Smyrna times., 1876-05-24
o.laware Republican Convention.

Tho Republican State Convention was heldin Dover {
ON Thursday last to elect delegates to the National
YCanvention to be held in Cincinnati The Conven-
on was called to order at halfpast two blythe Chair
man of the State Executive Committee, Henry +.
The following persons were elected officers of the
mTSt,d mPTresdent-M Hayes. of Kent county
Vice Presidents-John w. Day, New Castle county;
John T. Jakes. Of Kent; John D. Rodney, of Sussex.
Anderson, of Kent d. J. Layton, of Sussex.
The Committee on Credentials made report which
Mr. Massey, on behalf of the Committee on Resolu-
tons reported the following, and moved their adOp
ton:
The Republicans of Delaware in State Convention
assembled, pedgng their unalterable devotion to the
cardinal principles upon which their party founded
shall be maintained; that its obligations shall be
honestly and fully paid according to their
bic into COIN at the pleasure of the holder that its
administration shall be honestly and faithfully con-
Quoted in all the various branches and departments
thereof; and that home industries shall be properly
protected so that the skill labor and resources OF our
productive, do declare that in our opinion the Ma
tonal Standard bearer IN this Centepnai eampalgn
must be an eXponentot the principles herein set 1orh
and believing that by a long continued and active
public ME an enlargea eAPerlenee as Natioial i
tegity preserved against the most persistent and vim
9sH SnH an sgsa ses Sess 9Re mD w o
Resolre, That our preference be, and the same is
person to become ~ our s PresfSentai candidate and
our delegates to be selected to the National COnyen-
so long as in their judgment and discretion it may be
considered possible to secure his nomination.
the delegates from this State to the National Conven
tion to be held at Cincinnati should be representa-
tves of the people, disconnected from official position
under the Government of the United States
lively debate was had over the resolutions and
sometimes the meeting quarreled rather lively
The Commercial thus reports:
After some sparring. it decided to act the
solutions seriG % The first instrueting for Blaine
stood to be part of the programme, and the Blaine
men SIMPLY @ renamed SS silent number r OF the
Joel Thompson, s Minot Curtis. Capt. Corbit, Geo b
left the Convention and taken the train for home de-
clarng that the action of the so arbitrary
and the control of Gallagher and the Wilmington
delegates so evident that it was only degradation to
remain.
debate As soon as had been read Cand before the
decision to consider the resolutions serid Dr. j. s.
Prettyman and said its evident object was toover
rule the caucus action of Sussex county. 1t was
blow aimed at him. He had known that ever since
the Sussex caucus the scheme had been on foot but
he did expect it to be developed in manly and
honorable manner. 1t had been the custom for many
years for the counties to indicate their choice, and
their desires had been respected. He spoke very
earnestly, and was warmly appauded on the Sussex
Geo v Massey defended the resolution. Reclaimed
that it could not have aimed at Dr. Prettyman, it
handed to them by outside party But any rate it
had come to be understood that the United States
officials everywhere were being used to defeat Blaine
who the choice of the people, and in this Centen-
nal year the people must and would be heard. Mr..
Massey spoke very loudly, and Jim Hawkins and
others. including an intoxicated young man on the
front bench, who was subsequently detected per
sOnating delegates, after voting three times on the
roll call, made great demonstrations of applause.
Dr. Prettyman again spoke. He said the caucus was
perfectly straightforward and himself and Mr. Sharp
had been selected by fair vote in the usual manner
He had no desire TO go as delegate to Cincinnati
but he did insist that the preferences of Sussex county
should be respected. He denounced the attempt to
oyer-rule it as arbitrary tyr3nnieal and unfair
Convention respect the wishes of Sussex county To
Overrule the majority he said to fly precisely in
he 10
for which Mr.. Massey had so loudly cOntended
John W. Morley, of Cedar Creek, Sussex county,
made an earnest Appeal to the Convention to act Justly
for the Union. and had known how firmly and
steadiIy DR. Prettyman. the war-horse of Repubii-
canism in Sussex" had stood by the Union and by
the principles ofthe party
Levi c Bird said he did not know that the resolu-
tiOn was aimed at DR.. Prettyman The people would
rathermen should go to Cincinnati untrammeled by
Office" There had been "a bitter and malignant
contest in Wilmington, unprecedented i'll the history
Of the State" and part of the contest that
ofieehOlder should go to Cincinnati He said the
delegates from Sussex county were made up by
Federal Oiee-hOlders, and without them there would
have been expression of the county caucus in
Prettyman's favor. Mr. Bird spoke quite vehemently
and was loudly applauded by the Wilmington dele
Mr. Morley of Sussex protested against the imputa
tions thrown upon the manner Of Dr.. Prettyman'
mail agent on the Junction BTeakwater r. R., tool
the floor with apparent intense excitement (He haC
been defeated as delegate from Lewes and RohO
both. but got in in an Indian River vacancy HI
said the delegates from Lewes and RehOboth had beef
set up by a PENNSYLVANIA Ofice-hOlder. (meaning i
was understood Major Morris the special L. S Trea
sury agent) who had come into the State TO injurC
better men than himself the pretense of discover
ing frauds. This person had poisoned the minds 0
appealed to Rev Mr. johnson, (colored delegate tn
only from Sussex. and the first sent by tina
cOuntyl II this was not 50.
Dr. H. r. Burton of Lewes said it was totally falls
that the Pennsylvania official had controlled tn
Lewes and Rehoboth election. He had not interfere
in any way The election perfectly fair. and tn
delegates were the chioce of the voters of the HUI
Rev Mr. johnson then took the floor and, in spit
Of several Interruptions by Wilmington delegate
proceeded His statements were extremely severe
JOsephs, who he said had come to him asking hil
and the other colored Republicans of Lewes and r
the Hundred of whom 131 are eOlOfed) to suPpo
him. Josephsl Mr.. Johnson replied that the colore
no part if this refused. JOsephs refused to p
one on. but the ticket friendly to Dr. Prettyman d
therefore he supported it. He denied that JOsepl
was the friend Of the colored men, and said
delegate" &c. &c, coming up on the cars
Mr. JOsephs did not reply.
the adoption Of the resolution % exclude Prettyma
It was suggested that Sussex county be called FIR
and Kent voted almost solidly for it, VIM. 6. eau
and Vim. A Hukill being alone among the nose
this county. The total was 103 yeas TO p nays.
DR.. Pretfyman then asked leave for Sussex e',ln
70 retire and agree upon new man as ne haH o,. be-
taken on this andit was lost, the wilmington de
gates loudly voting no.
earnest and effective protest against the action OF
majority He claimed and commanded quiet hei
ing and although George r. Roberts, Of Wiminh
insisted on points Of order" Mr.. layton Proceede
the President Mr. Hayes, who had acted with eourte
and fairness ruling that he should proceed, By &C
sent Of the Convention. Mr.. Layton reviewed en-
getiealy and fOreibly, the arbitrary manner in viii
the expressed desires Of the Repub cans OF his eoui
had been treated and he declared that the precede
II now set Of overruling the county ca ca1cuses H re-
choosing national delegates would return TO plae
the inventors He said he knew not who drew
resolution or when il was drawn, or where, lts p
pose was 70 exclude Dr. Prettyman who, II was 9nt
pated would be the choice Of Sussex, and sald
you know this Mr.. Massey In your heart OF near
Dr. Prettyman-' Yes in your heart OF hearS }
know IT,"
" Mr. Massey now said he was willing Sussex shot
withdraw and agree upon a new man.
Mr. Bird conceded
Mr.. LaytOn-I want TO know before we go
whether our new choice will be respected any m
than our other. Mr.. Bird, will you and your irle
respect It?
Mr. Bird did not give direct reply ,
Mr.. LaytOn-O, answer me, sir; yes or mol I'M
a fair question, man 20 man, and want 10 XII
what you will do
Mr. Bird said he would try 20 do what was right;
II was finally agreed. under Mfr. Iaytons resOl
pressure that the Sussex delegates should retire