Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-01-24
Our Special Raleigh Correspondence.
Unconstitutional Convention of North
Carolina

lUnconstIIutionat Convention of North
I Carolina.
! RALEIGH, Jan. Is, 1869.
The telegraph has informed you of the
coming together of the component parts of
the Unconstitutional or black-loyal Con
vention of North Carolina which assem-
bled in the capitol building in this city on
| Tuesday.
| SO anxious to be in at the death were
the loyal vultures, that hundred of these
delectables were present to answer to their
names and swallow the oath of perjury.
Taking his position behind the scenes,
the manager gave the signal and the cur
tain rose, disclosing Kinney, of Davidson,
in the Chair, who called the body to order,
aud moved the appointment of King, OF
Lenoir, for temporary Chairman, (which
was did" This loyal bulk of some two hun
dred and fifty pounds, avoirdupois, shuffied
with alacrity to the Speakers desk, and
occupied the ground according to previous
rehearsal Producing a crumpled sheet of
paper, bearing unmistakable evidences of
the personal filth Of its late custodian, the
Collector of the Newbern port of entry,
with hang dog look and lobster express
sion of countenance, III a tremulohs and
indistinct tone. of voice, betokening loyal
despair, uttered the following:
| GENTLEMEN OF TIKI CoNvENIIoN:-I feel honor
ed by being called to preside temporarily over this
body.
Allow me to congratulate you on the fact that
loyal Convention. chosen by the people, is about
~ begin q M
OF government, under which the State will be
speedily restored to it's place in the Union. lie!
us bring to this work feeling Of paramount at
tachment to the national government and fixed
purpose to make Constitution that will secure.
beyond al question, equal political and civil rights
and privileges to all our people, and thus insti-
tute government Of the people, by the people.
and for the people, for this and coming genera
tons.
l beg you, gentlemen, t. accept my heartfelt
thanks for the honor you have done me.
Rev. Mr.. Welker delegate from Gull
ford, then put up Fl loyal petition to the
throne of Grace-the manager behind the
scenes exposing to view his slightly bald
head. Andrews, of Wake, by virtue of Gallo-
J ways (set down Of New Hanover) say SO, was
made Secretary for the Presidential life of
King. A quorum present, according to
roll-call, Rodman offered the following
form of oath, which, after some beating
about of the bush, was administered to SEQ
tons of twelve:
'tYou do solomnly swear affirm, that you
will support the Constitution OF the United States
and faithfully discharge your dutiea members
OF this Convention SO help you, God.
A dispatch was then read from one Candy,
a Maj or General in the United States, GUST
ing Shaver and Bartlett, and substituting
others in their places. Strange scene, this,
under Republican form of government.
! Under resolution to adjourn to noon on
Wednesday, general discussion ensued,
admid the confusion of which the Chair
man announced q caucus of the Republican
members at 1880 P. M.
Operations began on Wednesday by the
election of Cowles, of Wilkes, presiding
officer of the body, it having been deter
mined in caucus on Wednesday night, thai
Galloway should SO move. Messrs Heaton,
from Craven, and Abbott, from New Han
over, were deemed competent to find, and
amply sufficient Ia escort the gentleman TO
his seat. After looking in every possible
and impossible direction for Mr.. CowleS,
they at last succeeded in finding that gen
tleman whom they had scarcely lost sight
of during the entire morning. Already
cooked and primed, the Chairman elect
sprang up like man who thoroughly I'M
derstoQd his business, and move forward
after the most approved fashion, with an
air of perfect resignation, evincing as he
went along determination to waste his
hearts blood rather than fail i'll Il perfor-
nance Of tho great work of restoring the
glorious American Union. As the new
Speaker went up on one side, the old one
went down the other, casting behind him
a look of lingering usefulness and fond
regrettings.
The honored delegate from Wilkes was
evidently in new quarters, and 30 doubt
felt
" Like ono who treads alone" &C,
for he took a minute survey of the lreln-
SEES, and having satisfied himself that it was
fit for permanent habitation, and seeing
the manager at his post, with look of sat
isfactlon, as much as to say, ''This is Cal
vim J. Cowles, of Wilkes, and like old Joe
Bagstock, he's de-vilish sly" sat right
down. Throwing off his overcoat, which
hung very cavalierly about his shoulders,
the Speaker arose, flirting out his white
handkerchief In q manner at once reflect
ing credit on his tutor in ceremonies; looked
about the room with an air of loyal dignity,
and then squared himself to read a compo-
sition On taking the CHAIR which was
done in SO bungling a manner, that if, as
has been suggested, it was written 10y the
negro, Jim Harris, its delivery will seri-
ously damage the reputation of that states
man as an essayist. It was commingle-
ment of nonsense and stupidity-ali
about the responsibility of the position
the usual balderdash about the para
mount duty of restoring and perpetuating
the Union-insisting that every mem
Der present, as one man, was
ready atany moment to lay down his life in
the cause but the members present as
one man, % looked as if they 90 could Mt see
it % in the light of an uncertain per diem
Stating that his former preiudices as to
color had entirely disappeared, the Speaker
gave up his unhappy effort with the unex-
pected acknowledgment that he was, as
the sequel will prove, totally unfit for the
position to which ne was SO Unexpectedly
called.
J. A. Burns, of Cumberland, was then
chosen Secretary, and j. Ell. Boner, late of
the Salem Observer, (Radical,) was made
Assistant.
| J. II. Jones, negro, Of Raleigh, was then