Feliciana sentinel. [volume] (St. Francisville, La.) 1877-1892, 1879-03-08
THE JACKSON CONVENTION.


THE JACKSON CONVENTION.
In our last issue we hoisted at our mast
head the namc of Hon. r. 3. Lyons, as
the nominee of the Dernocratic-Conserva-
tive party of the 18th Senatorial District
preaching Constitutional Convention
Under ordinary circumstances, our action
ir this regard would need no explanation,
but under the present unpleasant, we
| might say disgraceful, state of affairs in
| the polical councils of West Fel;ciana, we
| deem Il statement of our reasons for sup
| porting the present candidate, in the face
the fact that the Democracy of this
| Parish had no voice in the Convention,
| due to the many readers of the SENTINEL.
| The fact is still fresh in the minds of
many in both this and our sister Parish,
of the generosity displayed by the West
| Feliciana delegation, in the Senatorial
Convention, which assembled in the city
of Baton Rouge, in the year 1876,
| when the chairman arose and said, "Gen-
tlemen, West Feliciana desires and IS
| anxious to support 4 gentleman from
East Feliciana for the exhalted position
so long and disyraccful7y occupied by cor
rupt and nnprincipled men from our Par
ish and Pointe Coupee, (perhaps we have
not quoted the words Ger 6atun,, but the
meaning is the same,) and it was gener-
ally agreed that to West Feliciana
should be conceded the next representa-
tive in this body.
In the Jackson Convention West Fell
ciana was allowed only six delegates and
East Felicana accredited NINE, when it
| should have been rice rersa, had prece
dents governing the apportionmert in all
| former conventions been adhered to. 1t
is and always has been the policy of the
Democratic party to appoint delegates on
| the basis "f the vote polled at the preced
ing Presidential election, when 4 more
complete manifestation of the popul r
will, through the battot-box, is supposed
to have been expressed. Had this rule
been followed on the occasion in ques-
ton, even with a half vote, the Demo-
c1acy of West Feliciana would have had
only four and cne-half votes, and still in
a hopeless minority, from the fact that the
Stewart delegation were opposed to any
measure, however fair, as wasman.fested
by the refusal of their entire delegation,
with two exceptions, to sign the covenant
proposed, dissolving the two Committees
and providing for the election of 4 new
body by the white representatives Of tho
party, just SO long as the Fisher delega-
ton smiled upon it. But had the Com
mittee on Credentials taken into consid-
Grafton the fact that the State Central
Committee had recognized the Flremen's
Hall Committee, and that the Baton
Rouge Convention had not refused to graplc
uith the question inrolrcd; that the tro DELE
cations from Vest Fe7iciaua HAD NOT been
admitted on a half r0te, as stated, but that
the appearance of a portion Of each dele
CATION in said body was due alone to %
compromise effected by the two contest
ing part es, the complexion of the Jack
son Convention would bave been greatly
changed, and instead of East Fcliciana
having tho deciding vote, it would have
been in the power tho West Feliciana
Democracy to say who should represent
this District in the Constitutional Con-
vention.
In making the above statements we do
so in no spirit of Misrepresentation and by
no means do we wish it so understood.
We have this to say of Judge Lyons, that
no truer Democrat or moro worthy gen.
tleman than he could have been selected
for the position. Our demur is not against
the man, but against the manner of his
nomination. 1t is with genuine pride
that we note the unseltish spirit of the
white voters of our Parish and their de-
termination to bury their disappointment
at the unsatisfactory termination of the
Senatorial Convention, and, for the sake
of averting public disgrace, avow their
intention to support Judge Lyons. We
too, join with our good people and say. to
work like men, and let a heavy majority
show that while we fight like 'kilkenny
Cats" at home, our pride forbids an ex-
posture of our domestic troubles to the
Inside world.
ESsHis + raudulency, r. B. Hayes, has