Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-05
AN INCIDENT or THE gTAUNT0N
CONVENTION.
SKETCH OF syPHAX, OF ALEXANDRIA,
THE CoLoRED CHESTERFIELD.


Correspondent Richmond Commercial.
I syphax's seat was contested, and. as
was afterwards shown, on good gronnds,
but he was determined to make a speech
before the conyention. syphax is very
tall mulatto, with ~ thin visage, long
nose aud glitteriug eye. His most stri-
king popularity, however, is his aiiable
smile aud the supietfcss of His vertebra.
HIS winning card was his politeness,
with which he disarmed opposition and
''tbek up' the convention.
After the committee on credentials
lad brought in their report, Sypliax
gained tho floor. This he did by pop
pngshp from his seat u number of times
and beciouing to the chairman peter
Carter.) He had been ruled out of
order several times but had sat down
in the best humor, y bland sWile IRA
dating his long, sharp coyntenance.
Now he was in order aatl might. pre-
ceed. ....- 5r..,. .r
II thank you, ! thank YOU lindly.
Mr.. Chairman. Ain I in order though,
Mr. C4airpan'" : j. g i,
yes. sia jf4aua.a!.ss Spips to :peakl; to. .
! the report 81 .sae coWm't'ee.' -. -, ,.r
...'Ylss sis;y lvlis.] !5: ,he Sean'ps s.,
phax. II am going to speak about this,
slip of paper holding up list Of the
delegates; n I'm gong speak acont
myself" An I III order 81" ~" '''''
"Yss, sir, if'ton havt any Objections
to make to the report replied Peter
Carter who was getting irritated atthe
smiling, BSw.ng 'syphhx::' q 's''' t~,
"NG@sff Iaip't n, ortler.f don't want"
to 30 on-I'Il take.My~seAt, Ntr. Chair =
man, If Fain'ts,ric,ls according to or
der. tCries Of '*;o'6tf, 20: oh'r'1' aid,
Ak..syphsx sas-dowrr withss G l.ildike
smile and gracious .Aow:i 4 = ""
Peter Cartsg-,.Ihe ,sept!eEEsn " j. in
orAy. rve tod him dozen or more
tl@!s. Does he want TO spend th..whole
eV6ning making me tell him he's in
order,'
"lthank you. thank you. We'll I
was going gtosay that ! wanted to talk
about this little piece of paper
Here somebody rose to point, saying
that the gentleman from Alexandria was
out of order in not speaking on the re.
port Mr.. Syphax, still smiling and
bowing sat down until the chairman
ruled adversely on the point Of order
and told him he might proceed.
"Mr. Chairman, | thank you again. l
am much obliged to you. Well, as !
was going to say-but, Mr.. Chairman,
can ! tell my little tale just like I want
these gentlemen to hear it y
He was told he could, and again he
thanked the chairman. The previous
irritation at the delay had now given
place to general good hnmor, and each
bow was greeted with applause.
"Now, if any Of these gentlemen don't
want to hear me, I will sit down.
[Cries of "go on, 80 on
II am from Alexandria. Everybody
knows ne. | came here to tell you all
what know, aud I've got something
very interesting to say,l think, am
going to speak about this little piece of
paper-about myself Here he was
interrupted bv another point of order,
aud resumed his seat. At.er this was
disposed Of, be again proceeded. "I
thank you," with all possible emphasis
on the word "thank,' ~ thank you,
Mr.. Chairman. Now, ! want to know
if must 60 on
For an hour Mr.. Syphax occupied the
attention of the convention without
coming to the point. He was interrup.
ted again ana again with harrassing
points Of order. bat with the same
imperturbable smile, Chcstertieldian
bow, and that II thank you,' he was
ready TO start whe.sDhe began. Tie
evening was wearing away, and there
was no prospect Of reaching the end Of
that "little tale in his own way until
some irascible delegate jumped upon
his feet and shrieked ont:
ON the name OF God, Syphax, if you
have got anything to say, say it and be
done with it,
At this cebuke, Syphax stated very
briefly that the committee on credentials
had reported against him, for which he
was very sorry, as he had hoped to give
the con ven;i0n The benefit of some of
his sentiments.
The rirt !; h at wants a. tow rnn,n orouuI