Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-01
WRANGLING REPUBLICANS.
A ParOxysIh Of the Dying Party
In Madry County.

-&sS-z-
Convention OF Radicals Yesterday
Dissatisfaction Of the Negro Element
-POstOmee and ReVeaue Changes
DenOunced-LO6aI Self Government.
Special to the Union and American.
HCOLUSBIA, July 31.-There was a Re
publican meeting here this evening, for the
purpose Of recognizing the party in this
county, and discussing other matters, the
most important Of which was the removal
of J. P. Baird and appointing W. U.
Hughes Postmaster in his stead. The Re-
publican party has split in Maury county,
there being two factiOns. The Hughes and
Anti Hughes. The last named are opposed
to W. U. Hughes for Postmaster, because,
they claim that he has never identified
himself with the Republican party by a
single act. The meeting was called to Or
der by G. w. Blackburn. ]. 81. Gregory
was made temporary chairman, who ex-
planned the object Of the meeting. Balm
Frierson, colored, was made secretary. A
committee was appointed to draft resolu-
tions. Marshall Lewis, eolored, was called
upon for a speech. he accused the white
section Of the Republican party of dealing
unfairly with the colOred section, sayIrg
that the negroes were tired of putting white
Republicans in Office and not get any of
the spoils. he impressed upon the negro
that his white brother in politics had been
making a fool Of him long enough, and
that they would insist upon a division of
spOils.
Albert Green, cOlOred, was next called
out. He said that he plainly saw
that the meeting had nothing to
do with recognizing the party; that
it was gotten up for the purpose Of getting
offices for the Hughes family and giving
them to parties in certain white Repub-
lican clique under the disguise Of reorgau-
iziDg the party, and if our postmaster did
not suit the Republican party of Maury
county he would insist upon the Office be-
ing given to a negro. That white Repub-
licans had been receiving the spOils long
enough and be had no faith in his white
party leaders. He said it was high time
the cOlOred people were looking TO their
own interest; that they were 1900 strong
in Maury; they had been putting the 250
white Republi Jeans in Office since their
freedom and they were tired of it. He told
them that they made their living from the
Democrats and hereafter in voting to vote
for lhOse that take care Of them.
g. W. Blackburn was next called. he
spoke at length upon the condition of the
party in MauEy county. In conclusion he
said if any one wanted to ask him any
questions in regard to the party he would
answer. Albert Green asked him Why It
was that colOred people were excluded in
caucus held in the PcstOffice building.
The question was not answered. Marshall
Lewis asked him why it was, if be was
such a good Republican as he claimed to
be, that he would not support q eOlorsd |
man for public place. Blackburn did not
answer it.
S. NJ. Arnell spoke at length upon Re |
publicanism and said that he had been in !
formed from a reliable source, that the |
present Postmaster had participated in a |
to break up q Republican |
meeting here in 1868, which a. NJ. Hughes, |
Jr, brother TO Postmaster, denounced as |
false. Lewis took the stand again and told |
ATnell if he would insert in resolutions |
''that we are in favor Of Balem FriersOn, |
cOlOred, for Postmaster in place Of w. U. |
Hughes the cOlOred people would ac- |
cept the resolutions. He told him, Arnell, !
that he would rather swallow JEFF Davis |
than 10 support Balem FriersOn for Office, |
because FriersOn was a colOred man. The |
Democrats had more respect for a cOlOred |
man than the white Republicans and they |
saw who their friends were. The Com |
mitlee on Resolutions reported as follows, |
which was put TO the house and carried:
Resolved, l. That we are firmly atsached |
to the principles Of the Republican party |
among them nationality, freedom and hon
est administration Of government in all its |
various departments.
2. That the preservation of local inter- |
ests by the community itself is essential to |
government, and the appOin6- |
ment Of person in the civil service against |
the wishes Of a majority Of its citizens viO- |
lates the fundamental principles of repub- |
licauism and is dangerously injurious. A |
community knows best its citizens, and as |
, matter Of right, ought to be heard ard |
consulted in regard to the choice of its Of |
fcers, otherwise the government of reTre-
IN form is not so in fact.
3. That we emphatically condemn the |
Of the Postmaster in this /
place, for the reason that a more competent |
and a better Republican could have been
selected, whose appointment would have
given satisfaction to the community gen.
orally. That we also emphatically condemn
the removal Of +. NJ. DOOley, Deputy Col
lectOr of Internal Revenue, and the appoint
ment Of A. N. Hughas, Jr., for the reason
that Mr.. Hughes has not identified himself |
with us as a Republican, working for the
principles Of the party, while Mr.. Dooley /
is an earnest, working Republican.
As Sunset Cox said, this is a dying kick /
Of a dying party wanting the run Of the i
money drawer before it's too late.
MAURY.