The Cecil Whig., 1875-08-28
The Democratic County Convention and
Ticket.


Wednesday last was an anxious day
among the Democracy who assembled in
force in this town, as delegates and specta-
tors of the county Convention, whose duty
was to form a ticket, that in the first place
would suit the ring; and second, that
would not be too offensive to the party to
endanger it at the polls. The meeting was
to have been called at 12 O'Clock, but it
was manifest very soon that good deal of
fring was necessary which could better be
done on the street, and an anxious, busy
time was had during the forenoon feeling
the different delegations.
About 2 o'clock the Odd Fellows Hall
was opened and delegates and spectators
all gathered into that focus.
w. S. Potter, of the First District,
moved that DR.. H H. Mitchell be called to
the Chair, but the DR.. having no aspira-
tions that way, was conveniently absent,
and after some moments delay, Doctor
Mackall, of the Democrat, was called to
the Chair, and Milton Y. Kidd chosen
Secretary.
A committee of three, composed of Jos.
Bggs, present member of the Board of
County Commissioners, DR.. Mitchell and
Andrew Orr, were named by the Chair to
examine credentials of delegates, a some
what unusual proceeding, where there is
no disputed delegations. The committee
returned all regular. After the roll of dele
gates had been called by Mr.. Kidd, the
Chair rose and announced that the organi-
zation of the Convention being temporary,
and he not being delegate, it was in order
to proceed to effect permanent organiza-
ton. A motion was made by a delegate to
make the present organization permanent,
which was assented to by acclamation.
The Chair then announced the first bust
ness in order, after permanent organization,
was call of the districts for nominations
for the House of Delegates. The First
District named VIM. Ward; Third, Albert
Constable; Sixth, Alexander H. Briscoe,
of Rising Sun, and the Ninth, DR.. James
Turner, member of the last Legislature.
Four candidates having been put up the
Convention proceeded to ballot, As consti-
tuting the whole number of Delegates.
On the first ballot Constable received A
votes Briscoe AZ; Ward &c; and DR..
Turner 90. Constable, Briscoe and Ward
having received the highest number of
votes were declared the nominees.
The next nominations were for County
Commissioners. Benjamin NJ. Crawford,
Sr., of Second District, Walter Armstrong
of the Fourth, John w. Beavens and John
W. Jackson of the Seventh, and Samuel
Gerry of the Sixth, were placed in nomi-
nation. The Chair asked the privilege
before the vote was taken, of placing the
name of candidate before the Convention,
but the wisdom of that body refused the
object was to present the name of Mr.. Jos.
Biggs, present incumbent. The First Dis
trict having had honors already thrust
upon them by the Convention in candi-
date for the Legislature, felt diffident about
offering another.
The balloting was then proceeded with,
Crawford receiving 43 votes, Gerry 81,
Armstrong 30, Beavens 1S, Jackson 6, and
one complimentary vote was cast for Mr..
Biggs. Crawford, Gerry and Armstrong
were announced by the Chair as the nomi-
nees.
Candidates for the Orphans Court were
next called for and the present Board was
renominated without opposition-James
McCauley, James NJ. Evans and James A.
Lewis. (Jsmmiss enough to open the
strongest safe).
These three nominations having been
disposed of very quietly, the tug of war
came in the effort to secure a candidate for
Sheriff. This Office had been much coveted
by several prominent candidates.; there bad
Elkton had conflicting interest in the
Office, and the ring proper had double
motive in the choice. The legal party were
jealous of the patronage which is in the
hands of the Sheriff, part of them desiring
a man from the Second District, another
wing of that party for similar reasons GEN.
tered their affections on candidate from
the Fifth District. In addition to this, the
Won Moltkes of the party, pursuing their
old tactics, wanted a strong candidate from
the Fifth District, and Shippers, who can
make prayer at the Methodist Church,
take drink and treat the crowd at the
"stations," with equal facility-help man
to heaven or hell, whichever road he
chooses,-was the ring man first, last and
all the time. Of the party of aspirants, he
was considered the cupningest, trickiest,
and best ward politician by all odds; and
he was located in the stronghold of the
Republicans, and, of course, his chances
for making votes off of that party was con-
sidered far superior to any of his competi-
tors for the nomination. This fixed the
matter for the shrewdest members of the
ring. W. T. Boulder, of the Second Dis
trict, had numerous friends among his own
class. He is plain, upright, honest farm
er, above STOPPING to dirty tricks, and was
thought to have considerable strength.
By sharp practice he was tricked out of the
delegation in his own district, and Edward
II. Biddle was brought out as candidate
from that district, delegation having been
secured him. This was death to Boulden's
chances, as the fact was piled against him
by the ring among the delegates from other
districts. Crawford, who received the nom-
ination for Commissioner, is charged with
electioneering, at the primary meeting,
among Boulden's friends, and distributing
Biddle tickets-a game so successfully
played as to defeat the Boulden delegates.
This much by way of preface in order to
make the little game of nominating more
Ineligible to our readers. We have no
interest in the choice of candidates what
ever. The game was to beat Boulden.
Had he developed strength at home, he
would, in all probability, have been the
nominee. Five candidates were placed in
nomination for Sheriff: Edward H. Biddle,
of the Second District; Samuel B. Grant,
&c +l,o rNl,;rl. Ch,rlo, w C;p,porc Of fba