The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-06-29


ton Of spectators and alternates. These
We're seated in graduated amphitheasre
which rose up both on che right and left OF
the Convention and filled the hall to Its brim.
More than halfway up to the lofty ceiling
ran a narrow gallery all around tue hall, Just
wide enough for one row OF seats, and behind
them for another row OF people standing.
This was crowded oil day with an eager line OF
humanity. In front OF the platform ran
four long rows of seats for correspondents,
OF whom there were nearly two hundred,
h,lsily plying their pencils. Out from the
platform ran nine aisles, radiating through
the scmi-circular body of the Convention.
The decorations OF the hall were simple and
in admirable taste. The glaring light OF the
double series of high windows was softcned
by deep-red curtains, gracefully draped.
Along the narrow gallery were hung the
eScutcheons OF all the States, alternated
with sheavcs OF wheat, and surmounted
by golden stars, and linked together by
fcStoons OF evergreen. The stage, the read
ing-desk, and the ornamental gallery back
OF it were all OF handsome black wall
nut. The desk was adorned with flowers,
and from the stage back OF it creeping vines
and spreading plants rose nearly the height
OF the gallery. On this little gallery the
band was huddlcd together. Some OF the
musicians. in easy disregard OF the archl-
| tcctural and social prophecies, huns their
arms or legs over the sides. On both SIDES
of the platform and at q greater height than
the stage itself is q platform constructed Tor
the occasion, which stretches along the
whole length of the hall. On this were the
corps OF distinguished guests, set OIL by Il
thickct OF plants and OF flowers.
ARRANGEMENT OF THE STATES.
The places OF the States were indicated
by handsome blue silk banners hanging or
gildcd spears, EACH bearing the name OF the
State, with q national eagle, and iringed and
tasSeled with bullion. The States seemed
to have been distributed without reference
to plan The courtesy that Cincinnati
gaye-each State with candidate having 6
place in the front rank-was lacking here
New York, with the most prominent candl
date OF all, was stationed behind Maine, witt
no candidate ut all, on the right-hand side
OF the main aisle dividing the hall. On thu
other side OF this aisle Kansas was placed
being in front. Behind Kansas was Mis-
souri,, and Illinois in the next aisle to TIT
left. Massachusetts was in front and Penn
sylvania, with the possible unknown, was II
the very rear. In the next aisle Joel Parker
eighteen delegates were at the front, ant
commanded Tennessee, Wisconsin, ant
Iowa. Oregon was rewarded for its recen
triumphs with thc first place in the mex
aisle with Vermont, South Carolina, Con
nccticut, and North Carolina jumbled to
gcthcr behind. 70 the right Of the mail
aisle Arkansas headed column, with In
diana in behind, and Illinois behind her
! In the next aisle Kentucky, Louisiana, ant
Michigan formed line, with the mother 0
Presidents at the end. Little Nebrask,
commanded the next aisle. Behind her wa
Delaware and Maryland, Maine and Missis
Sippi. Then the two extremes OF the Uniol
were joined in New Hampshire and Texas
.. PROMINENT MEN PRESENT.
When the great crowd had ceased to strag
gle in the whole floor was covered with :
compact mass. Every delegation was full
every seat occupied. The seats at the side
rose without a break in the sea OF faces
The Convention met in the heat OF the Gay
though all days and all hours seem equal!
hot here. and there was prodigious rust
ling OF fans and universal willing OF linen
The gathering was maSculine-thcre wa
scarcely bakers dozen OF ladies present
and these were hidden away in the bacl
rows Of seats belonging to delegates
The Convention itself was body OF sub
stantial men; but it cannot be SAID tina
it contained very many Of the part.
leaders or many men OF marked ability O.
national reputation. 1t was a white man
Convention. Among all its seven hundred
delegates there was not single black FAC
to be seen. 1t was Convention, too, o
the reconstructed Democracy. The pres
cncc of such men us Fitzhugh Lee, OF yir
GINA; General Pope Walker, OF Alabama
who was Il Confederate Secretary OF War
Colonel Shorter, of the same State, who wa
an anti-war congressman, and has been IL
Democratic politics for thirty. years; Gen
cral John r. Morgan, also OF Alabama
Pierce w. b. Young, the dandy eX-con
gresham from Georgia; eX-Governol
Smith, OF the same State, and old eX-Sen
ator Clingman. OF North Carolina, wa
enough ITO show that amnesty is Demo
cratic fact.
There were other men with interesting
histories. There were ''Duke" Gwin, O.
California, whose noble white head would
well become real and not Il Retrospective
Duke: Governor salisbury, who is here q!
the representative OF his hereditary rival o
tue house OF Bayard; Senator Barn um, O
Connecticut, whose investment IN a Scna
torial seat is not yet forgotten; General Nc
Clernand, of Illinois, and Gustave Korner
the German leader, who followed Mr.. Gree
ley out OF the party in 1872. In the Indian;
tdelcgation there were Senator Mcdonald
and Daniel Voorhees,. Speaker Kerr wa
missing.
COLONEL WILLIAM P. JOHNSTON, OF VIRGINIA
The St. Louis Globe Democrat says:
Among the immense crowd that throng
ed the rotunda Of the Southern there wa
one who excited general notice by his un
usually tall form and his marked militar!
bearing. A reporter Of the Globe Democrat
finding him in company with General Mar
madulie, had little trouble in being present
ed to him, and in learning that he was none
other than Colonel William 2. Johnston
son OF General Albert Sydney Johnston
who lost his life at Shiloh Colonel John
ston served during the entire war on TIT
staff OF Jefferson Davis, and after the wal
received an invitation from General Lee tt
accept professorShip in the Washington
Lee University, ut Lexington, Va. Thi:
offer he accepted, and has been residing
there ever since. and comes here at this time
to represent the Sixth Virginia district
\ Colonel Johnston said he had no disposition
to make his views public, yet he had no con
I cealments. He was for Tilden because
Tilden appeared to him to be the hos
available man just at this time. "1n some
way" said Colonel Johnston, Mr.. Tilder
has achieved the reputation OF Il refOrmer
Whether he is Justly entitled to the distinc.
ton which he enjoys on that score is ques'
ton which could not personally decide
| But that does not matter. The fact is thai
at the lucky moment he has been brought tt
4 +},a front NJ the great Democratic APOSTLE o!