The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1880-05-18

cheers from th house. At half past two, when
the love-feast was over. the convention took .
recess Of thirty minutes.
AFTERNOON .sKssIoN.
The delegates re-assenbled at q quarter to
four and, afier an overture by the band, the Con-
ventiOn was again called to order with s. Consnt
in the chair. the chairman being absent A mo-
tion was made to invite the Hon. Nh Greely, OF
Duval, to IN honorary seat on the Grand Stand.
This gave rise to renewed discussion, many Of
the coBored delegates claiming that il was unnec-
essaTy and out of place-that any Of them were
as much entitled TO such an honor as the man
mentioned and that such q course would result
in having the stand crowded with lobbyists; for,
If he was invited to seat, there were others who
would want to have their friends invited also
The sequel demonstrated the correctness of this
view; for numerous amendments and amend
ments to the amendments were offered, inviting
this one and that one, and il was finally moved to
request the whole lobby to come forward and
occupy the stand. The first motion, after con-
siderable discussion, was lost.
The committee on permanent organization
now announced that they were ready TO report
The temporary chairman and Secretary were
both retained and any number of vices and as
sistants were added. Their report was adopted.
A committee of seven was then appointed to
submit the names of persons suitable for dele
gates to the Chicago Convention; also, CON-
mittee of five was appointed on resolutions, and
one of nine to select candidates for Presidential
Electors. Another of seven was appointed to
select new State Executive Committee.
Things had now reached critical point, and
Conover and Ledwith began to exhibit unms-
taxable signs of nervousness born of suspense !;
and they and their respective strikers were
mighty busy LOG rolling" it was termed
They were like king bees in hive, with every
thing around them in feIment.
1t was moved that the Convention now pro-
ceed to the election of candidate for Governor; !;
and it was agreed that the first and second bal
lots be considered informal, and that as the roll
as called by counties the nominations should
be made each county naming its choice.
On the first ballot the vote stood as follows
Blank, l. ]. w. Howell, 2; Stickney, 5; Cole,
IS; Greeley, g.; Dennis, Is; Ledwith, So; Ea-
gan, As; Conover, 81.
On the second ballot Eagan received "A; Con-
over AZ; Ledwith 33 Cole 16; Dennis 10; How
ell z; Greeley l. Stickney7.
On the third first formaD ballot the vote
stood: for Eagan So Conover AZ; Ledwith 80;
Cole 16; Stickney II Greeley 10 Dennis 10;
Howell2
After this ballot Howell was dropped. An
adjournment was several times moved, but the
motion was not allowed to be entertained, and
fourth ballot was ordered-which stood: For
Eagan 40 Conover As; Ledwiih 81; Cole, Is;
Dennis IL Greeley 6; Stickney 4.
An adjournment was again moved but, as be-
fore, not entertained, and fifth ballot was taken.
Now came excitement and "the tug of war" 1t
seemed to be understood that this would be the
decisive vote. Log rolling" ran high. The
votes that had been cast for Greeley and Stick
ney were now given to Conover, who was pow
erfully nervous and excited, and raced about the
hall hither and thither in an anxious manner
grabbing any and everybody by the arm, in his
eagerness sometimes blundering on an outsider
When the county of Jefferson was called Cole
got up and cast his Is votes for Conover, and
after the roll had been called two or three of the
mis- arose and SAID that, though he had been fight
ing the man for years, he now took pleasure in
changing the vote of Alachua in his favor. He
still lacked two votes of having a majority, and
repeated calls for the result were demanded by
the other side. The Secretary arose to announce
it once or twice, but was prevailed upon to de-
lay. Conover asked him for Gods sake 10 wait
a minute. Presently the two necessary votes
came over; then they began to slip-slip-slide
over by twos, threes and half dozens, and then
by counties, until he had quite respectable ma
jority. At this stage Eagan got upon the stand
and moved chat the nomination be made unani-
nous, which was done by acclamation. He was
then taken up and borne to the stand, where he
proceeded in few words to thank them for the
honor they had conferred upon HIN. The Con-
Vention then adjourned to meet at o'clock that
night.
Pursuant to adjournment it met at O'clock
anu Immediately took recess until half past
nine. Upon reassembling, John Wallace moved
that Ledwith, who was out of the hall at the time
be nominated for Lieutenant Governor by accla-
nation, which was unanimously done, and q
committee appointed to wait on him at the Ar
lington, inform him of the tact and escort him
and Conover into the hall. They soon made
their appearance, both with shining faces
Conover was first to address the Convention
He was followed by Ledwith in q somewhat hu-
morous speech, telling how he had thought easily
to secure the nomination. and how slick 1t had
slipped away from him; but that he was not at
all sore over the result, but thought they had
made the best possible choice.
He was followed by Dennis and Knight. Den
mis- made his same old speech-the one he has
been making ever since be came into the State
It was bitter, vituperative and bloody-shirty. 1t
Is hardly necessary to report it, for nearly every
body In Florida knows il by heart yet we will
notice few of his remarks He said Democrats
were every thing low, mean and cowardly-dam-
nable and only it to be damned, and ought to be
sunk into the lowest depths of hell-that they
had sinned against God, law, morality and de-
cency had shot down negroes and driven them
from the polls, and he advised them to be firm
and determined Said If Il was in his power he
would make each one sign Q pledge in his own
blood to be true to the party. Metaphorically he
folded the negro to his breast and imprinted q
brotherly kiss upon his ebon cheek.
When he had concluded the reports Of the diff
ferent committees were brought in and adopted,
together with different resolutions, to be af,er-
ward embodied in their platform.
The Convention was then adjourned sine die