The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-05-18
ApGdfal
SAMBO IN CONVENTION,
GEORGIA Republicans and Their PreSl-
dGntial Preferences,
Dusky and Boisterous Friends ofSen-
ator Morton-A Hundred Negroes
Talking at Once-The Democratic
Party Arraigned.

ATLANTA, GA3 May 5,-The Republi-
can State Convention which has just clo'
sed its session here, held for the purpose
of selecting delegates to Cincinnati, and
nominating a candidate for Governor,
was one of the most protracted, disorder
ly and comiCal ever held in Georgia.
Wednesday was the day of opening
Before IL o'clock great crowd of black
and white spectators began filing in the
spacious galleries of the House of Repre-
sentatives, while the delegates took their
places at the desks below. 1t was an
odd sight. 1t was the first general Re-
publican Convention held in Georgia in
four years. The men of the olden time
were here, those who took part in recon-
struction, and in organizing the Republi-
can party on Georgia soil. Familiar fa-
ces, brought down to us from the Bullock
regime, were on hand. But time had
left the marks Of its progress. The watch
chains were less massive, and the plug
hats of 1870 showed the effects of time
and Democratic rule. All these signs Of
departed glory brought back to our minds
the halcyon days of 1871.
Blodgett was on hand, not as delegate
but as a striker for Morton. He is under
indictment in several cases, and an eff.
Cient bail bond keeps him out Of the
Sheriffs custody. Still, before court
meets, and during the pendency Of this
campaign, he is enabled to make his in
Auence felt for Morton.
Mr.. Farrow called the Convention to
order. Mr. Deveaux, a bright young
mulatto from Savannah, was chosen tenn
porary chairman. This young man, ap.
parently not long out of his teens, culti-
Yates small moustaChe and a large
watch chain. but fails as an orator. His
opening speech was in the nature Of
failure.
A black delegate from the interior,
about six feet and half high, and less
handsome than Apollo, got the "fo',"
and talked several others down who had
it, or thought they had, which is the
same thing in a convention. Having got
the "fo'," he flowed. He said there was
a burning fire in this here Convention,
and the first thing we knew We'll be in
the middle of the blaze He warned the
delegates to keep the flames from burst
ing forth. lfonce we got into confusion,
who can see the end?
ANTI-MoRToN TACTICS.
When it came to the presentation of
credentials, the tactics of the aLti-Morton
men appeared. There was great deal
of underhanded wire working, and, as
an old darky expressed it, "shenanagin," ,"
about that time. The colored delegates
being almost unanimous for Morton, and
having large majority, it required eff
fort on the part of Conkling's friends to
manage things.
Before anything of importance had
been done, the Conkling and Blaine men
moved a recess until 10 O'Clock next day.
The object of this twenty hours recess
was to tire out the Morton darkies, so
that many of them would go home; this,
of course, raised row. A very black
delegate got the floor and declared that
he had money enough to stay in Atlanta
a whole week, and he would do it rather
than be deprived of his vote in this Con-
vention. But he referred piteously to the
fact that other delegates had barely mon
ey enough to keep them at cheap board
ing house one day, and he pleaded with
the anti-Morton men not to resort to that |
expedient Of delay to get rid Of the col
ored men, or any of them.
In the debate it transpired that an all |
night session would be agreeable to very |
many, as it would save the expense of
lodging.
During the discussion of these mighty |
questions, delegate rose to q "pint" of |
order, saying he was opposed to wasting
surplus time"
Parliamentary law is a difficult science
to master at best, and when you have
one hundred negroes talking about it a
dozen at time, each trying to talk down
the rest by mere strength of gestures and |
force of wind, and the President rapping
all the tine, and the mob in the galleries
yelling and throwing paper wads and |
calling cats, you have case difficult to de-
scribe, but immensel ly amusing.
KNoCK-DowN ARGUMENTS.
The next day, Thursday, the fun was
begun again. After all the skirmishing |
and wool pulling, it was apparent that |
the bottom cause of strife was anxiety to |
90 to Cincinnati and advocate various
favolite sons. The whites were divided |
between Blaine, Bristow, and Morton,
while the blacks were almost unanimous
for Morton. The anxiety to go to Gin
cinnati was very great. The delegation
is, of course, limited to twenty-five,
while about one thousand sought the
place. The luxury of being an unin-
structed delegate in city where beer is
only five cents a glass is something
worth striving for.
When the Convention re-assembled at
night the galleries were packed to their
full capacity The right.hand gallery
was filled with whites, the left-hand with
blacks, and the center with both. The
whites were boisterous, and manifested
a disposition to turn the whole affair into
ridiCule.
When the resolutions were being read,
which was upon the assembling of the
Convention, some of these rude fel-
lows in the galleries probably drunk
would create disturbances in the galleries
on purpose. At one time there was a
regular fight, and two were knocked
down, to the great terror OF the negroes.
One man amused himself by exploding
torpedoes. All this was not pleasant in
a densely- packed building, with most |
men armed, and vague feeling that we
tread upon volcano.
Now, if this had been Democratic
Convention, and the negroes in the gal
leries had acted thus, what howl would |
we would hear in The land The races
are equal-on paper.
The resolutions as adopted are very
bitter. They arraign the Democratic |
party for treason, slavery, secession, null
li6cation, assassination, fraud, murder,
robbery, and so on. 1t is a vigorously
bitter and aggressive set of resolves.
Fight sticks out, all over it. The Demo-
cratic party is pictured in muddy colors,
and the more VioorOus the Dlank the |