Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-10-12
p.DICAL COUNTY CONVENTION.
Rich scenos-NOisc and sonfuSlon-
No NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Dele
gates-SpcecIl from Mr. j. 4. lewis,

Convention. in session in this city, Yesterday
probably exceeded any thing OF the kind ever
witnessed here OF hereabouts, before. From
it's opening until the close, there was contln-
ucd uproar, wild confusion, disorderly nantes
tations, Interruptions to business, and tumultu-
Gus discord the disputants on one or two occa-
sons almost coming to blows, and eplthcts ban
died about with perfect recklessnesS, IRE.
spective of race, color or previous condition
The Convention was from twelve until three
O clock pcrfecing an organization and deciding
who were, and who we're not delegates, ana al
ter this was accomplished there was 4 dispute
over the adoption Of rules of order that de-
monstrated beyond question the utter imprac-
ticability Of enforcing rules, or any thing else,
in such body. Finally, however, after scene
Of great confusion and the modification of the
rules to suit the cxigcncics Of the casc q set
were adopted, susceptible Of almost any con-
| structon, as was subsequently cNempllticd n
| motion was next made to make the temporary
officers of the Convention the permanent Off
GERS, which was carried by a very decided vote,
but after the decision was announced, and the
presiding officer was actually in the discharge
of his duty, objection to the proceedings was
made by Mr.. Fisher, who entered his protest
arainst such action and was with diHiculty.ap-
Deascd, after he had been interrupted half L
dozen times: "pints" of order innumerabIc
made. questions Of privilege raised and all sorts
of parliamentary. and unparllamcntary, tactics
rcsortcd to, to get him off the floor, but nc
stuck for Il long timc-Sald he would not al
low indirect attacks; charged his advcrSarlcs
with attempting Il great wrong. and finally took
his seat amidst much confusion. Mr.. Massey,
who had been in the chair, while the motion to
make Mr. White permanent president was be-
| i H. 10 his n,ts A
chairman, and Mr.. White too had to make 1
personal explanation and intimate his willing
ness to vacate the chair before he was firmly
seated, and then Mr.. Edelin, concluded this
part of the performance by asserting that he
:.was not to be chokcd off," The confusion be-
came 50 great that Mr. ucfllcbOwcr moved that
the bar he cleared, the roll, called and only the
delegates admitted within, and in order TO carry
out this plan, Mr.. IL. was unanimously elected
sergeant. farms with instructions to carry out
his own motion, which lie proceeded to do very
much to the dissatisfaction Of several Of the
particular friends Of the candidates, some OF
whom positively refused to obey orders.
The clerk then proceeded TO call the roll Of
delegates and hy the time il wa3 concluded and
they were seated, there were about ~ many
outsiders within the bar Us Without and The
confusion increased. \ co!urcd alternate, ruled
out hy the sergeant farms, addressed the chalr
from without the bar and would not hc scnced;
and because i delegate within the railing un-
lertnoK 10 make 4 lew remarks, hr WAS told to
hush hi:: mOnth whcrcupon h. replied that hi;
tongue wa, his own and hr world S:y what he
pleased.
During the calling Of the roll j. \. Seaton,
kent calling out Tor i recalling OF the 18th ward
,lric-atcs--contcnuc that he WAS entitled, on
account Of the absence Of Il. I. u. Garnett,
to DC delegate, and seemed determined that
no other business should Do done until lie was
mittrd-Starcl to walk within tn" bar, but
WAS confronted by the Scrgeant-at-arm for
whom he did not seem TO c:irr, but WAS finally
persuaded 10 retire The confusion WAS now
very great and delegates, altcrnatcS and spccta-
| tors were all talking at once. \ fourth ward
delegate announced that the vacancy OCCASION
cd hy the absence Of Garnet had been
filled, whcreupon VIM. Claggett demurrcd and
said he had not been consulted. and would not
consent to the appointment. SeatOn in the
mean time was veiclnently contcndng Tor 4
seat, and the confusion was growing, when the
chair ruled Seaton out, and the delegations
from the LIST and 18th wards were requested to
retire and from the alternatcs appointed, I'LL
vacancies. While they were out, Scaton again
addressed the chair from outside the bar, say
ing that he felt like Luciter, who when cast out
of Heaven had taken one third Of the angels
with him. for he had q mind to withdraw from
this Convention and take one third OF the Ike
publican party with him-hc knew he could
TO it, The confusion now rose to It's height,
when Mr.. Massey undertook to speak i'll refer
ence to the method Of appointing delegates to
fill vacancies, but the noise was so great and
the Interruptions 50 frequent that he took his
| Il Il, "
of the railing. The delegations from the LIST
and 18th wards reported that they had filled all
vacancies, but Scaton was not one, which by
no means appeased his wrath, but he managed
TO get within the bar and WAS asSlduously en-
gagged in distributing tickets when the ques-
ton Of his right to such privilege being raised
he was escorted out, but soon returned and was
again requested to 60 out. y resolution p!cdg-
ing the candidates to the support OF the noml-
nccs was carried, Of course, although after the
vote was so announced there were several IN
quirics as to what had been DONE
Nominations being now declared IL order,
half dozen delegates were Oh the floor at once,
and again the noise and confusion became
great: however, the names of w. d. Massey,
Geo. H. Seaton, I. Fisher, j. y. Garwood, L.
B. Pinn, r. J. Laws, and Austin Syphax were
presented, and motion to close the nomlna.
tons was about being put when it was asserted
that an attempt to gag was being made; which
immediately rckindled the flame OF dlscord,
and it blazcd up afresh, until the motion was
withdrawn, when the namesoi ". "A. Rowe, land
MS. Wright were presented, and there bcingno
further nominations, tccrs were appointed to
receive the ballots and an informal vote order
cd resulting rs follows: Massey, -; Seaton, -
Fisher, TO- Garwood, 10 Laws, TO- a. Syphax
4; J. Syphax, >; Pinn, >: lIcAlebowcr. !; Rowe
!. The te?ler> announced that too many bal
lots had been east; that there was something
wrong, and mimatcd that more than one dele
gate hid voted oltcnrr than was allowed.
Great confusion here enSued. \ motion to
ballot for one candidate ut Il time was received
with marked disfavor and failed signalIy.
The Convention proceeded to prepare for Il
formal ballot, when Il coored member tool, the
floor to speak. but he might as well have at
tempted to whistle down the wind; delegates,
altcrnatcS and spectators wercall on their feet:
in vain the sergeant alarms tried to prevent