Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-09-14
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
hntiyine iu FOrce-The Lenders Wire puI.
ling-COl. Blizzard Nominated.

NoHllhdlhg convention.
COL. WILLIAMS REMARKS,
The meeting was called to order by Col. .Jno
Williams, chairman of Democratic Exocntivc
Committec who addressed the crowd at some
length He went back on the third party move
ment altogether and stated that there were but
two parties now in the country-the Radical and
Democratic He was the first to raise his voice
against the exclusion of rebels from the ballot
boX-he had dared to resist the tyrany of
'Brownlow and his lieutenant, Maynard he
mad been shot at, derided and abused while
battling for the right, and substantially said
{hat IN consideration of his fight two years ago,
he was rather entitled to the race, but If not the
choice of the party he would cheerfully support
whoever was
OFFICERS CHOSEN.
Judge Van Dyke stated that at a primary
meeting held during the forenoon, Col r. K
BYRD had been chosen President Mai. d. A
Carpenter Vice President, and Messrs Saun-
ders, Ramage Woodward, of Sweetwater, and
McNelly, of Cleveland Secretaries and
moved that those officers act us such in the
meeting then in session. Carried
REMARKS OF COL BYRD.
On taking the chair Col. BYRD said that for
the past few years the people had been
cropping in the dark-they had endured a great
deal, and no one had suffered more than he
but hoped all had come prepared to battle for
the right and Tennessee, united and harmonious
lhe difference of party names was nothing
democratic or conservative, it was all the same
he was an old line Wing himself but was the
foe of Radicalsm. He had fought for the Con-
stltutlon when the country was drenched in
bloOd-he wanted the strongest man supported
no matter who he was-one who would ''put his
foot ON the Constitution and keep it there
THAT class of men the Colonel was formerly
arrayed against.) Being plain farmer, and
not posted in parliamentary USAGE he an
nounccd that any business would be in order
Whereupon somr
CONFUSION OCCURRED
Concerning the appointment of committee on
credentials, and several gentlemen were APP
pointed, though not the requisite number, when
il was found that the committee had been an
pointed in the preliminary meeting" (Which
10 seemed, was the really important one where
everything had been 'cut and dried before
hand and ON motion of Judge Van Dyke, that
committee and one on the Basis Of Representa-
ton, also appointed in the preliminary meetirg.~
were instructed to act The basis Of represen-
tation was one delegate for every 100 Conser-
yatlve voters and the Committee on Credent-
ials, one delegate from each county represented
1t was deemed advisable TO put on the SEM
blance of ZEAL and acting on the suggestion Of
gentleman present the delegates from each
county took seats together.
The committee on credentials reported that
delegates from all the counties in the district
except Claiborne, Campbell and Scott were
present, Whcreupon it was moved and carried
that the convention proceed to business the same
as if those counties were represented.
NOMINATIONS
Were then declared in order, and the following
gcntlcmcn's names were presented:
Col. John Williams, of Knox county; Col A. !
Blizzard, Of McMnn; Col ID. NJ Nelson, Of
Brady; Gen. Jos. A. Mabry Of Knox, and Col
II. X, Byrd, of Roane. Gen. MaDry declined
running. whereupon his name was Withdrawn,
when the Convention proceeded to ballot, yot-
ing by counties in alphabetical order, without
result. When the second ballot was taken. thc
vote stood lS for Blizzard, 40 for Williams,
and the rest scattering.
blizzard CHOSEN.
The third ballot was decisive and Col Biz |
zard having received majority of all the votes |
cast, was declared elected by one half of q vote
showing an intimate knowledge of vulgar trac- |
tons On motion the vote was made unani- |
nous, amid considerable excitement
The baloting showeda desire to let Coils Nell |
son and Byrd down easily, and the persstency
of the ROane delegation i'm voting for Colonel |
Byrd after he had withdrawn his name and the
of II votes from Blount, which had !
gone solid for Williams insured the latter gen |
if parliamentary rules had not been set aside by
Keeping men in nomination who stood no !
chance, the result would have been different in |
all probability. The understanding before n
ballot taken being that if the delegates diff |
fered, the chairman should cast the vote of the |
majority solid
a committee was then appointed TO inform |
Col. Blizzard of his nomination, proceeding |
81 IHe UTMOST Importance uS Tue AolOucl was |
fully six feet distant from the teller's desk
Nevertheless, he was gravely informed of the |
astounding fact when another committee was |
appointed TO conduct him to the chair.
A committee TO form platform was appoint |
ed, headed by Mr.. Saunders, who retired to pre- |
pare the same.
SPEECHES
Being introduced by Col. Byrd, Col. Blizzard |
said that he accepted the nomination in good
had not the experience of Mr. May
nard, but brought an earnest heart and burning
zeal to the conhict-he was opposed to the OPP
preston of the last five years, but was going TO
light on Returning thanks for the honor con-
ferred he took his seat.
Gen Vaughn said that he would forfeit his left
arm if Monroe county didn't come within fifty
votes of her vote for Senter,
The chairman then announced that if any
present wished to gas a little they had the OPP
portunity' whereupon Col. John NJ. Fleming
was called for with singular unanimity
He then mounted the rostrum, and with up |
lifted forefnger began, when the crowd COM
nenced leaving, seeing which the Committee
On Platform returned and reported it ready.
The committee must have been endowed with
supernatural power for ability, for in less than
half an hours absence, they had prepared
platform several times larger than the party
win ever need, with copious extracts, printed,
and the proof sheets corrected of two galleys Of
type. or else they had secured the services of
Mr. Wiley with his lightning printing press
(which we saw in operation an hour afterwards |
for the work was there to show for itself and |
won't presume TO say the platform was "cut and |
dried, too, or even made of seasoned timber.
Mr.. Saunders read the platform and accom-
panying resolutions but being very lengthy |