The Van Buren press., 1872-05-14
THE MINSTREL CONVENTION.
Fight between Lockhart and Divllbiss
Pistol Dya,sa-Ink Stand 7Aroon ana
General Confusion.

conventions, nave created quite an enthusi-
asm in both wings of this party. On Satur.
day the Minstrels" held their convention
for selecting Delegates to the State Conyen-
ton at Little Rock, and transacting other
business. JOSIAH HARREIL, Esq, was Presi.
dent. Quite a good gathering was present
consisting OF ali shades of politics. We were
only present but short time. Every thing
passed harmonious until the Delegates to the
State Convention were appointed, when Mr.
d. IL. DrvILpIss suggested that the delegate.
should pledge themselves to attend in person
and not by proxy. This called out Mr.. j. A
NOBLE and j. A. LoCKHART, who alluded in
no very complimentary terms to Divilbiss
prony transaction, which brought out rather
spirited reply from Diyilbiss which soon ex-
ploded the smsthered contempt some time
existing in the bosom of Lockhart, and mat
ters assumed q threatening aspect-Lock-
hart struck Divisbiss with his fist, or attempt
ed to, and being interfered with by parties
present, jumped on the table and seizing one
Of those large ink stands full of ink, hurled il
at Divilbss' head, who fortunately Tended ii
off with his hand. Lockhart then drew a
deringer pistol out of his pocket and cooked
it ready for further action. The scene was
rich beynd description-thc County Judge,
the Mayor, and two or three Justices were
present-the negroes were greatly excited
and were disposed to treat Mr.. Divilbiss very
roughly, but by the interposition of the bet
ter class Of Republicans no harm was done
him and order was ence more restored.
Prof ORRICK, the Secretary, read set of
Resolutions purporting to have been passed
at meeting in Mountain Township, some
time since (Which by the way it is said, the
ink was not dry with which they were writ
ten, reading SO much like the Professors
style that some doubling brothers thought
they might have first seen day light in the
clerk office, recommending Mr.. STRONG for
AIr. j. Z. GRADY for Sheriff
Sheriff and Mr.. J. A. LoCKHART for Clerk.
The object evidently was to commit, to some
extent, the Convention to the gentlemen
named.
A SpOndent, present, gives more full
report:
.... VAN BUgGS, May II, 1872.
EDITOR VAN BUEGN Pass -
Truly, this is an age of progress and en-
as witness the following:
At II o'clock A. NJ, to-day the delegates Of
the Minstrel wing ofthe great epublican par
ty from the several townships of this County
assembled at the Court House, and organized
by calling Hon, JOSIAH UARRELL to the chair,
and appointing Mcssls. - STRONG and W.
w (Dn1srlTy spprptpYips ot tho ngptinU 1t iS
presumed that committee on resolutions
" as appointed, consisting of whom | know
not. a. | did not get in until our worthy May
or, DR.. l.. Q. White, who was, two years ago,
an independent republican candidate for the
Legislature, standing squarcly on the demo-
cratic platform, had reached "7th, Resolved
etc, etc, in the reading of what was after
wards unanimously adopted us the sense pof
the meeting; and the last of which. believe
the llth, was a whito-w washer of EXG Governor
Clayton. and contained about as little sense us
any other OF the series Am sorry that have
not a copy of them to send you, but you will,
in due time see them in Pierce's Patriot as
it was resolved to have them therein publish
ed with the request that "all papers friendly
to the cause fond of music-cOpy the same.
The meeting having thus made an expose
of its sense the next business in order was de-
clarcd to be the election of four delegates
uti'IN liiC NpliN Nli-
coucert-at Little Rock, on
the 18th proximo, when divers resolutions,
and substitutes. as to how it
should be done, were offered, withdrawn and
adopted to the tune of lank-ec-doo-dle, as
rendered by the late "highland piper"
About twenty of the faithful were put in
fair proportion Of whom were
of previous condition, when it was pro-
posed that all the nominees should retire and
4 RI al l,g
pledge themselves to attend the aforesaid
Minstrel pow-pew. After much parley and
divers suggestions the an nominees as many
Of them called themselves, retired, and after
some time spent in elaboration returned
and announced that they had agreed to send
j. A. Lockhart, j. Z. Grady, - Strong and
j. a. Noble, all of whom had promised to at
tend the concert and dance in person. There
upon loud and prolonged calls for Iluckleber-
ry, Judye Hucklcberry. speech from Judge
wa. made and soon that gem
tlemen, with two commissions in his pocket
Il. 4. District Attorney, of Western Arkansas,
and Judgs OF the ith Judicial Circuit Arkan-
sas, on both (which he is, doubtless, drawing
and began harangue which,
tor rcckieSsness OF assertion and Dctrnyal5 OF
gross benightsd ignorance. surpassed any
thiug of the kind it has ever been my misfor-
tune 10 listen to, lie began by iDdorslng tho
" sense of The meeting; denounced the late
Cincinnati Convention ia terms OF immeas-
urcd bittasRess; he said lit waa composed OF
sore headed and di-coDteHted old grand
nl others and had put in nomination for the
old grand mother Greeley. who
had never done anything for the country, eX-
cept to denounce the rebellion and the rebels
during the late war" and predicted that he
would withdraw from the contest by the first
of September. He then pitched into Hon.
Carl Schur2. whom he denounccd "a A" the
red headed Dutch president OF the grand
mothers conventions" aud which, Oh that
account, he thought might appropriately be
called the" Red headed pcckerwood conven-
ton !" all of which the monuments present of
the 18th amendment" seemed to think was
very. funny, vociferously applanding with
hearty "zahs-Zahs.' much clapping ofhands
and the chorus" that are Il fact. F" The speak
cr was truly sweet on Senator Schurz, who,
he said had ingloriousiy left his seat in the
Senate to attend this convention.
But he wholly forgot, in this connection, to
say any thing of President Grants leaving the
Executive Mansion and spending almost the
a., tirc summer of last year at Long Branch.
JJe a 80 forgot, presume, that the former is
re.nons,,Nlc only to the people OF Missouri,
=, hiIa Tho litter Is so, to those of the whole
Savior of his country, INC iiprntor OF tne COZ,
ored man. etc. etc. and LeEinuins as roi ~,
Donelson, fought all the batt.es over agaih
down to Appomattax Court Houst; eNcvpy d
few OF unpleasant memory and such as nc
had forgotten, or never knew anything ABOUT
IL 4 M ~ -