of hard times
70 say nothing or tho wooden inks.ands aud cheap
stationery, together with the green calico OF dneren.
shades Of color which the long glass windows at
the back OF presidents chair Taken "a q whole,
melancholy air pervaies tho apartment strongly
suggestive. indeed, OF tho garrc, Broadway in which
tho "Chous occasionally meet to expound their rog
doctrines There galleries; places for spec
taors and except small space at the further end
Of the room which has boon raed Of, and which by
hard So leez NJ migat be made to hold about seventy
persons.
II nigh. have baen about nine O'Clock In the morning
when the delegates began 70 assemble their funer al
looking nall Al first tho number was small, aud the
few present grouped around the stove that stood be-
the st Of benches and the presidents chair
and discussed politics. Without exaggcratug, can
say thai more seedy looking body Of never as
sembled together In Georgia AS the warmed them-
selves by stove the decidedly rich Ua-
shayen urcombed, unwasked and In most cises very
dtsy dressed stood and sat ae legislators Of tie Sae
deep yersaton, which only interrupted By toe
continual squirting OF tobacco juice into small lin spit
to0ns, OF which 81 hundred scattersd
over The One delegate apparently troubled with
So pair OF most shockingiy dry socks the uaaseatng
odor from which had the effect Of driving of the
fxofn ahnvs
correspondent As remarked before, negroes had
yet entered the Convention Kali; but step across
the room opposite discovered tho prosencs OF soma
thirty or moro sable ceiegaes had assembled
together probably because they ere ashamed OF being
seen IN the company Or their WHITE colleagues.
From the light yellow mulato to the coal black African,
and from the obsequious barber 10 the sturdy cotton
picker. there they were as largo o. NO. ami carving
themselves with dignity and air Of importance at
ludicrous and piifu tow out OF the number ar; abs
read aud write; tho majority Innocent OF all
educational qualifications " babe OF three weeks old
single glance at this body OF negroes III tell you how
utterly farccai must be which contains such
members
wnitss and blacks engaged In conversation in their
respective until o'clock. WIN all asssmoed
together In ibe Conventions Hall Had . stranger,
ignorant OF the purpose foe which the men present had
been convened, arrived at the moment he never would
navo supposed that State Constitutional Convention
beng then called TO order u looked more like
political meeting than anything else. Delegates and
spec mingled together most iraterua socially;
Strangers took in the deexnes cuairs and dele
gates crowded around the sose, whers they remained
throughput the proceedings i
Mr.. e. W. hnan called the Convention 10 order aud
nominated Mr. roster Bioigctt OF Augusta, tempo.
rary chairman Toe ayes were called for and given and
Mr.. Asnman declared the motion carried. when dsl,.
gate and suggested thai the be called
This dono. and insanity Storm OF ncss rcsoupded
through ito hall. pause cnsusd followed BY discus
sion which finally ended by Mr. Bodsstt beng do
cared elected temporary president Mr. Ashman then
nominated AIR. Highly Is temporary secretary. negro
member instantly arose and nominated srohtr man.
Bradley, TIE Boston negro lawyer and the radical nre
brand Of Georgia. next stood and made brief speech
10 opposition 10 the nominations, AMI tho result was
other interruption the proceedings. Mr.. Ashman
looked a. tho members with perpexed air; the
really laushabs tsbIeaa lasted Tor about three minutes
when with deep sigh Mr. Ashnan descended from tho
stand, relinquisning MS ieporary hon 70 ana leaving
She Convention wita noitner Chairman secretary.
Matters being now nj siandsl, ana parceivlng that
tho white spectators present were infringing 10 general
smile nj the expense oil tue Convention, member arose
and proposed committee of three DO appointed 10
conduct Mr.. Blodgett 10 The chair.
Mr. Bradley remarked that there was nothing bat an
empty chair 70 appoint the comm ttcs.
Mr. AcCay said thai things were going wrong: that
parliamentary rules were being ooseryed and that
ho wanted matters 10 60 right
al this iuncsure II was stated that Mr. BIodgct was
not present and therefore could not take his scat
. brsf spsech IN which he pitched INTO Mr. Bodge,t and
expressed his opposition 70 that gentIeman obtsinHg
any position OF honor fro the Convention.
Mr.. James I. Dunnipg, OF Atlanta was next nomi-
mated as temporary president
Bradley, tne negro, offered an amendment 70 the
nomination the elect that Mr. Dunning be called 70
the during the absencs Of Mr. Bodgsts Carried.
Mr. Duunlng made few uninportant rsmarks on
taking the cSar aud the Convention, upon motion Of
negro delegate elected temporary secretary the gen.
tlensn thus honored being Yankee who recently re-
General popss order calling the Convention together
A member arose aud inquired Of tho Chair whether
protect could DO offered against tho admission Of
.msmbegs before lao roll was called.
1hs radical members, well knowing that this related
np The measure in tho bud several arose 70 speak 81
the sans moment, aud some confusion snsusd. two or
three Of the negroes beng very ciamorous How the
matter would have ended Il u dncnis say hal
member suge sstod thar the question of admission
men admission Of delegates DO taken up In due form
afcr permanent organization had boon Effected.
This point being settled assistant secretary was
elected and the RON Called when hundred thirty
members answered 70 thar names
The question OF eicctng permanent officers being
undar discussion. Campbo, . negro delegate. offered
the following resoiutlon:- A
Eesoves That a ,s wsc have FOR
their position snthe relief question.
This resolution, which saw a white man wn,iSg cot
for the darky, created considerable msrrimens VIII
tho acting temporary president vainiy underworld 70
stop
twelve O'Clock and upon call for tho ayes lnd
Mr. Uunning decided that the motion carried
rssn ha he
DIVIDED balics Was ordered And resulted u--Ayes o.;
Nays u Tho motion 10 adjourn consequently Loaf
The negroes led ~ bradley voted solid 10 favor % i'd
IL was then moved thai tho convep,ion prooscd to
elect parmADens poesuonL and the motion rss 10
10 another intermiuabls discussion tbs extrsmiats
alarmed ~ their defeat the Adjournment question
determined 70 prevent permanent organization, and,
consequently Numerous motions and speeches made
In opposition 70 the movement Mr. Bryant On once
holder and one Of the numerous Northern men vino
lengthy speech In which no said that over twenty
members OF the Convention wers absens and thai Il
would mot do 70 elect prcsident mag be obuoxous
u the majority We wanted man who would appciut
committees compossd q men whose vtsws wsre IN
cnisos visa the nsor.y ana who weuld paes bu.isss
would b adoDte1 without discuason. He closed by
moving thaa the Coavsntson sdjeasn un tusvs O'Clock
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