The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-31
The CaNPAiGy IN VIRGINIA.
The Candidates for Congress In the First
District.

The Candidates for Congress In the First
District.
WEST POINT, Va. Oct. ~, 1870.
Nearly month since convention OF the repub!i.
cans was held here for the purpose OF making
nomination Tor Congress from this, the First Con.
gressional district, which has large and powerful
co,cred majority. Dr. " W. Douglass, white, and
Daniel NJ Norton, colored, were the candidates for
tue nomination, both having nearly an equal sup.
port In the convention which was composed OF
forty Delegates After organization q ballot was
taken, resulting 10 the nomination Of the white
cahodaIe by q majority or two votes.
Upon this announcement the supporters OF
Mr. Norton, the cologed candidate, bolted, and
the convention broke up In d row. The radical
leaders both here ana at Washington are strenuousy
opposed &c the election Of any colored man to Con-
gress from Virginia, but the negroes are deter
mined they shall be represented in the national
legislature by one Of their own race Overtures
were made to Mr. Norton with II view to his with
drawal as candidate for the Congressional nomi-
nation, which were Indignantly rejected, and his
friends insisted he should run rs an Independent
cana date, nomination or no nomination. A COM
promise was at length effected, and The matter
referred to the state Central Committee OF the re-
publican party for arbitration, which decided
that another convention should be held on the 25th
OF this month. since then every effort 10 induce
Nortos friends to support the white candidate has
bee. made, hrt they most slgnally failed. The ne
gf0es ouid not be a,oed or hnmbugged into any
forfeiture OF tner rights and nothing short OF the
election Of the representative OF their race and coor
Will satisfy theul,
In accordance with the programme marked out
by the state Central C0mmtttee the convention met
here this morning, Norton's coored supporters
being IN strong force. AT the opening Of the pro-
caedrngs IL was evident that conflict between the
respective factions would take place. Tie white
delegates were bent upon nominating DR.. Douglass
as their candidate, While the coiored delegates were
equally determined 10 oppose aud secure the field
FOR their champion, Mr.. Norton. There was iull
representation from the district present and Nor
tons friends were considered the strongest. Cau-
cuses Ui both factions were held previous the
seinbling or the convention ana course agreed
upon.
When he body was called 10 order boisterous
scene ensued. The Norton delegates filed protest
against the Organization oi the INVENTION, claiming
that the Regular convention OF the district had
already been held; that Mi. Norton was the n0mi-
nee; that the state Central Committee had no lurs
ulction In the matter, which solely related co the
district and that the present assembage was not "A
convention of the party ia The district. Upon this
the opposing white faction yelled out their Opposi-
tion with al the force and violence or which they
were capable, and the scene for Whine resenibled
den or Iniurated nlaniacs The Norton dele
gates-twenty one IN nnnber--then Withdrew, leav-
ing only nineteen delegates IN the convention
though they claim the major ~, to support ID r
Douglass. The split was thoroughly efiecslve. Nor
toms supporters then retired aud held convention
OF their own, at which he was nominated the can
didate unanimously amid the widest enthusiasm o.
his friends.
Or. Dougass' friends then pa&Ie their nominate on