The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-04
n Royal Row In the south Carolina Re
conjunction Convention.
THE CONVENTION IN FERMEST--BLows AND
ELoODY THREATS.
From the Charleston News. Jan. 2s.l


The convention yesterday had scarcely ad.
journed before the hall was scene of wild eT-
citement, resulting from an assault by E. W. NJ
Mackey upon Roswell 7. Logan, Esq, assistant
editor Of The Charleston Mercury.
AS the events trsnspired IN the presence of the
writer OF these paragraphs, we speak OF what we
know, aRd not from information OF any other :
person.
MIR. Logan was in conversation with the re-
porter of the News relating to the action OF the
convention on the report Of the finance COM
m,tee, and in the act of rolling up his papers,
when Mackey approached and inquired: Are
you the writer of the article in the Charleston
Mercury concerning my father! ?" Mr.. Logan re-
piled al am.p
"Iben" said Mackey, drawing back with
curse, take thst,n and delivered blow. Mr..
Logan threw up his arm as fence and struck
back, and at the same moment was seized by one
or two persons nearest TO him. Mackey, being
more powerful, although the attempt was also
made 20 hold him by Mr.. Whittemore and others,
was not so easily restrained, and he succeeded in
striking and kicking once OF twice, but only one
blow took effect, and that was upon the forehead
of the assaulted party.
Bv this time-in less than a mnute-delegates.
white and black, were pitching franticaly forward
towards the reporters table and scene OF atray,
and in the pressure of the crowd which followed
Mr.. Logan, held IN the arms Of +. j. Moses, Jr.,
(white.l Of Sumter, was forced down the hall,
nearly TO the middle, and against one OF the win
dows. The excitement now became intense.
Cries were heard of " Kill him y" Cat the W.
trN6S! lei MN aI6he i'i rue Iis susy OF ts con
vention is at stake y" Don't let him be hurt y
Keep back " - Keep back " - " Order -
Hands Of" etc. Mr.. Moses meanwhile still
clasped Mr.. Logan, and declared that IL
any man struck the reporter they would
have TO strike him. doing all that lay
in his power to quell the now fairly aroused
passions of the crowd. At this juncture the pre-
sident of the convention pushed his way through
the crowd, it is said with a horse whip in his hand,
which was taken from him by some Of the
! ooored delegates, but the writer saw nothing of
| tbis,) and while Logan was thus surrounded by
forty or fifty persons, standing on tables chairs,
and filling every space that could be occupied by
| human body, DR.. Mackey opened battery" on
! lin. and a. an old lady would say, gave him a
| piece Of his mind" He said that he did not hold
him responsible fer his abuse much as the per-
! sons who employed him; that he was engaged in
| a mean, contemplate and dirty business. and that
/ if any retributiOn was to be meted out, il be-
loneed to those who paid him his salary 10 come
| there and defame the characters Of members OF
| the convention, etc., ETC., etc.
We do not, of course, pretend TO give the exact
| language, but the above, strongly infused with
adjectives and expletives, expresses the opinion
| Of the ebulitiOn OF DR.. Nackey.
During this address, which occupied perhaps
two minutes, the excitement within the bar among
| the members of the convention and without among
| the colored spectators, many of whom climbed
over the bar, reached dangerous pitch. Cries
were heard of - throw him out Of the widow"
| ~ cut his heart out" 4" kill him. IL serves him
indicated disposition to commit murder on the
spot.
The behavior Of Mr.. Logan. thus surrounded,
was most commendable. Calm, cool, and per
fectly unqueDched, he held his tongue aud waited
for the excitement 70 subside. During this period
il s but ust TO say the leaders Of the convention
Of both races did all in their power to preserve
order and prevent what was most feared-blool J
shed. Among these may be mentioned q. q:
Bowen, who, like DR.. Maekey, was the subject Of
description in the Mercury yesterday; B., +.
Whittemore, DR.. Newell, II. Q. DeLarge, J. u.
Wright, W. +. johnson, W. j. Wbipper, q. III.
Wilder, I. Hurley and Others.
The counsel Of these parties and their associates
finally prevailed. IL gradually stole over tue
minds OF members that the dignity OF the con
vention" was at stake, and Mr.. Logan was per
mitted TO retire again to the vicinity OF the re-
pUIters' table. Here policeman made his ap-
peaTsnce. Mr. Logan requested his company 70
the Office Of the Mercury aud protection from toe
| mob.
At this point DIR. Mackey again came up, and
hearing the request CT the representative Of the
Mercury, said that he himself would accompany
Mr.. Logan from the hall and afford him protection
b.. F. WhItemore, Hurley J. J. Wright, Randolph
and others, likewise offered their escort, where
upon the parties left the hall.