The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1872-07-06

q. n. 1GeoRAl61H. 1Aitsr.
MONROE, La, JULY 6. 1872.
A DENOCRATIC BOLTER's RECORD.
HIS REASONS ANALYZED.
Capt. w. F. Blackman, at present
State senator from the Claiborne dis
trict, has bolted, absolutely and DELHI
erateIy, the organization known as the
Democratic party, the party to which
he is indebted for whatever position
and influence he now has in this State,
and by whose recent action in nominal
ting State ticket he is honorably and
fairly bound. The proof of his recalci-
tration, he himself furnished in a
speech recently delivered In Alexandria,,
and published from MS. furnished by
the speaker no douot, in the New Or
leans Times. The reasons announced for
this strange procedure will form the
text for a general review of the argu-
ments used for repudiating the Demo-
cratic State ticket and urging tho call
ing of q Liberal convention. But be-
fore answering Capt. Blackman, it is
proper to introduce him to our readers
and to explain his position.
And first we desire to say-since
there Is proneness to construe politi-
cal criticisms into personal detraction-
that we have a sincere appreciation of
Capt. Blackman's social qualities and
generous nature. But he has entered
the list of political knight Grants, and
has formally rendered his guage of
battle-assailing the position of those
with whom he WAS recently connected
and we announce our readiness for
the tournament to open. We shall
deliver our blows at the representative
of a bad policy, simply in his capacity
as one of the oracles of that policy.
Capt. Blaclxman entered politics on
ly since the war. From the school
room he went directly into the army,
and from the army, without previous
training or observation in politics, he
went into the legislature. He has
served In both branches Of that body,
his term as Senator closing this year.
At each time he has been chosen as a
Democrat, in a parish and a district of
unequivocal Democratic fealty. But
our friend, we are sorry to say, has
been, since 1869, more q dissenter than
Il consistent member of the party which
has honored him beyond his years.
When the Conservative Press Conven-
ton assembled in New Orleans he adj
vocated the formation of new party.
And this followed not long after his
election as Seymour and Blair elector
in this State. At a meeting held in
Claiborne in the Spring, he again adj
Vocated the formation Of a now party,
but accepted, if he did not seek, the
place of a delegate to the Democratic
State Convention. He attended both
the April and June conventions, aud
was an avowed candidate for the noln-
ination for Governor by those conven-
tons. Query: would the Senator have
bolted had he received the nominal
ton?
In the June Convention Capt. Black
man was appointed and served as a
member of the Joint Conference Com
mittee selected to consult with the Re-
formers. In the conferences Of these
committees, when it came to the selec-
ton of Il ticket, the Reformers propos-
ed to yield the head of the ticket to the
Democrats. 1t was then that Capt.
Btackman, in pursuance of II purpose
to weaken the Democracy, or guided
by IN absurd liberality, proposed not
to contine the choice for Governor to
the Democrats, but to give the Refor-
mers n consideration they had already
declined. Capt. Blackman's PROPOSE
ton was carried, and it is stated, upon
good authority, that he supported for
Governor, i'll the Committee, Col.
George Williamson, the successful can
didate!
After doing this, Capt. Black man
set to work to defeat the report and the
ticket of the Committee, awaiting him
self of that element in the Convention
which was cOnScientiOuSly oppoSexl to