The Van Buren press., 1870-09-06
Special Correspondence Of the Press.
The Happy Family.
FORT SMITH, Sc

IfCrawford county has had its little sensa-
tion in the shape of fam Agricultural Barbecue.
| il Is at least the solace of Sebastian that It's
Radical citizens have had their show as anus
ing and equally rs instructive in another
sense as your own affair. 1t Is needless for
me to say that refer to
THE RADICAL COUNTY CONVENTION,
which was announced for yesterday. On We'd
nesday night the arrival of distinguished
strangers " served as a notification Of the
morrow's struggle. First among the notables
was the great Searie, who astonshed his most
intimate friends by wearing linen duster of
abbreviated length and unprecedented clean
illness. In this garment, together with pumps
that revealed stockings of snowy whiteness,
the would-be Legislator cut an appearance on
the streets, that suggested the idea he was
about to mingle in the "mazy dance" But,
political not Tcrpischorean delights we've his,
and as his graceful form-thus strangely and
gorgeously clad-glided on the Avenue,hank-
od on either side by those other statesmen
dent to the observer that movement was on
foot to control the coming Convention.
Upon the other hand came Britton, curl
ously and magniiicently ornamented with
dress silk or "stove pipe" hat of the tallest
dimensions. Mcconnell. too, made his not un-
expected appearance, but in costume that wa
evidently rcproof to the Beau Brammel
tastes, with which had previously accredited
him. An old white hat, that would not have
disgraced the venerable Greeley; a coat of as
many colors as Zebra; pants. wide as a Zoli-
aves and aboutas elegant as they would have
appeared had they been worn in the battle of
SaarLouis. Such was the attire of the youth
of whom had hoped much better things.
The headquarters of the Searles crowd were
at Scotts office, whilst the Others hcldforth
over the Mayors establishment.
The next morning, at nine o'clock, drop
ped into the Court Hovse and there found
Mckee, kerns and Others evidently intent up
on preventing any half an hour ahead ofthe
time" which signalized the other meeting
being come over them. The Hall soon filled
up at 10 A. NJ, the Convention was called to
order by my particular admration-the Hon.
V. Dell. In this correction, 1t may be well
for me to mention that all of the Townships
were contested save Cole, Big Creek. Misss-
sippi and Sulphur-the first three being rep
resented by antiSearlcs men, whilst the last
had as its delegate Mr.. Jacob Schneider
known to f;ime as the political twin ofthe re-
vcred Dell. This explanation is necessary as
showing the cause of what followed. Dell
4 \ Al.
rather let me to record it that he created dis
order. He made fry opening speech, the
purport of which was that he was and always
had been /" loil " man, whilst those who gain
sayed his word were not thus patriotically
blessed These assertions-including many
AFFECTIONS and accompanied by numerous
waves of cane in the air-soon convinced
the observant that the Hon. Valentine pro-
posed running things" of his own sweet
will. Thcrcupon ensued the following:
Dell, majestically-" Nominations for tenn
porary chairman are now in order"
Calored DrothcT-"i moves, sai., dat de
IIonbull Mass Dell act as cheerman"
Colored Brother No. 2-"I seconds dat air
moshun"
Venney.-"I move that IL. L. Mckee act as
chairman"
Mckee, desire to withdraw my name
for the reason that am contesting delegate.
am contesting Mr.. Dells right as a delegate
and do not think either ofus have any rights
here until these delegates. whose seats are not
contested, shall settle the matter.
McCurry, from the rural districts)--" !
move that DR.. Bell act as chairman
This last motion was giving Mr.. DELL in a
parliamentary point of view, rathcra consid-
cradle amount of pork for his shilling so he
arose and informed the Convention that he
did not intend to recognize any ofthe Mckee
delegation from Upper Township This sum-
mary settlement of mooted point aroused
the ire of McCurry, who withdrew his mo-
ton and offered it as an amendment to the
motion for Dell Again did the invincible
Valentine disregard it and continue his as
saalts on the unfortunate applicants from TT.
Smith. There were-So he declared with in
Vulnerable passes from his lne--all bad eggs,
politically, and if they are even admitted into
a Convention, IL will break up the Republi-
can party" Then uprosc the Medical Bell,
who wanted to know if he was recognized as
n Delegate, "les,' was the patronizing re-
ply. We'll, then, >ir, | want you to recognize
my colleague from Cole and put his amend
ment to vote" But, 1t was not for this that
the heroic Dell had fought, bled and nearly
died for his country. No tat all. SO he put
the first motion to vote and despite the
storm of noes that greeted it, gave a sweet
smile and declared it carried. This created a
row that threatened to result in pugilistic
interchange of compliments. bat more pacific
counsels prevailed and all OF the delegates,
whose seats were not conteSted-sayc he of
ulpher-together with the contesting dele
cations from other townships, withdrew with
curses hot only loud but deep.
CONVENTION NO.
was then quickly put in order by Dell. who
had no trouble in arranging matters owing to
the fact that it numbered precisely fourteen
colored and seven white sous of Freedom.
The baloting for preference for member of
the Legislature gave Ryall and Rutherford.
both black preachers. seven votes and Schnei-
der eight, Berry Stephens receiving four; up
on the next ballot the preachers were dropped
and Schneider was nominated. This excited
the ire Of the colored brothers, one of whom
moved reconsideration of the nomination
In order as he declared ITO harmonize the
country; but Dell gave his cane another
flourish and the contest ceased. Rutherford
and Ryall both made speeches which had the
merit of being dennnciatory Of official ex-
travagance. Then came the resolutions en-
dorsing Clayton, instructing Congressional
Delegates to vote fol, Searle and giving fling
at McDonald's Senatorial aspirations. The
Hon. Elhanan j. Searle was ut this point In
troduced and the introduction was indeed nee
essary, owing to the clean clothes In which he
had disguised himself lie commenced by de-
claring that he was for harmony and then
went for" the vile trdi-torS. who had lyingly
IL. l...1 4