Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-08-21

The Congressional Convention Warm
Times-Biizard siaughtered-Key Tri-



ed to-day by the presence ofthe represent
atives of the Simon-pure Democracy of the
Third Congressional District, big with the
weighty responsibility of choosing n cam
| ddate for Congress-. Almost every shade
of the genus Democrat was represented in
the promiscuous crowds which gathered on
the street corners and in bar rooms discuss
ing the chances and claims, and pulling
the wires for their various favorites. The
grey-haired father, who has spent years in
the service of his party and the gushing
youth just in his majority, were represent
ed, each seeming to vie with the other
as to who could talk the loudest and the
longest and present in the most favorable
light the excellencies of his candidate.
Col. Billiards. friends held up their
heads and looked game, as much as
to say we are conscious of our
power to carry the day for the man with
the enormous appendage vulgarly styled a
nose. Keys friends were silent, but if
one of them could be got off to one side.
he chnckled over the certainty of his IA
Vorite's success, and the unsuspecting ig-
norance of Col. BIS adherents. The
lAiShuS VI SOl. LIZ. james ana COl, Bob.
Byrdunderstood that they stood no chance,
and only presented their names as an act
of courtesy.
At eleven O'Clock, A. NJ, the crowd as
sembled, and after some delay, was chilled
to order by the chairman of the Congress
sional Committee who demeaned himself
with an unaffected grace and dignified ell
egance which showed that he was not a
novice, in some things at least. He made
short speech, fun of the " milk Of human
kindness toward all the world, and es-
pecially they OF 1.-THE household OF faith.u
His speech, together with subsequent de-
velopments, was suggestive Of s.but-
tered watermelon, softrshelIed crabs,n
and sich,n and showed a strong az
finity for the tail end of the Greeley
ticket. He remainedin the chair until a
permanent Organization was effected. 1t
took nearly an hour to get committees an
pointed, looking to n permanent organiza-
ton, when the convention adjourned for
one hour to take a -, dinner, &c. The
meeting was not called to order promptly
at the hour of one, from the trifiing cir
cumstance of the acting chairman having
forgotten just where he had put his hat be-
fore going into the dining room OF the
Ocoee House. BY the aid of kind friends,
however, 1t was found and the convention
was again called to order, when a perma-
nent organization was effected, with Hon.
j.. w. Cleft as Chairman, and Kirby,
Woodward and McNelly (the handsOmest
man in the convention) as Secretaries.
Nominations were now in order. Judge
Van Dyke nominated Col. BLIZZARD and
urged as reason why he should have the
race, that he had run against 1.-THE bull dog
of the Radical party two years ago" Major
Reynolds, of Loudon county, very modest
ly presented the name of Chancellor Key.
Colonel Neal, of Roane, ventured to mem
ton Colonel Byrd. Mr.. Swaflord, of War
rem, nominated Gen. Savage, and Smith, of
Hamilton, presented the name of Eb.
James.
Just at this stage of the game, q gentle
man, who afterwards proved steadfast
friend of Chancellor Key. although his
name had been withdrawn seemingly with
authority, by Mr.. Cliff, OF Hamilton, be-
came very anxious to have all the candi-
dates commit themselves TO the support of
the Convention, no matter who was sue
cessful They We're all so committed by
their friends, in less time than it takes TO
write it, and the interesting process of bal
lOting commenced, the roll of counties be- |
ing called in clear, sonorous voice by the !
world renowned wit" Alligator. !" Blizzard
received 6S votes OH the first ballot 90 be- |
ing necessary to q choice. His friends were |
enthused over this very fiattering vote, |
and felt sure he would obtain a majority |
on the next ballot. The second ballot was |
tahel Win iitIlc clltuSt. some one tnen |
renewed the nOminotion of Key, notwith- |
standing 1t had been stated that he did not |
desire it. Sheppard, of Chattanooga, af- |
ter some sharp sparring with Judge Van |
Dyke, ventured to suggest that "unless
Key was nominated the district would be |
represented in the next Congress by n |
Radical" This declaration startled Biz |
ards friends, and some of their eyes pro-
truded wonderfully, while they blushed
clear up to their eyebrows. Key contin-
ued to gain strength, receiving 81 votes on
the 10th ballot. On the 10th ballot. War
rem, Grundy and Van Buren, changed their
votes from Savage to Key, which gave him
~ votes, three more than a majority
The result was announced and received /
with faint applause, while Billiards. friends
commenced to retire abruptly. Judge
Van Dyke moved that the Nomination be
made unanimous, which was carried with
out opposition by those remaining in the
hall, but some of them made very wry ia
ces. To say that Billiards. friends are dis
satisfied, would be stating the case in a
very mild form. Vollies of sulphurous
and a continuous sluice of
fierce invective, could be heard on every
street corner and in every bar room. AS
we write two delegates from a neighbOring
county are discussing the result--one swear
ing that he will carry his county against
Key, the other upbraiding him on the in
ierior quality of his Democracy, and VOW
ing IN terms more emphatic than polite,
that he can't do any such thing. They
nave retired weary 10 bed, but are so hot
that they keep up the discussion i'm loud
a MI n no 4IN| IfIra. "