The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-28
A Royal Row.
THE CONVENTION IN A FERMENT-BLovs AND
BLOODY THREATS.

| THE CONVENTION IN A fERAENT-bLOes AMI
BLooDY THREATS.
The convention yesterday had scarceiy ao-
journed, before the hall was scene OF T1lo
excitement, resulting from an assault by H. W.
M. Mackey upon Roswell T. Logan Hsq'' aS-
sistant editor Of the Charleston Mercury.
As the events transpired in the presence OF
the writer of these paragraphs, we speak OF
what we know, and not from infosmauon Oh
any other person.
Mr.. Logan was in conversation with the re-
norter Of TIE NEWS, relating the action OF the
convention on the report Of the Finance Com
mittee. and in the act Of rolling up his papers,
when Maokey approached and inquired: Are
Won the writer Of the article in the Charleston
Mercury concerning my father3" MIR. Logan
replied sTam."
Then, said Mackey, drawing back with a
curse, stake that, and delivered blow. mr'
Logan threw up his arm as fence anil STRUCK
hack. and at the same moment Was seized by
one or two persons nearest to him. .Aackey,
being more powerful, although the attempt
was also made to hold him by Mr.. Whttemore
and others was not 30 easily restrained, and
he succeeded in striking and kicking once or
twice, but only one blow took effect, snd .hat
was upon the forehead OF the assaulted party.
By this time-in less than q minuie-dele-
gates, white and black, were pitching; franti-
cally forward towards the reporters table, and
scene of afray, Z and in the pressure Of the
crowd which followed Mn Logan, held in the
arms Of F. J. Moses, Jr. (white), OF Sumter,
was forced down the hail, nearly to the middle,
and against one oil. the windows. TIE excite
ment now became intense. Cries we're heard
s.kill him"-sscut the villains throat" ssthrow
him ont of the window" sNol let him alone"
-ssthe dignity Of the convention is at stake"-
"don't let him be hurt"-'keep baek"-"keep
backn-ssorderr .-.thsnds off," &c. Nr. Moses
meanwhile still clasped Mr. Logan, and de-
clsred that If s'any man struck the reporter
they would have to strike him." doing all that
Law in his power to queIlthe now fairly aroused
passions OF the crowd. At this junctue, the
president Of the convention pushed his way
through the crowd-(it is said with horse
whip in his hand, which was taken from him
by some of the colored delegates, but the
writer saw nothing OF this)-and while Logan
WAS thus surrounded by forty or fifty persons,
standing on tables, chairs, and filing every
space that could be occupied by hu1,an body,
DR.. Mackey opened "battery" on him, and as
an old lady would say, gave him "R piece OF
his mind" He said that he did not hold him
responsible for his abuse so much as the per-
Sons who employed him; that he waa engaged
in mean, contemplate and dirty business,
and that il any retribution wss to be meted
out, it belonged to those who paid him his
salary to come there and defsme the characters
OF members Of the convention, &C., &c., &c.
We do not Of course pretend to give the
exact language, but the above, strongly in
fused with adjeotives and expletives, expresses
the opinion Of ebu1lition:o OF DR.. Raokey.
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 danger
ous pitch. Cries were heard OF 'fhrow him
out of the window"-"cut his heart eut"-"kil
him, it serves him right" and the most bitter
and vengeful threats, indicated disposition
to co nmit murder on the spot.
The behavior Of MIR. Logan, thus surround
ed, was most commendable. Calm, cool, and
porfeotIy G--As,"',af's- -hA IsAA his tnnane and
waited for the excitement to subsido. During
this period it is but just to say the leaders OF
the convention Of both races did all in their
power to preserve order and prevent what was
mcst teared-bloodshed Among these may
be mentioned O. O. Bowen, who, like DR..
Mackey, was the subject of description in tho
Mercury Of yesterday; B. F. Whittemore, pr.
Newell, B. O. DeLarge, J. J. Wright, W. E.
johnson, W. ]. Whipper, G. NJ. Wilder, i.
Hurley, and others.
The counsel Of these parties and their ssso-
ciates finally prevailed. 1t gradually stole over
the minds Of members that the ''dignity OF the
convention" was at stake, and Mr. Logan was
permitted to retire again to the vicinity OF the
reporters table. Here, a policeman made his
appearance. MIR. Logan requested his conf
pany to the Office Of the Mercury and protec-
ton from the mob.
At this point DR.. Mackey again came up, and
hearing the request Of the representative OF
the Marcury; said that he himself would acoona-
pany Mr.. Logan from the hall, snd. afford him
protection. B. F. Whittemore, Hurley, J. j.
Wright, Randolph and others, likewise offered
their escort, whereupon the parties left the hall.
SCENES WITHOUT.
There is no doubt thst had not the tempo
rizing measures Of few Of the calmer and
more sensible men in the convention prevailed,
the affair would have resulted N serious
manner. Only the presence and counsels OF
delegates possessing the confidence Of the ort-
side throng prevented bloodshed. The threats
made we're loud and sanguinary, and spark
only would have ignited a spirit ripe for any
evil. DR.. Mackey, however, tool occasion to
ssy to crowd outside that he did not hold Mr.
Logan ct all responsible for the publication,
and in vituperative language charged it upon
Mr., Rhett, the editor Of the Mercury.
Mr.. Logan has but single bruise, and that
is on his forehead. The only wonder is that,
under the circumstances, first of being assault
ed by much larger man than himself, snd
secondly Of being threatened with still more
severe punishment by an excited crowd, he es-
capped so we'll
The above facts are written in the same fair
and candid spirit that has prompted all the re-