The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-26
A WILD CONVENTION.
MAD NEGRO POLITICIANS-oPEN FRAUD
SCENES OF NOMENCLATURE AZ a

The Republican Nominating Convention
at Columbia, S. c., on the Doth instant was
fine scene of the most turbulent excitement
ever witnessed in Il legislative body, even III
Arricanized South Carolina. Its decidedly
black complexion gave fair opportunity OF
testing the ability, honesty, and political
virtue of the negroes and whites. a few did
make feeble effort at reform. The majority
showed their utter incapacity to frame sta
bic and honest government. A dispatch TO
the New York Herald gives the following
graphic account of the negro Conventions:
The Hobbies, galleries, and halls of the
Senate chamber were throngcd WITH dense
mass of African humanity, which, with the
thermometer in the nineties, rendered II Sc
rio,ls and dangerous to the health of the few
whites in the Convention. The air WAS
sitting. pa,,st Gus, and suffoc,ting, and the
few Respectable whites in the body surged
through the black mass in the greatest agony
of both body and mind.
The lively proceedings opened with the
election of Congressman X. Is, Elliott tcol'
ored) as permanent president of the Convcn-
II,
of the strength of +. j. Moses, late Speaker
of the House of Representatives, for the
g,lbcrnatoriaI nomination. After questions
of the contcnding delegations from Charles
ton, Beaufort. Orlngcburg, and the other
counties, had been decided in the interest OF
Moses, the ball opened with al excited and
indecent debate, during which the most dis.
graceful scenes were enacted in the swelter.
l,n
of Il. j. Moses, ID. ii. Chamberlain, Reuben
Tomlllson, and Judge j. W. Melton. were
put in nomination, and then the opposing
forces showed their hands in the most shame
less and unbushing manner. Elliott vacated
the chair and took the floor to make speech
in which he charged that ComptrOller-Gcne'
raj NGlgle, who supported Chamberlain tor
the Governorship, offered 81 900 each to two
Of the delegates, naming them, who were III
favor Of Moses, to vote for Chamberlain,
who was regarded rs the financial ring can.
didate."
This produced fearful scene of excite.
ment. Every delegate. lobbyist. and spec.
tator was instantly OH his feet, and timid
people rushed fiantically to the doors, fear
ing riot and perhaps bloodshed. When
the noise and uproar had partially subsidized
Whttemore, of cadctship notoriety, obtained
the floor, and he i'll part retuted the charges
made by Elliott, hut his speech principally
advocated the claims of Reuben T0mlinson
rs the refurm candidate Of the Republican
party of South Carolina. TO the credit of
Whittemore, be it said, he made an able
effort in the interests Of reform and good
government; but his speech made no i'm
preston OH the MASS of tcgro delegates who
were already pledged to vote for Moses.
Whittemore had scarcely concluded when
Judge L. j. Mackey, of the Seventh Judicial
circuit. sprang eScitedly 10 his feet, and he
charged that T6mlinSon had not only bribed
the Legislature of the State to secure the
passage of certain phosphate bill, but that
he had also, as a member Of the same body,
sold his vote in the Blue Ridge and other
railroad bills, and that Us far rs Tomlinson's
record was concerned he was us open to
charges of bribery and corruption rs any
other member on the floor. AT this junctnre
the excitement had reached its highest
pitch, and the throng of negroes, both with
in and without the bar OF the chamber
s,irged to and fro like Il great forest shaken
by storm, while the din Of yells, curses,
and imprecations nearly drowned the pom.
derous raps of the Presidents gavel on the
mahogany desk. AS soon rs order could be
partly restored Judge James L. Orr. who was
a delegate from Anderson county, rose and
asked Judge NIackey if he knew anything
about $1,000 being offered to two delegates
TO control the vote of their respective dele.
cations in the interest of Moses; and Orr
further stated that he had this information
from the lips OF one of the delegates him
self. Mackey eXcitedly and YociferouSly re-
torted that Orr had gone out of the cham
Der and induced the delegates in question to
make this statement. Orr detiantly replied
that that was q lie out of whole cloth, and
then the chamber again became pande-
monium. The appelatlon Of violent mob
is inadequate to give a faint idea OF the con-
dition of the crowd at that time.
Elliott raped the large gayel on the desk
with all the powerful force of bis slalWart
black arm, the Precipitation oozing in large
black patches through his check-lined coat ;
but, though an expert presiding officer, he
failed to make any impression upon the
crowd. Then, by combined yells and cries
of g Mr.. President +" from the reformers on
the floor, one Of the delegates who had been
offered brides Of $1,000 by Moses, obtained
the floor, and Notwithstanding the noise, din,
and confusion, made clear statement Of va
rions attempts to bride him by #. J. Moses
himself. This was u bombshell in the Moses
ranks, and was beginning to have its effect
when that faction checked off all further de.
bate, and Elliott, by the vigorous use of his
voice, arm, and gavel--the latter being per
sistentiy brought down with all the force Of
d sledge- hammler--ruled that balloting for Q
nominee Of the Republican party o.
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