Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-09-19
of the YOrkville Enquirer.
LETTER FROM CHESTER.
CHESTER. s. c., Sept. 16, 49,

during the last week or two in our local politi-
cal circles. The Republicans have made
nomination for county officers and members
of the Legislature which has caused general
dissatisfaction. With few exceptions the
men nominated are obscure and unfit, and
there is much disposition to bolt the ticket.
Many of the defeated aspirants are anxious
for a new deal, and Saturday, the 18th, was
the day designated for meeting of those op-
posed to the nominations of Judge Mackey,
who presided over the former meeting, and
who, it is said, voted for nearly every man
who was nominated.
This nominating convention. from all ac-
counts, seems to have been a rich affair.
Judge Mackey was in fine vein for fun, and
the aspiring politicians were good game for
his shafts of ridicule and sarcasm, which
were all the more appreciated by the audito-
ry, inasmuch as the victims were unconscious
Of the fun so mercilessly poked at them.
When the nominations for members of the
Legislature were being made, the venerable
and famous Sancho Sanders voted for himself,
whereupon the Judge, in announcing the vote,
said that Mr.. Sanders being a legislator by
profession believed in "the greatest good for
the greatest number" and with him the great
est number was number one; he therefore
voted for himself-his best friend.
Again, when about thirty candidates for
county commissioners were named, and some
fellow moved that the convention should only
vote for the six who were the most competent,
to an ordinary mind the proposition presented
grave difficulties. Not so to the Judge, how
ever. His ready wit suggested an escape, and
he called for the six candidates who deemed
themselves the most competent to come for
ward, when about three-fourths of the con.
vention moved forward amid the cheers Of the
multitude. In such diversions the "long,
long, weary day" was passed. About night
the harmony and sport we're terminated by
an angry alteration between the Judge and
Col. Yocum, the nominee for sheriff. Each
denounced the other in unmeasured terms and
the meeting broke up in row. The colored
people seemed generally to side with Yocum
Judge Mackey announced another meeting
for the 18th, and swore that he would 60 for
Yocum's scalp on that day.
On Sunday, bright and early, it is said,
the Judge went over to Gethsemane church,
where he spent two hours on his knees pray
ing for the heather and the ungodly, and af'
terwards had political pow.wow with some
of the brethren.
On Monday the Judge went to Washing
ton to see the "Great Father" and to tell
him "what he knew about the Boilers"
On Friday, Mr.. Tomlinson, the Boilers
candidate for Governor, made temperate,
well.considered speech in the grove near the
town, which made favorable impression on
those who had intelligence enough to appre-
ciate argument. Very few people were pres
ent-about forty blacks and as many whites.
When he finished, Yocum told "what he
knew about Judge Mackey's tergiversations,"
and charged that before he went to Colum-
bia he had abused Scott, Parker, &c., in the
most violent terms, and in that way had Sc
cured his election as delegate; and upon his
arrival in Columbia he called at once upon
those individuals, and so long as they were
considered in the field, advocated their claims
that he returned from Columbia with fine
turnout, &C., &c. He said that Mackey had
been fire-brand and dsorganizer every
where he had gone, and that the colored peo-
pie would be led to destruction if they follow
ed so false and treacherous man, and much
more in the same strain.
Judge Mackey returned from Washington
on Friday night, and bright and early on
Saturday morning marshaled his clans in the
Court House. He had made an alliance with
Sancho Sanders, who called him to the chair,
where he delivered himself of an eulogy on
Sancho, repudiated the ticket nominated on
the Saturday before-covering it with ridi.
cule and contempt; saying that men had
been nominated who would steal the Lords
Supper from the sacramental table and the
preachers boots; that there were men nomi-
mated for county commissioners, who, if sitting
up with a corpse would steal the coffin and
shroud. He denied that he had asked the
President to remove the troops; said that he
had demanded that Merrill should be remov
ed or made to stop his interference with poll
tics, and that the President had assured him
of his great adherence of such interference
and his determination to put stop to it.
He assured his audience that the President
had told him that he utterly repudiated the
Boilers ticket, and would give it no counte-
nance or support, and ifany one charged that
he favored it, that he authorized him to say
that he lied.
The Judge then went for Yocum-said he
was louise upon the body polite, whom the
people must put their finger on and crush
charged him with cowardice in running away
from his command at the time Of the ku-klux
troubles, after having bought the finest uni
form, the largest spurs and the longest sword
in North Carolina remarking that in view
Of his subsequent conduct, whip and spurs
would have been all that he needed.
AS the Judge had promised to support the
nresent sharif1-Mr NVa1ker-there was some
surprise when he wound up his TRADE against
Yocum by nominating one Simon Jeter, a
colored man-ignorant and unknown-tor the
Office. There was then some squabbling be-
tween some of Yocum's friends and the advo-
Gates of Jeter; but the meeting-not very
large one-seemed to favor Jeter.
It was then resolved that there would be
new convention on next Saturday, to make
nominations, it being said that the last con-
vention was irregular.
So, on next Saturday, there will be new
deal, with what result we are unable to tore
see The indications are that Yocum will
be too strong for the Judge, and there is little
doubt but that he will be nominated. Alto
gether, things seem to be in such q muddle
that one cannot tell what will be done.
Yocum and his party are in favor of the
Boilers ticket for State officers Unless ne
reforms his ticket. the chances are that it will
be beaten, and it is not improbable that, seeing
this, he will arrange to have ticket which
will excite more enthusiasm among the color
ed people, who just now seem from all out
ward indications) to be very apathetlc.
I am sorry that I cannot be here to watch
the developments and progress Of this Mackey.