Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-10-06
RLADEN.
RADICAL NOMINATING CONVENTION.
2 ELIzABETHTowN, N. c.,
Sa,,t 40 1878

: Sept. ~, 1876.
= DEAR JoURNA1:-To-day,t the Rad
cal nominating convention met in OF
town. Joseph G.. Abbott, q. S. Gu
tom officer, and James e. Eldridg
were here supervising the convention
The convention was called TO orde
3 by johnson Green, Gen. Abbott
; waiting boy, bright mulatio, a brair
less pimp possessing the brass an
impudence OF Satan.
Alex Mcdonald, white, was run fo
secretary pro tenn. and defeated. an
Afford Atkinson elected.
There were present in conventio
forty delegates, nine of whom wer
white, the rest black or mniasto.
A committee of twelve were appoint
ed on permanent organization, four o
whom were white.
While the committee was gone GU
to make their report, speeches were il
order. The attempt to give any ide;
of what tran pred would be vain; fo
no living mortal or mortals could put
on paper, even the outlines of the in
fernal hubbub. [ canuUt tell one
tenth or one one hundredth part Of
the whole truth, but all l tell shall be
the truth, and 1 make this report long
and in detail, thinking thas 10 may dc
some good towards converting some
of the white Republicans in our coun
ty, who have claims to decency.
Bill Stith made the first speech. He
said one term to the Legislature was
enough for any ignorant man, and
while thus battling against John New
ell, who by the way is a very respecta-
| BILE mulatto, he proposed to give
1 fIrn LII
boy above referred to. He wanted a
man able to navigate" the ofice-nos
rogue nor thief. He did not want
a man who would act "defciently" and
"gobble up the whole of Bladen coun-
ty." Bill Stith is black, kinky-
headed, fulI-blooded African.
Peter Smith came next He is the
brother-in-law Of A. g. Thornton of
Fayetteville, and black, knock -kneed,
semi giant. He didn't want . man
ing reference to James Cashwsll who
is said to have stopped at Magnolia at
circus, when on his way to Raleigh,
and thinking he had found the Legis-
leture.) He then charged Green, Alb
bolts waiting boy, with being an i'm
pudent fool, and with having on one
the chair in a convention, and taking
it himself.
John Burnett came next. He is
bright muIatto. He wanted good
and clean ticket, did not want the Re-
publicans any longer to take up the
scum and trash. He wanted a ticket
against which nothing could be said on
the stump, he wanted no more corrupt
he .&
such his township would not respond
at the ballot box. He said, "You may
call me Democrat but / do not care.
/ have worked hard for honesty for
four years, and if you will not give it
to us now, will break through
John Newell came next. He threw
back the charges of thief, rogue, corr
ruption in the teeth of Stith and Bur
nett; accused Burnett with having
stolen two mules, and said he could |
prove that both Stith and Burnett |
were thieves.
Here the uproar became tumultuous,
really deafen;ng. Burnett called New
ell q damn liar and damn son of |
bitch. The uproar became so loud |
that it was impossible to gather any
distinct sentence. At least forty ne
groes were cursing and lowering at
the top of their voices. Some stento-
rian voice declared the Convention
whereupon most of the
delegates went down to cool off.
After few minutes they reassembled
and johnson Green and some others
we're put in nomination for permanent
chairman. Green insisted that as his
name was first put forward it should
first be voted on. He put the Ques-
ton, and five or ten voted for him,
while fifty voted against him. He de-
oided: "The Is appear to have it."
The uproar became deafening. Green
left the chair, but was called back,
r. Fl. Fonville e black
but sensible negro) said to him that
be did not "have sense enough to bell
a buzzard from hell to back. " that they
nad ''acted as damn FOOLS" and that
ne did not care damn for the party.
and threatened to withdraw his (the
delegation if it was in
sisted ON giving them such inferior
men, and IF you will not do better,
am damned if I will vote for them"
Bill Devane, a strapping, black
who had now taken the
chair, made long speech, when the
dialogue took place between
him and FOnvIlle:
Fonville-Your speech is out of
order.
Devane-Do you recognize me as
chairman
Fonville-Do you recognize me as a
speaker
Devane-Yss.
Fonville-Then keep your tongue.
Devane-No, [ don't recognize you.
Fonville-Then I don't recognize
you.
After much more to the same effect
and d wonderful amount of wrangling,
Alex. Mcdonald was elected perma~
nent chairman, whereupon Fo1ville
withdrew his delegation, saying, "He
don't want Bill Skies and Alex. Nc
Donald on our ticket, and demanded
that he and his fellow delegates be
stricken from the roll.
The rules of the Convention were
read by the Chairman, while at least
ten negroes were on the floor clamor-
ing.
At this iurction the Abbottsburg
delegation got together and marched
down stairs.
The Convention proceeded to it's
elections.
F1rSC. Tor the House OF EepreSen-
batives Alex. Mcdonald vas elected.
is a white man, and was
indicted in Bladen Superior Conrt for
perjury and escaped conviction by a
variance between the bill of indict-
ment and the proof. The bill charg-
ed that he was sworn upon the Holy
when in fact he was sworn
with an uplifted hand, and who. as
will be testified to by Ell. B. Everett
and William Everett, both respecta-
bic men, received from them, while a
bride not to bind them