Middletown transcript., 1876-09-09
THE COUNTY CONVENTION.
THE DEMOCRACY IN COUNCIL.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ADOPTION OF NEW RULES.
LARGE MASS MEETING.

|
large and enthusiastic one and much interest
wa, manifested in the proceedings by all pre-
sent. The assemblage was called to order at
2 o'clock, p. M, by William Reynolds, Esq,
chairman of the last county meeting and as
Mr.. G. P. johnson, the secretary, was not
present, Mr.. Chas. D. Crutchfeld, Of the Will
mington Herald, was appointed secretary pro
tempore. After the roll of the delegates to the
convention had been called, Sam'l Townsend,
Esq, called upon John O'Byrne, ESQ.,, chair
man of the County Executive COMMITTEES, for
a report from the committee appointed at the
last county meeting to revise the rules OF the
| party, and for the result Of the election held
on the 5th Of August. Mr.. OByrne reported
that the said committee had drawn up series
Of revised rules which had been submitted to
the party voters at an election held for the
purpose on the said 9Th Of August and that
they had been voted down by majority OF
2s9 votes in the county, in view of which fact
as it appeared from that result that the people
were anxious to so change the method of
choosing their candidates that they should be
elected by the vote Of the people, the commit
tee had adopted and appended to the report
this resolution:
Resolved, That it is the opinion of the
County Executive Committee that hereafter
| the members of the Legislature and Levy
| Court be nominated by ballot in the respec-
tive hundreds, and we hereby recommend the
same. Signed, JoHN o. 'BYRNE, Chairman.
JOHN H. Publ, Secretary.
Mr.. O'Byrne stated that this resolution had
been adopted by the committee with but three
dissenting voices.
George Gray, Esq, asked the object OF this
report, what effect it was intended to have
and what would be the result Of its adoption.
He claimed to speak only as an individual
and asked only for information. He cared
not how the nominations were made so that
good tickets were formed. He had only the
good of the party at heart and was Indifferent
to minor matters, desiring chiefly to avoid
frictions in the party.
The chair stated that the object Of calling
for the report was for its rejection or adoption
by the meeting.
Samuel Townsend said that the people had
been, for years, fighting for nominations by
ballot, and had always been prevented from
acquiring them by the opposition of tricksters
and would-be leaders, but that on the 9TH Of
August last they had shown at the ballot box
their opposition to convention nominations
and made known their demands for the ballot.
He arguei that the convention had full and
complete power to make the desired change,
and that the delegates should at once adjourn
and let the matter 60 back to the people and
let them choose their candidates by ballot
Mr.. John P. Springer said that this meet
ing had nothing to do with this report but
that it belonged to the convention to decide
in regard to it,
Mr.. N. Williams moved that the whole sub
ject be laid on the table and that the dele
gates to the convention adjourn tothe Grand
Jury room.
To this Mr.. Townsend most strenuously
and vociferously objected, declaring that it
was plan to cheat the people of the right to
ballot nominations and that he for one pro-
tested against it.. H
At this point it seemed as if almost every
body had something he wanted to say right
then and there and all talked at once and
each tried to drown his neighbor's voice.
The chairman raped and pounded with his
gavel and called at the top of his voice
"Order, gentlemen" declaring he would re-
cognize no one as entitled to the floor, and
would entertain no motions until order was
restored. lie made about as much fuss as
any one else and for a time confusion worse
confounded held sway. At length, however,
good humor prevailed, peace brooded like
| dove over the troubled waters and all was
still, and quiet reigned. In the midst Of the
lhubbub Thos. NJ. Ogle made motion that
committee Of three be appointed by the chair
| to wait upon Governor Cochran and Senator
Salisbury, who he said were in the city, and
invite them to seat beside the chairman on
the platform Mr.. Townsend thought that
all nonsense that those gentlemen were very
respectable men, but they were citizens like
| the rest of us, and he saw no use in such q
proceeding, but if it was to be done, be
thought the committee should consist Of the
most ardent office seekers. This sally pro-
voked shout of laughter. Mr.. Ogle, how
ever, insisted on his motion, and it being
adopted the chairman appointed Messrs. Ogle,
O'Byrne and Thomas Bird as the committee
The motion for the adoption of the report
of the Rule Committee with their ballot re.
commendation appended, was then put by ths
chairman and adopted by tremendous ma
jority.
The delegates then on motion of Hon. B. T
Biggs retired to the Grand Jury room, or
reaching which they organized by selecting
Hon. B. T. Biggs, as president and E. Rey
nolds and Lewis R. Springer, as secretaries
While awaiting the deliberations of th'
convention Hon. Eli Salisbury was called
upon and addressed the meeting from th'
judges bench.
we regret tuat Jul spaSS VIII Aot PCiAiil VI
to give an extract of the Hon. Senator's abl,
speech.
After the conclusion of the Senator's ad
dress a vote of thanks and three rousinl
cheers were given him. Messrs. Geo. Gray
VIM. Reynolds, Samuel Townsend and Stat
Senator Ray were called for but each de
clined.
Chas. N. McWhorter presented the follow
ing preamble and resolution which after I
slight discussion were adopted
WHEREAS, We, Democrats of New Castl
county, in meeting assembled, do believe tha
reform, like charity, should begin at home
and do believe that the essence of true Demo
cracy is in full and fair expression of tn
will of the majority, and therefore do
Resolve, That our members Of the Stat
Legislature shall be, and hereby are instruct
| -. ,,,a @to;r inhnencn towards effectinp