The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-04-20
REPUBLICAN STATE CONVENTION:
A Hugo struSsle among the Faithful
Oratoricsl Combat between Carpenter
and acknowledgement Pro-
ceedings.

was to appoint delegates to the Republi-
can National Convention, which meets
in Cincinnati on the 18th Of June next.
But tho occasion was seized upon to test
the strength of the Chamberlain and
anti-C Chamberlain wings Of the party,
and the struggle between the contending
factions lasted throughout the session.
In some respects, Gov. Chamberlain was
victorious, but the preponderance is
against him, and the proceedings demon
strate that the opposition, led by R. B.
Carpenter, "Honest" John Patterson,
Elliott, Swails, Whittemore and others,
have control of the party, and do not
intend that the Governor shall "rule the
roase' any longer than they can help it.
We are unable to give complete report
Of the proceedings, and must be content
with a brief summary of the greater por-
tion, in order that our readers may enjoy
the perusal of the gladiatorial combat
between Judge Carpenter and Gov.
Chamberlain, which was the chief event
of the grand entertainment.
First Days Proceedings.
R. B. Elliott, Chairman of the Stats
Executive Committee, called the Conven
ton to order, and directed call Of the
temporary roll Of delegates, which had
been made up to exclude the contesting
delegation from Charleston, Barnwell,
Colleton and Oconee favorable to Cham
berlain. The opening fight was made
upon this action Of the executive COM
nlittee, against which the Governor pro-
tested most vehemently, and moved that,
in making up the roll of delegates, the
names of both sets of delegates from con-
testing c0Gnties be called.
Swails, coloted, made tie objection
that there Was no convention until the
roll had been called, and Elliott sustained
the objection, and went upon the floor
where Wofhington instantly joined
him. Whittemofe was now in the chair,
and Swails preased tie point that con-
testing delegates must waie until SITTER
the organization.
Maxwell, colored, proposed that the
rival delegations be admitted and each
have half q vote.
Points Of order we're as thick as the
delegates heads. One delegate wanted
to know who were to vote on the pending
oueStion. Whittemore beloved that
only the delegates on the roll could vote.
This decision provoked cheers and Misses.
Green (colored) made the point that
no business was in order but calling the
roll.
Whittemore ruled that the point was
we'll taken.
Cardo1o appealed from the ruling, and
wanted to know who should vote on the
appeal. The excitement was rising to
fever heat. Several delegates were on
the floor calling for the roll and raising
points of order.
Judge Mackey sprang to his feet and
said to the President: 1.-THE question is,
not whether you will recognize US, but
whether the convention will recognize
you.", Cheers and counter cheers. ]
Mackey, amidst intense excitement add
ed: "We meet hero to-day, face to face
and eye to eye, the banded robbers that
have plundered the State"
SMails, rushing up to Maekey, said
"Who do you meant"
Mackey replied: "You are one ofthem,
and to-day will We send all Of you to
everlasting defeat. You have come here
to trample on the honest people of South
Carolina. We can send you all to jail,
and We mean to do it."
Elliott now came face to face with
Mackey, tho two being separated only
by the desk, and asked Mackey who he
meant.
Aiackey, his strident voice rising above
the din, said: "You are one Of them
you are their head and front"
Elliott said: "You're q liar" and,
drawing pistol, moved around tho desk
to get at Macksy, who, with his hand on
his weapon, awaited events. Tables were
upset in all directions, chair was bran
dished over the head Of Chamberlain,
who sat unmsved. Tho delegates hud-
died around Elliott on the one side, and
Mackey on the other, and the confusion
was heightened by the hystsrical screams
of Mrs. Elliott, who was in the hall.
Patterson made for the door. Worthing-
ton, with his hand on his pistol, kept on
the edge of the crowd, which had drifted
to ONE corner Of the hall. Whittemore,
looking very pale, raped vainly, for
order. In FIVE or ten minutes something
like order was restored, and, the fight
being over, the roll call was renewed.
Cardozo and some others raped on
the tables so that the names could not be
heard.
Swails suggested that the Governor had
better issue proclamation to protect the
public property.
Judge Mackey rejoined by saying that
the Governor had already issued twenty
veto messages for the protection of the
property of the people.
The call of the roll was continued, and
when this Was finished, Cardoso moved