The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-26

was passed, and unueI IL MI. GuSloA US INV
san chairman; Mr.. Blake. secretary; Messrs.
Eolcomb. Over and Baldwin committee on NOM
nations, and Mr.. R. III. Rowland, surveyor, to
assist the committee in making selections.
A recess of half an hour was then taken, and
some little eaucusng followed At the sound
OF the gavel the meeting reassembed, and tho
conmittcs reported in favor OF Messrs. George
Ferruson. of Kcntucky, Lucien Hermann, eft
Louisiana, and w. Messick, of Colorado, as
candidates, The report was accepted.
Mir. Rodgers OF Missouri: "Mr. President,
the report beins properly before the House
now Imove to amend it by substituting for
the name OF Mr.. Hermann, that of MIR. Lueius
Harris, of st. Louis, who is well and henorably
known to MS all. do not wish to be under
stod as casting tho least reflection upon the
high character and standing of tho gentleman
from Louisiana-far from it. I respect and
esteem him as much rs any gentleman here
present possibly can; but mono OF us can be
bllad to the fact that he has lost more flesh
during the week We have laid here than any
among YOU; none Of rs can be blind to the
fact that the committee has beon del elicit in it's
duty, either through negligence or gravcr
fault in thus Offering for our suffragcs gen.
t]cman who, however pure his motives may be,
has really less nutriment in him."
The Chair: 1.-The gentleman from Missouri
will take his scat. The Chair cannot allow the
integrity of the committee to be questioned
What action will the House take upon the
gentlcmap's motion Z"
Mr. Halliday, of Virginia: 81 move to further
amend the report by substituting Dir. Harvey
Davis, of Oregon for Mr.. Messick. l. may DO
urged bv gentlemen that the hardship5 and
n,iyations Of frontier life have rendered Mr..
Davis tsuah but, ecntlelncn, is this time to
dispute about matters OF paltry significance
No gentlemen, bulk ID what we desire-sub
stance. weight, bulk-thosc are the supreme
requisites now-not talent, not genius, not
education. Insist upon my motion"
Dir. Morgan (eXcitsdly): "Sir. Chairman, L
do most strenuousy object to the amendment.
Ike gentleman from Oregon is old, and furth-
ern,ore is bulk only in bone-not in flesh. I
ask the gentleman from Virginia if it be soup
ne want instead of solid substance? if he
would deludc US with Shows? if he would mock
our sufferings with al Oregonian spectre 7
ask him if he cln look upon tho anxious faces
around him, if he can gaze into our sad eyes,
if he can listen to tho beating OF our expect
ant hearts, and still thrust this faminc-stticken
fraud upon us? I ask him if he can think of
our desoatc state, OF cur past sorrows, OF our
dark future, and still ulpityinsly foist upon us
this wreck, this ruin, this tottering swndle,
this gnarlcd and blghted and sapless vasa-
bond from Oregon'5 lnhospltabie shores
Never |" [Applauso.]
The amendment was put to vote, alter fiery
debate, and lost. Mr. Harris was substituted
on the first amendment. The ballotings then
baran. Fiyo ballots were held without choice.
On the sixth Mr. Hlrris was elected, all voting
for him but himself. 1t was then moved that
his election shsuld be ratified by acclamation,
which was lost. in consequence OF him again
voting against himself.
Mr.. Radway moved that The house now take
uo the remaining candidates, and 90 into cleo
tion for breakfast. This was carried.
On the first ballot there was tie, half the
membe favoring ono candidate on account OF
his youth, and half fayoring the other on ac-
count OF his superior size. The president gave
the casting vote for the latter, Mr. Messick.
The deeision created considerable alssatisfac-
ton among the friends of Mr.. Ferguson, the
defeated candidate, and there was some talk OF
demanding new ballot; but in the midst OF it
a melton to adjourn was carried, and the meet
ing broke up at once.
The preparations for supper diverted the at
tenticn of tho Ferguson faction from the DIS
cussion of their grievances for long time, and
thcu, when they would have taken 1t up again,
the happy announcement that lr. Harris was
ready drove all thoughts oil it to the winds.
We improvsed tables by propping up the
backs Of our seats, aud sat down With hearts
full OF gratitude to the finest supper that had
blessed our vision for seven torturlng days.
How changed wu were from what wo had been
fow short hours before Hopeless, sad-eyed
misery, hunger, fererish arXioty, desperation
Observation-Disclosures, serenity JOY too deep for
utterapco now That know was the chceriest
hour of my evcnttul life. The winds howlrd,
and blow the snow wildly about olr prison
house, but they were powcrlcss TO distress us
unv more. like Harris. He might have been
better done, perhaps, but am tree to say that
no man ever agreed with me b tier than Har-
Els, or afforded mo SO large degree OF salts
faction Messick was very well, though rather
higll-havorcd ; but for genuine nutrltiousncss
and dcllcacy OF fibre, give me harris. Mcssick
had his good points-I will nst attempt 10
deny it, nor do l wish to do it-but he Vas no
more fitted for breakfast than IL mummy
and tough You could moi imagine lt-you
could never imagine anything like it.
do you mean 10 tell me that"
Do not interrupt me, please. After break
fast we elected q mar by the name OF Walker,
from Detroit, for supper. He was very good
L wrote his wife so aiterward. He was worthy
Of ali praise. shall always remember Walker.
BE w was little rare, but very good. And then,
in the morning, we had Morgan, of Alabama,
for breakfast. He was ono Of the finest men I
ever sat down to-haadsomc. educated, retin-
cd. spoke several languages huently he was
perfect gentleman, and singularly juicy. For
supper we had that Oregon patriarch, and lie
was fraud, there is no question about It
DID, scraggy, ough-nobody can picture the
reality. 1 finally said, Gentlemen, yon can
do as YOU please, but I will wait Tor another
election" And Grimes, Of Illinois, said, "Gen-
tlcuacn I will wait also. When you c.ect Il man
who has something to recommend him, shall
be glad to join you again"
Ii soon became evident that there was gen.
cral dissatisfaction with Dlvia, OF Oregon, and
SO, to preserve the good will that had prevailed
80 pleasantly since we had Harris, an election
WITS called, and the result was that Baker, of
Georgia, WAS chosen. He was splendid
We'll, well after that re had Doolittle, and
Hawkins, and McE!roy (there was some CON-
pant about McErov, because he vas uncom-
monlv short and thin), and Penrod, and two
Smitbs, and Bailey Bailey had wooden log.
winch was clear loss, but he was otherwise
grinder, and a gentleman by the name of
wasn't any good for company and no account
for breakfast. We were glad We got him
elected before relief came.
s.And SO the blessed relief did come at last
Yes, 1t came one bright summer morning,
just after the electlsn. John Murphy MAS the
choice, and there never was better. am
willing to testify J; but John Murphy came
homo with us in tue train to succor US, and
lived to marry the widow Harris
"Ralict OF"
Relict of our first choice. He married her,
and ls respected and prosperous yet. All, 1t
This is my stopping place, sir; must bid yon
goodbye. any time you can make it convent
cDt 10 tarry day or two with me. I shall be
glad to have you. like you, sir; have con-
coircd all affection for you. l gould like you
r