Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-06-20

that many gentlemen who were in
it desired my election. They told
me so, and some of the most cordial
congratulations I received after my
election were from gentlemen who
under order of the caucus voted for
Gov. Vance.
] was nevertheless sincerely anx-
ious to preserve party harmony, and
from the beginning OF the contest be-
tween Gov. Vanc.s and myself to the
end, my friends ard myself proposed
to him and his friends, that | would
abandon it if he would 10 likewise,
and let the caucus nominate third
person. This they refused to do.
1t was then proposed by my friends
to his that one free, unpledged bal
lot should be taken IN the Legisla-
ture for Senator, leaving every dem
ocrat to vote as he pleased, and al
low the person who might receive
the highest democratic vote, to be
/ the nominee of the cancus. This
too was rejected. He was bent on
realizing the benefit Of the pledged
vote.
At last, after many unsuccessful
ballottings in the Legislature for
Senator, Gov. Vance withdrew with
great flourish from the contest,
making loud professions of sacrifice
on his part. Immediately, there
npon, | Withdrew, as l had all
along proposed to do. | withdrew
in all sincerity, and was entirely
content to do so.
The caucus then assembled, ali
! the democratic members of the
Legislature being present, and as |
have learned from many gentlemen
of the caucus, with the distinct
agreement, that neither my name.
nor :hat of Gov. Vance should be
brought before the caucus again for
nomination. Entire harmony then
seemed to prevail.
After my withdrawal, gave my
self no more concern about the
! movements Of the caucus, and only
know of what was done in it, and
/ how [ came to be elected Senator
! from others. ] here give an ac-
count OF what happened afterwards
tio the pen of Col. W Ii. Avera,
a democrat who supported me. He
! is a gentleman we'll known, Of high
responsibility and intelligence, aad
no one who knows him will for one
moment question his veracitv. /
have ALWAYS heard that the facts
were substantially as he states them.
He says in a recent number Of his
paper, Tile Rocky Mount Mail,
among other things as follows:
At the Monday morning caucus
both the supporters of Judge Merri-
mon and GOV. Vance were present !;
not having sufficient time before the
convening Of tie Legislature, to make
a nomination. it was agreed to vote
that day complimentary to various
friends, guarding in the meanwhile
the ballot, seeing to i: that not enough
supper. be given to any one tn enable
the Republicans to elect by concen-
trating their vote upon him The vote
i of the Democrats before the Leglsla-
ture Monday vas therefore cast sur
various personal friends, scattered in
all parts of the State, and Of course
resulted in no election; and at 4
o'clock that afternoon the caucus
again assembled to nominate a candi
date for Senator, when on third bal
lot Gen. A. NJ. Scales developed
strength that indicated his nomina-
ton the next ballot. Fillibustering
set in, and the caucus adjourned in
great confusion. The object of this
adjournment just at the apparent
point Of the nomination Of Gen. Scales
was explained in the next morning
caucus when it met, by motion made
by Mr. Bryson, who had formerly sup
ported Judge Merrimon, that the name
Of Gov. Vance be brought again be-
fore the caucus for nomination, which
was called with the expressed under
, standing that neither the name of Gov
Vance or Judge Merlimon should bt
brought before it this pledge having
been made by the friends 0, Gove=no
Vance, who had invited the trends o
Mr.. Merrimon to participate will
them. This motion was carried, not
t withstanding the protests made b,
: Judge Merrimon S friends. (rhe wri
|, ter among the Dumber.) 1t is bu
+ candid, however, to sta e that ther
were two persons that had supporte,
him, and did afterwards support hin
: on the last ballot before the Legisla
ture, when he was elected, who did i
speeches before this caucus, favor til
u introduction of the name of Governo
e Vance again before the caucus. Tbi
/. action was taken and the cancus &C
e journed about fifty minutes before til
r election before the Legislature wa
) to be gone into. The friends of III,
!; Merrimon felt that they ought not t
abide this action and leave their frien
to be ruined in the house of his forme
- supporters, they covering their fleae
y from the violence Of the political stor'
}. then raging and they again pnt h