Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-06-09
TnE RAnrCAI. CnHYrx,rroN.

Iowa, for the senate: KereheVal, Of
Lincoln. aud Prosser, of Parts I'm
known. for the Lower House
A Radical Convention convened at the
Capitol Yesterday at about o'clock P. M
The attendance was exceedingly slim, and
the galleries we're almost empty. At the
opening, the urbane janitOr, Capt. Heydt,
closed the gate Of Representative Hall
against the colored men, but left the doors
of the galleries open for their accommoda-
ton. Mason, the bitter opposer Of Trimble
in the Congressional race, emphatically
gave the Captain TO understand that if the
colored men were not admitted and seated
on the floor of the Hall, on an equality
with the white Radicals, he and his friends
would again bolt from the place. Upon
this the gate was opened, and the colored
men filed in and took the seats so recently
occupied by the members of the Lower
House Of the General Assembly.
The Convention was called to order by
d. D. Dickey, upon whose motion Captain
5. f. Allen was elected Chairman.
| Capt. Metcalfe nominated 3. F. Cook for
Secretary, and Mr.. c. was elected with
| only one dissenting vote, which was from a
colored man.
The contest between the Mason and
| Trimble factions then opened, though it
was quite evident that the friends of Trim
bic were in the majority, and determined
to carry their point.
A. S. Bradley moved that a committee of
nine be appointed to select candidates for
Senator and Representative of Davidson
county, and for delegates to the Floaterial
convention, with instructions to recommend
suitable person for the nomination of
| Floater.
John Hu. Smith objected, and moved as
a substitute that the county delegation
which assisted in the nomination of a can
didate for Congress be instructed to meet
the delegates from the other counties of the
| Floaterial district, and nominate candidates
| for Senator, Representative and tloater.
He thought this should be only prelimi-
nary meeting.
Captain Metcalfe asked an explanation.
| He was opposed to the substitute, for
| the very plain reason that the Con-
| gressional convention was dead, and
there was no such thing now in exist
| ence as the delegation tc that conyen-
| ton. That body had accomplished its
| work and passed away, and why not make
! new delegation? He also objected upon
| the ground that the method advocated in
the substitute would give Cheatham, Rob
ertson and Montgomery counties the power
TO say who should represent Davidson in
| the Legislature.
Judge Smith explained that the dele
| gates from Davidson county would make
the nominations for Davidson county.
Capt Metcalfe replied that he understood
| the Congressional convention was to be
resurrected, and he was opposed to it.
Judge Smith repeated that the gentle
man did not understand.
Capt Metcaife said he understood it
better than he yet had said
A colored man moved to lay Judge
Smiths substitute on the table, and after
| some minor thrusts and parties between
| the distinguished Spokesman of the two
Radical factions, the advocate of Mason
declared that the Congressional convention
and its delegation, did not represent
the sentiments of the people of Da-
wilson county. The first was defunct,
| and the latter was not a true representa-
ton. If the gentleman who proposed the
substitute objected to the nominations be-
| ing made by SO few ,as were present, let
him say so, and let the convention ad-
journ.
Here the convention became somewhat
muddled with the torrent of Incompetent
sible highfalutin poured into its ears, and
no one seemed tocomprehend why ii had
been called, save that certain offices were
to be filled The coiored were all at sea,
and the whites were equally lost. The fact
enunciated in the letter of the Eastern boy
who had emigrated to the Northwest, in
writing glOwingly TO his father, that "migh
ty mean men could get office here, seemed
to be about the only sensation experienced
by the stupid little crowd, and a squabble
ensued between Judge Smith and Bradley,
(who had risen to point of ORDER as to
who should have the floor.
Bradley having gained his point, re-
quesled the Secretary to read the call for
the convention, that its object might be
made known.
Judge Smith here again asserted his
right to the floor, but gave way for the
reading of the call.
After the reading, Bradley insisted, in
opposition to Judge Smiths substitute,
that the object of the convention was the
nomination of a Senator and Representa-
tives, and the appointment of delegates TO
the Floaterial convention. This he made
point of order.
The chair decided that the point was
we'll taken, but indicated its willingness to
hear Judge Smith.
The Judges blood began to boil. His
portly frame quivered with excitement, and
he seemed about to spring upon and de-
molish Metcalfe, who sat scowling on the
left. If the meeting" had the power to
nominate candidates, it certainly had the
power to appoint delegates He would
vote for no man nominated, if that man
favored Mason. lie Smith wanted the
power placed in the hands of the friends of
John Trimble. The gentleman had said
the convention was dead.
Metcalfe, interrupting: Yes, dead and
| damned
Smith All this meeting has to do now
is to appoint delegates to the Floaterial con-
vention, and when it meets, let the dele
gates make the nomination for Davidson
county.
The speaker was here interrupted by
| cries of order and the Chairman decided
| that he was out of order.
Judge Smith then appealed from the de-
cisiOn of the chair to the convention, aud
Capt. Metealfe attempted to speak, but was
interrupted and silenced by loud and long
continued calls for the question.
The Chairman having restored oder,
said that vote would now be taken on
the appeal.
DR. Wood, COL, called for the previous
question, but was summarily called to
order.
Judge Smith wished to explain, and
Bradley withdrew his motion TO give place
to the Judges substitute.
The chairman, amid the confusion, put
the question as 10 the appeal from his
decision, and the decision was sustained by
a vote Of ffty-three 10 forty-nne The
announcement of the vote was greeted with
a round OF applause from the Mason men.
Capt. Metcalfe then moved, in view of
the spirit he had seen manifested, that the
convention adjourn sine die
A colored man moved that Metcalfes
motion be laid upon the table.
H. H. Thomas repeated the motion
against Meicalie's.
Cant Mefcs 10 declared that a r,otior to