The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-10-10
The Radical Nominating Convention.

delegates from the various townships met in
Cochran's building, on Monday last. We were
not present at the commencement OF the pro-
ceedings, and cannot give the full organization.
Mr.. John R. Cochran was chosen to preside
over the Convention, and a committee was ap-
pointed on credentials. The business in order
rs we entered seemed to be the ventilation of
the views entertained by the delegates as to the
proper course to be pursued in reference to
County affairs-all discussion relative to State
matters being strictly prohibited, since both
factions of the Radical party were participa-
ting in this meeting Several 'colored men ad-
dressed the Convention, showing diversity of
opinion upon the subject of making nomina-
tions, some of them arguing in favar OF placing
colored men on the ticket, to which others were
ssreruously opposed as matter OF policy.
The Committee on Credentials finally made
report, showing that all the townships were
duly represented, except the Dark Corner.
The call was then read by the Chairman, and
it was announced that the first business in or
der was to consider the necessity of making
nominations.
A motion was made that the Convention
proceed to ballot for three candidates for the
Legislature, which motion was adopted.
At this point another siege Of oratory was in
dulged in, and at times there was perfect
Babel of confusion and uproariOus demandsvso
be heard on various questions. The Chairman
used his utmost exertions to preserve order and
business-like decorum, but frequently his efforts
were unavailing, and several times ne threat
ened to resign his position, unless the delegates
agreed to maintain better order. Motion alter
motion was made, and then Withdrawn; and
upon each question, suggested by the various
motions, there was lively picture of Pan
demonium enacted-the delegates crowding
around the table of the Chairman, and vocifer-
ously demanding 70 be heard. At length, the
delegates proceeded to make nominations, and
almost every one felt it incumbent upon him
to use his eloquence for the benefit of his
favorite candidate, which efforts protracted the
meeting considerably, and gave rise to new
elements of discord and dissatisfaction among
the faithful. The following named persons
were placed before the Convention, to wit:
VIM. s. Brown, VIM. Perry, John R. Coch-
ran, DIR. John Wilson and B. F. Duncan,
white; VIM. R. Parker, Elijah Williams, Hi
ram Greenlee and Jonas Brown, colored.
Henry Kennedy, W. R. Redmond and Green
D. Williams were also placed in nomination,
but each of them declined.
At this stage of the proceedings, and before
the ballot was entered into, Mr.. Cochran made
a brief speech to the Convention, defining his
position, and asking that the delegates would
select such men as would give the ticket a
chance to win; and in case he was nominated'
he wanted to be strengthened by others, and
not be weighed down by them. He thought if
Republican could be elected from Anderson
County this time, it would be stepping stone
for others in that party hereafter, and in the
course of human events, it would be possible
to elect a colored man to the Legislature. He
urged the negroes to use the ballot wisely, and
to vote only for honest men, whether Republi-
cans or Democrats, as the world held their race
responsible for the manner in which the ballot
is welded. His remarks we're listened to with
the utmost attention, strict silence being OBJ
served during their delivery, which was in
marked contrast with the turbulent condition
of things when other speakers were on the
floor.
The ballot was then ordered, and the voting
conducted vira voce. AS the name Of each del
egate was called, he announced the three can
didates of his Choice. The ballot resulted as
follows:
Whole number of votes cast, 7S. Necessary
to choice, 40.
John R. Cochran received 7S votes; VIM. S.
Brown, 35 VIM. R. Parker, "a Hiram Green
lee, 20 DIR. John Wilson, 20; VIM. Perry, 10 !;
Elijah Williams, 5; B. F. Duncan, S; Jonas
Brown, 8.
Mr.. Cochran was declared the nominee of the
Convention. No other candidate having re-
ceived a majority of the votes cast, second
ballot was in order, but at this juncture it was
moved that further ballotting cease and the
nominations be postponed. Also, that each
delegation select one of their number to meet
at this place on Saturday next, 18th of October,
20 complete the ticket, which was unanimously
adopted amid great enthusiasm.
The Convention was in session four or five
hours, wrangling over the question of putting a
ticket in the field; and after deciding to nom
mate candidates for the Legislature, an ad-
journment was effected upon the conclusion of
the first ballot-the Convention having placed
in nomination single candidate, who might
have received this distraction just as easily
without formal vote, as he was the unanimous
choice of the Convention This farcical end
ing was quite surprise to outsiders, who were
thereby deprived the privilege of witnessing
further ground and lofty tumbling in the arena
of od;ool nnl;f;oo A q 10 ouctrmoru tho tickef