New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-06
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.

as to the best policy to be pursued prevail
| ing among delegates the night before. IL
| the clOsiug hours of the Reform Convention
when it was announced that " the commit
| tee on conference is in session, members o
the Democratic assembly arrived in thrOngs
and iostled on the staircase partisans bOtl
of the Republican and Liberal Republican
party, all bent on gaining some news o.
final actiOn--some information of the league
and covenant the conference would draw
up to be presented to each body. Various
flying reports, set loose from many sOurces
and grapevine kilograms travelled back and
forth St Charles street and sheltered in q
brood about the heater In the rbtunda OF
the hotel. Among these were the statements
that the Democrats want everything, and
will give nothing; that the Reformers refuse
to have anything to do with the Democrats:
that bolt is already organized in the
Democratic convention on the question
whether or not ''tO take up Governor War
moth" that both bodies will wisely come
together tomorrow; that the RefOrmers are
parleying with the CustOmhOuse people,
and that the committee on conference will
agree to disagree, and remit the question
OF combination to the parent bodies; be-
sides rumOrs that all proceedings will be
delayed until the July Baltimore conven-
ton, and hence the party finds itself in the
ventiOn. There were statements that a
wedge would be driven in the convention
sOop as it was called to order, and that all
these questions would come up in discus
sion. 1t will readily be seen that these
rumOrs fOrebOded a stormy time These
matters were the sole impression upon the
public mind, and rode it like nightmare.
1t was talked of in street cars, coffeehOuses,
hotels, the street, and every place where
%ha Il = 4. Il -
say that all eyes were turned toward the
convention yesterday morning.
The crowd in the galleries and proscen-
ium boxes of the Opera House, where the
representatives of the Democratic party
were to assemble for their third days delib-
erations, filed all available seats long be-
fore the majority of the delegates arrived;
but little after eleven o'clock the par
quette, "down in the regulations" as the
place for delegates exclusively, was filed,
and the usual impatience was visible for
the ball to roll.
The convention was called to order for
the third day, and the secretary, Mr.. Oscar
Arroyo, called the roll of the parishes.
Mr.. Poche, of St. James-I desire to
amend the report of the committee on ere
dentials by placing the name Of Mr.. Braud,
instead of his proxy, he never having per
mitted proxy. Granted.
Mr., b. b. SHINES, on reading the COM
ments of the PicGyltne in regard to the con-
sistency of his course, entered into a per-
sOnal explanation. These comments con-
sisted of two editorial articles-the one
stating as a fact that General SHINES had
for year past advocated a coalition with
WarmOth, the other animadverting on his
denial of his being a Warmoth man. ALI
were read in the midst of hubbub.
Gentlemen, give me your ear, and will
proceed to define in brief my position in
reference to myself and Governor War
moth. In 1871 | met that gentleman, for the
first time, at dinner party at which were
gentleman from Missouri and several
other gentlemen, and although make it a
point not to give the names of those who
unite s0ciably with me, still / will state
that at the dinner there were present Mr.
L. 7. Merrick, General Harry HaYs and
Others. During the evening Governor War
moth spoke of the condition of the State
saying it could not be laid at his door, and
said, speaking of the old citizens: ''You
nave never come to me giving your aid
and countenance, and cOnsequently, NAV
have done many bad things, and things l
ought not to have done, and this was about
all that transpired at the first meeting.
The other relations with the Governor were
those of his intercessiOn for friends. l in
b4OUNECO al UlNA CGuAcuEIdL6 EOlulbEs VINO
had returned from the war ruined man.
| went with him to Governor Warmoth's
going in at the front door, not at
the back, Tor all | do is open and above
board. There | stated he was an old con-
federate soldier, and / sued for a position
as notary, and he got his commission the
ensuing morning. Incident number two
was that of the parish judge of Rapides,
and l went to the Governor and solicited
the appointment of man recommended by
Ex-Governor Moore and the best citizens Of
the parish, among whom were Judge Man
ming and Mr.. Wese. / also solicited an aD-
pointment for st. Martin parish, strongly
by Ex-Governor Declouet,
Colonel FOUrnet, and others, and | ask if
that is not fact.
Ex-Governor Declouet-What fact?
Mr.. SHINES repeated his averment, and
Mr.. Declouet answered it was true. / have
recommended other appointments, but only
)ne from the city, the balance being from
5he country. Governor Warmoth told me
upon one Of these occasions, ''You bring no
body here but old confederates." | an
iwered, 'Yes, and l will bring no one else"
And because l have cultivated those friend
V relations am arraigned as a Warmoth
nan. If it be crime to assist in this man
Ter to a restoration of the State under the
'ule of her people, and doing all l can to
promote it be what is understood as a
'Warmoth man." then l stand convicted.
,ir, the yawning gulf which separates,
Governor Warmoth and myself
as deep and wide as heaven from hell.
Cor myself, personally, have never asked |
favor at his hands, but the Governor has |
ecopded my recommendations of gentle |
nen, and refused those of Senators and |
representatives.
A vOice-Who recommended your son for |
ak collector of -- parish
Mr.. Simms-He was recommended by !
tIr. O'Fallon, of Missouri. He came to me |
md refused to recommend him-told him |
he people did not want him there. APP |
Dlausel Now. is it just that an unsullied |
ecord for forty years should be assailed; |
hat man of my years, grown gray in the
ervice, should thus be accused of unfaith- |
ulness! Did you ever hear of my voting |
n all this time out of my party When
yer the banner of Democracy was raised,
when did l ever fail to follow it ?
Mr.. Tucker, of st. Mary-Did you not, /
bout SIX months ago, in the presence Of
'rominent Democrats, advocate the Deme-
ratio party taking him up and putting him
t the head of the ticketf
Mr.. Simmes-For the past few months l /
elieved in the policy Of using this young
nan and availing ourselves Of his assist
nee, that we might check the career of |
lunder and robbery going on in the Legis-
ature, the Democratic members to vote as
unit. A contract, with such terms stipu-
ated, was drawn up, but out of twenty
ight members in the House but sixteen
igned it, and some of these voted to pass
ONE of the obnoxious bills over the Gov
rnor's veto.
Mr.. Bryant rise to a point of order.
he gentleman has been speaking over half
q hour. We can not allow the gentleman
D clear his skirts at the expense of the
,hOle Stat& Louder.
Mr.. Simmes continuing, his voice could
OF be heard from the cries of order and 90