Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-07

Davidson County Swept by the Great
Popular Movement.
The White Mans Ticket Elected from
Cooper to HeTerin.
All the Wards and Thirteen Districts
Heard From.
MajOrities Of from 1900 to 1900 for
the Nominees.
Scenes and Incidents In One OF the
Most Exciting Contests
on Record.

to cast illegal votes were nipped in the
bud.
The good order which prevailed through
out the entire day, seems remarkable, when
it is remembered that it brought with it the
final result of political contest of unex-
ampled activity and of great personal
feeling. The Democratic party in this
county has never been under more COM
pleJe organization or more thoroughly
aroused, while on the other hand the opDO-
sitinn have resOrted TO every means in their
power TO gain their ends. Circulars of an
infammatOry character have been freely
distributed, falsehOOds Of the most out
rageous character have been freely circu-
lated, deadly weapons have been openly
carried, and threats of personal
violence INDUCED in, while the
most ingenious combinations of names in
preparing their tickets have been carefully
gotten up.
Under these circumstances, the quiet,
law-abiding citizens had determined TO see
that none but legal ballots were deposited
at the various voting places yesterday.
The officers of the election had been care
fully selected, and competent clerks Sc
cured, and the result is, the election of yes
terday may De considered as fair an express
sion of the popular sentiment of the PEG
pie of Davidson, on the questions at Issue,
as could be secured.
1t is gratifying 20 know that although
there was no order from the Mayor to that
effect, the saloons of the city were closed,
and hence no drunken men were seen on
the streets or at the polls. Indeed there
was but one exception to the uniform good
order which prevailed at the various voting
places, and that was at the Fourth ward
polls. when Constable John MCGOWAN
acted ia a disOrderly manner, the full par
ticulars of which win be found
elsewhere in our columns. His conduct
excited deep Indignation on the part of the
whites. and as he was surrounded by
number of friends of his own color, who
drew pistols ia his defence, the fact that
serious row, and probable loss of life, was
prevented, is owing entirely TO the prompt
ness and GOODNESS displayed by Officer
Kuhn in arresiing McGOwen and escorting
him to the lookup.
IL was noticed that the Independents had
no carriages on the streets yesterday,
for the free transportation of their support
eTs, prefeTTinG, rather, to appropriate for
that purpose the vehicles provided by the
..Reculars.~ While engaged in this some
what disreputable procedure at the Thirl
Ward polls, Ole of the Independent clac-
quers came nea- being whipped by a hack
man whom he had deceived as TO the tic7et
be was working for, and had induced the
hackman to carry some Of his friends 10
the polls.
During the day bets were freely laid
upon the result in those cases where there
was a close competition between the can
didates. It was universally admitted early
in the day that the success of Mr.. Bell, for
the position Of County Court Clerk, was
assured, and il was admitted that if
McClain and Brien divided the Independ-
ent vote about equally, the election of
Judge Cooper was certain. There was but
little doubt as TO the result of the race
between Dortch and Akers, but yet
it was known that the latter would
poll very good vote N the Fourth ward,
and would probably run well in the country,
especially in the Thirteenth district.
In the afternoon all sorts of rumOrs were
in circulation as to the voting in the cOun
try districts. AT one time 1t was reported
that the independents were running ahead
Of the regular nominees, and that the
race in the city would be very close, and
these reports excited considerable alarm
among a great many Of the friends OF the
nominees, who were not in position 10
bnoW the true status Of affairs. At the
hour appointed for closing the polls crowds
of people gathered about the voting places
eager to learn the result at the earliest pos
sible moment. An unusually large vote
was pOlled in all the wards, thus rendering
the counting of the votes more tedious
process than ordinarily.
The First ward was the first one heard
from at this Office, and from that time on
until the paper went to press, favorable re-
ports came in at lively rate, and each was
greeted with rounds Of applause from the
immense throng which gathered about the
UNION AND AMERICAN office long before
dark. BY half past eleven five wards and
eleven districts had been heard from. At
this time DOrtch was the hindmOst man on
the ticket, and be was 947 votes ahead of
Akers. Heverin was leading in the race
for Jailer. Robertson beating Patterson at
the rate of two to one
AT NIGHT,
as the returns began to come in, the crowd
about the UNIOS AND AMERICAN Office in
creased in numbers, and the excitement
reached fever heat. Everybody seemed ju-
bilant over the success of the ticket, and
shouts, cheers and songs, filled the air.
The crowd continued to sing all such songs
as s'Glory, glory, hallelujah," ''Gwine to
Get home by and by," "DOnt you
want TO join the Democratic
party?r and numbers OF Others
composed for the occasion. All kinds of
ieers Snd expressions were INDUCED in,
such as. ave killed the Black-and-Tan to-
day,- sSThe white man will administer the
laws now" s.DOwn with Patterson"
"IIuTrah for the nominees" etc.
Loud call were made for James I. Bell,
who appeared and made brief speech. ex-
pressing his gratitude fOrthe hOnOrcOnferred
upon him. and said they had won the bat
tie. that they had achieved great victory
in which their wives and daughters were
directly interested. He said he was hardly
able 10 speak at all, for daring the past
three weeks lie lad worked night and day.
He hoped thai they would excuse him
form saving anything more, and retired
amidst deateuing applause.
Capt. sam Donelsou was next called for
and made some brief but appropriate re-
marks. He endorsed the sentiments that
had inst fallen from the
lips of gallant standard
bearer of the party who had come in from
the battle, not upon his shield, but with
his brow crowned with laurels. He thank
ell them for the favor shown him, and said
that although Of late they had worked hard
they would now have rest for a few years.
Capt. DOnelson was londly applanded ,,D
the conclusion of his remarks, and calls
were made for Dcrtch, Heyerin, and other
of the nominees. but none of these gentle
men were present. The crowd remained,
however, until midnight, seemingly UNI
willing to 90 home until the returns, as
far as received. had been read.
The reports received indicate that the
p,.ople of the county are willing 10 vest in
the County Court the discretion 10 dispose
of the railroad stock held by the county, II
thought desirable.
THE DISTRICT ELECTIONS.
The following are the returIS as far as
heard from of the vote for School COmmis-
sionerS, constable, and on the question of
sale or no sale of the county railroad stock:
Eighth District For Constable, Black
man, (elected.)
Ninth Districl-SclOol Commissioner,
A Johnson 10. for Constable l.. Il. HO-