Wilmington journal., 1875-07-16
from the Raleigh Sentinel as follows

from the Raleigh Sentinel as follows
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, [so
CALLED. THE DIsGRAoEFUL CLOSING
SCENES. !-CoRNFIELD DANCE AMI
ETHIOPIAN MINsTRELs--HAM-RA -RADI
CALIsM IN ITS GLORY.
After the members present had
affixed their signatures to the new
Constitution on Monday hight
TOurgee moved to take recess for 6
quarter of an hour, fourishing, at the
same time in his hand, a Freedman
Bureau song book.
The motion being put was carried
and Tourgee then repaired to the SEQ
retary's desk and struck up the song
We'll rally around the flag, boys"
Immediately the desk was surround
ed by a crowd of inside and outside
negroes, of both white and black com.
plexlons, who lent all the power OF
their lungs to the Chorus
AS the song continued the excite
ment increased-hands were joined all
around and a regular African corn
field dance ensued.
Each man commenced singing his
own song. Among the dities that
could be distinguished in the terrific
din were such as SAILS in the garden
slftln sand, Come out of the wilder
ness, "Yallow gal can't you come out
to night, Hang jeff Davis on a sour
apple tree" "Old John Brown -
Yankee Doodle" Hail Columbia, -
Star Spangled Banner" Sound the
tremble," &c, &c.
This Bedlam scene was kept up un-
til sheer fatigue induced the partici-
pants to stop for breathing time.
Some aggered to their seats-oth-
ers resting their bones on the floor.
kalvln j. thoroughly blown, managed
to crawl to the chair, and closing his
eyes and leaning his head gracefully
back he yielded up himself up to dig
nlfied repose.
For some moments deep silence
reigned over the house. All seemed
to be asleep. Not q sound could be
heard to disturb the solemn stiffness
save now al d then a de p and long
drawn snore from the "archives of
gravity"
Presently Kalvin J. started up, rub
bing his eyes. and gazing wildly over
the hal, convulsivt ly clutching his
hammer and brought it down with a
laundering rap, and in an awful voice
suDgOut "DelGgateS arise resume your
seats and come to order straightway. "
This started the dnin1uIes Vari-
Gus grunts, snarls and growls were in
dulged in and full half an hour passed
before their keeper could get them in
performing order.
Three or four ordinances for pro-
vidlng fat places for different pets
both black and white were read and
passed when another motion for re-
cess was put and carried
A scene somewhat similar but a
great deal worse if possible than the
first ensued and continued up to the
hour of adjournment.
AT o'clock next morning the show
again opened. The aninaules came
creeping out of their cages, one by
one, looking good deal used up.
No business WAS transacted until
about half past 9 o'clock when some
two or three more ordinances of the
same character were passed.
Another recess being taken, Col
Heaton took the chair and loud calls S
were made for Gen. Miles, who being
a bashful man excused himself in a
few remarks. Gen. Littlefield being
spread caglc" and concluded his
harangue by singing something to the
tune of "Old John Browns Soul is
Marching on" the house at his re-
quest Joining in the chorus.
The Jaybird from Washington and
the Ready Relief Judge (would-be) of
the Supreme Court, Mr.. Rodman,
threw their whole souls into the melo-
dy. Byrnes, the fat Secretary, and
others, being called upon for songs,
proceeded to regale the Constitutional
and dIgnitied Convention with ''Sher-
mans March to the Sea" and other
songs appropriate to the occasion oi
celebrating the framing of a Constitu-
ton for the free white people of North
Carolina.
These disgraceful scenes, disgusting
even had they been enacted in d
brothel, were kept up until, in the Ian
guage of Mr.. Williams of Sampson
the dirty concern adjourned, subjec
to the call of the President and Secre
tary.