American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-09-13

August 4th, and in that convention,
the alleged cause of dissatisfaction
was the change in the manner of
selecting candidates for the various
offices, made by the Democratic ex-
ecutive committee of our county.
That a resolution to hold mass
meeting adopted by the previous
convention was not only Disregard
ed but actually overridden by the
executive committee; that the COM
mittee had no power to make this
change; that the convention of July
eth, called and held under the
change, was illegal and that the
convent ion of August 4th was called
because of this, change, was the
burden of the song not only of those
who addressed the August conven-
ton but of the smaller fry whose
aid and work in this matter were
sought, but who were not deemed
worthy .to norate from de stump"
but were expected to do the outside
blowing. That these charges and
complaints were, tmade to conceal
from the people the evil designs OF
those who were sore headed over
the defeat of their friends-ot cer>
tain candidates who had been de-
feated in the July convention and
yet were not willing to submit to
the decision of the people then as
sembled, and to conceal that lust
after power on the part of some
whose political influence was OH
the wane. and who, in their frantic
efforts to again grasp the s..eptre,
we're willing to place themselves in
hostility to, and perhaps endangnr
the success of, that party which
had torn the chains of Radical OPP
preston from Mississippi and pla-
ced her once again free among her
sister States, we will proceed to
show. The change from a mass
meeting to a delegate convention
was made, and the various Beats
in tue county, irrespective of voting
strength, were given equal repre-
sentation in the convention called
by the executive committee, be-
cause much dissatisfaction had
sprung up ESPECIALLY in Beats Nos.
2 and 81 at the action of the proceed
ing convention, which had changed
the representation of the several
Beats, increasing that of some and
that of others. Threats
of bolt, if this policy were again
pursued, and complaints that Can
ton would have an overpowering
influence in mass meeting, were
heard on every hand. The execu-
tive committee, having the welfare
and success of the party in view,
and earnestly desiring to avoid all
or bolts, made the change
because they thought the best in
terest of the party demanded it, and
because they regarded it as such an
as they were appointed
to provide for. At this same meets
ing of the executive committee,
when the change above alluded to.
and so much harped on by the Bolt
ers, Sore>heads and Independents,
flor these are Synonymous terms,)
was made, it was suggested that q
to nominate candidate
for District Attorney would in all
prOba bilIty be held before the meet
ing of our county convention. aud
It was decided to authorize the |
chairman of the committee to ap-
point delegates to represent Madi-
son county in the District conveh-
ion. This action was taken be.
cause it was such an emergency as
he committee felt themselves ap-
pointed tn provide for, and when
he chairman of that committee
made the appointment of these dell
sgates lie had no power to do so
lnder any resolution of any proceed.
ng convention he had no knowl-
,dge of any appointment made I'm
Ter similar circumstances in the
history of the Democratic party
le did have however the power con.
erred by the executive committee,
md his knowledge that these dele
gates must be appointed in this way
t Madison county's voice was to
'e heard in determining who should
,e tue candidate OF the Democratic
,a.ty for District Attorney. But,
'ver and above these. he had an
'biding faith in the willingness of
he people to ratify any reasonable
ct done to protect their best inter-
SITS Our county convention was
Ield, however, before the District
and resolution was
unanimously adopted approving
he action of the committee in APP
'ointing these delegates, am ong
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