New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-04-19
NEW ORLEANS FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1872.
DEMoCRATlC STATE CONVENTION.

DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION
Before the hour appointed for the dele
gates to assemble a large number arrived
by ones and twos, slowly taking their seat
IN the auditorium of the National Theatre
and those who we're simply spectators, o.
waiting for a chance to be proxies, or look
ing for an opportunity to be candidates fo
nomination, as well as those who came ou
Of curiosity, or under the inspiration O.
that "fellow feeling that makes US won
drOus kind" these different varieties of thu
body polite accommodated themselves il
the dress circle and galleries, portion
forming background in the rear Of the
parquette. 60 taking up the "back seats
before the beginning of the fray and before
the skirmishing began.
| BY the hour of twelve there was wha,
theatrical people call good house. Dele
| gates from the country we're present il
trasting strongly with the pallor of the city
delegation.
The call to order was made by H. d
Ogden, chairman of the State Centra
Democratic Committee, and he nominated
for temporary chairman Alexander De
| clouet, Of St. Martin, who on taking the
chair made it the occasion Of few remarks.
He said the convention is here to snatch the
State from bankruptcy and ruin; to uphold
her tottering steps; to protest against ex
ecutive interference; to rescue her from
utter ruin. He urged. as the policy to be
followed. a course Of union, coAciliation and
combination, the selection OF none but hon.
est and good men for Office.
On motion of E. H. McCaleb, it was
adopted that committee of seven mem
bers on credentials be appointed. +
On the suggestion Of DR.. Wilkinson, Of
Plaquemines the roll of representation was
called by Oscar Arroyo, nominated tempo.
rary secretary, and it was found all the par
ishes but eight were present.
E. H. McCaleb. j. r. Head, P. S. Witt.
E. J. Ellis. Captain Ashton, G. H. Overton,
and G.. H. Bringham were appointed q CON-
mittee on credentials, and retired
The committee on credentials were out
about two hours, and returning, reported a
list Of accredited delegates through their
chairman as entitled to seats.
Skirmishing resulted on the question of
proxies Of members from country parishes.
According to one side, the parish which
would not afford to elect a delegate that
could come to the session deserved to be
unrepresented. a<.
If proxies were selected, they should be
nominated from residents of the parish.
A resolution was adopted that no proxies
should take their seats who represented
delegates from other parishes, except they
were residents OF the parish.
1t is impossible to accurately describe the
multifarious motions made previous to this
result, while the report of the committee
yet awaited adoption.
Mr.. j. r. Alces Gauthreaux, rising from
his seat, and in very excited manner, said
II find in the report of the committee
among the accredited delegates the name of
Thomas Green Davidson. [Groans and
hisses.] Since he has had the pres umption
to place himself among the memb bers of a
Democratic convention, move his name be
stricken from the rolls
This motion was answered by waves OF
loud and ferocious cheering.
Ex-Leutenant Governor Hyams, obtain
ing the floor in the midst of tumultuous cries
of Mr.. Chairman" alluded to Mr. Davidson
in such terms as would have provoked first
class damage suit, but, at the same time,
did not want the good old Democratic usage
of fair play to be overridden in the storm.
Davidson was elected by the people of his
parish, whom he represented. He was no
body. But any action taken against him
would be an insult to the people Of his par
ish. No one in the State, he said, had
greater contempt for the subject of Mr..
Gauthreaux's motion than himself.
The cries of ''Mr. President" }" ''Mr. Chair
man, the rush of delegates to obtain the
door, the waving of hands and hats, cries
Of order, order, groans, yells of put him
out" put him out" became deafening; the
chairman in vain tried all his controlling
powers, while every motion became de-
batable land, and dignity descended for a
while into small talk.
From the number of speeches made against
Mr.. Davidson, that of Mr.. Stevens is select
I'd: II have something to say on the sub
ect." He continued, very excitedly, "That
I'D fellow, Tom Green Davidson, deprived
ne OF my seat on the floor of the House of
and l say put him out.
want to do away with all sich fellers"
Judge Thomas H. Hunt suggested, in
anguage that lulled the spirit Of the storm,
hat it were better to hear Mr.. Davidson in |
lis own defense.
The reaction came, and cries of '.hear |
lim," "hear him" broke in on all sides.
In the midst of profound stiffness, Mr.. |
Thomas Green Davidson rose from his seat |
md spoke as follows: 1
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Con-
7entiOn-It seems very hard that man
ike myself, who has been Democrat since |
ratio party, should be questioned ON this
natter to-day. The people of the parish of
livingston have known me since the year
S3l, and have approved of my course in
verything that ! did. If the gentlemen
VhO are SO strong in their accusations
would look at the resolutions adopted at
he mass meeting in Livingston-one OF the
argest ever held there-they would see
hat my course was doubly approved, and
hey sent me here as delegate to represent
heir feeling at this Democratic convention.
Mr.. President, this whole affair is entirely
ncalled for, tor this reason, the people of
livingston approve Of my course. l rep
esent them, and they are my constituents,
nd to them am l alone responsible. The
,eetings held in New Orleans have nothing
D do with me. They may hold their mass